David Peoples
David Webb Peoples (born February 9, 1940) is an American screenwriter who wrote "Blade Runner" (1982), "Unforgiven" (1992), and "12 Monkeys" (1995). He was nominated for Oscar, Golden Globe, and BAFTA awards. He won the best screenplay awards from the L.A. Film Critics (1991) and National Society of Film Critics (1992) for "Unforgiven". Early life. Peoples was born in Middletown, Connecticut, the son of Ruth Clara (née Levinger) and Joe Webb Peoples, a geologist. He studied English at the University of California, Berkeley. Career. Peoples worked as a film editor in the 1970s while writing screenplays, but his  writing career took off after he was hired as co-writer on "Blade Runner" after director Ridley Scott and screenwriter Hampton Fancher parted ways. Following the success of Blade Runner, Peoples worked on "Ladyhawke" (1985) and "Leviathan" (1989). During the 1980s, Peoples wrote a script based on DC Comics' Sgt. Rock series. Arnold Schwarzenegger was picked to play the title role; the project was revived three decades later in 2010 involving Joel Silver and Easy Company, although with the expectation to set the narrative in a place other than the battlefields of World War II to distinguish the project from  the earlier script. Other Peoples' screenplays were purchased during the 1980s, many after studio development prior to production: "Unforgiven", "Soldier", and "The Blood of Heroes". The Blood of Heroes was directed by Peoples, and starred Rutger Hauer. Peoples received his greatest recognition for "Unforgiven" (1992). He wrote the script in 1976, titled "The William Munny Killings" and appearing in theaters in 1992. Peoples' screwball comedy "Hero" also appeared in 1992. Later in 1992, Peoples worked with his wife Janet Peoples on "12 Monkeys" (1995), a science fiction fable about time travel inspired by Chris Marker's experimental short film "La  Jetée". In 1998, "Soldier" was filmed by British director Paul W. S. Anderson, although it was re-written by Anderson. Filmography. As of February 2015, Peoples has thirteen writing credits (ten for original screenplays, two for stories, and one for source material), as well as five credits for editing, and three credits for directing. Awards. Peoples' highest accolades are for "Unforgiven". It received Oscar, Golden Globe and British Academy nominations, and won L.A. Film Critics (1991) and National Society of Film Critics (1992) awards for best screenplay. Peoples was presented with the Distinguished Screenwriter Award at the 2010 Austin Film  Festival.