Peoples began as a film editor, before co-writing the cult-classic Blade Runner when Ridley Scott (director) and Hampton Fancher (screenwriter) could not work together because of creative differences. Peoples also wrote Soldier (though it was extensively rewritten by director Paul W. S. Anderson), and the highly regarded Twelve Monkeys which was co-written by his wife Janet Peoples. On the unconventional side Peoples also wrote a comedy called Hero and the fantasy film Ladyhawke (1985). He also wrote and directed The Blood of Heroes (1989).