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Richard Wenk

Richard Wenk
Born (1956-05-06) May 6, 1956 (age 68)
Metuchen, New Jersey, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Occupations
  • Screenwriter
  • Film director
Years active1986–present
Notable work

Richard Wenk (born May 6, 1956) is an American film screenwriter and director best known for his work on The Equalizer film series (2014–2023), which has every installment rated by CinemaScore at the A range.[1]

Early life

Wenk was born in 1956 in Metuchen, New Jersey.[2][3] He graduated from Metuchen High School in 1974,[4] and from the New York University Tisch School of the Arts in 1979.[2]

Career

Wenk worked as an assistant to director John Huston on the 1982 film Annie.[2] In 1984, he was recruited by New World Pictures producer Donald P. Borchers to write and direct the black comedy film Vamp (1986). Borchers had been impressed by Wenk's NYU thesis film, a musical vampire comedy short titled Dracula Bites the Big Apple.[2] In 1994, he directed the comedy film Attack of the 5 Ft. 2 In. Women.[5] In 1998, he wrote and directed the film Just the Ticket.[6] In 2002, he directed the slasher film Wishcraft.[7] In 2006, he wrote the script for Richard Donner's last film 16 Blocks.[8] In 2011, he wrote the action film The Mechanic.[9] By 2012, he wrote Simon West's ensemble action film The Expendables 2.[10] In October 2012, he was hired to write the script for the Masters of the Universe reboot.[11]

In 2014, he signed on to write the action film The Equalizer and its two sequels.[12][13] In 2016, he wrote the action films Countdown, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, and The Magnificent Seven.[14][15][16] In 2017, he was hired to write the script and story for Renegades.[17] In 2018, Wenk was hired to write the reboot of Universal Soldier.[18][19] In 2021, he wrote the action thriller film The Protégé.[10] In 2023, he wrote the action film Fast Charlie.[20] He was announced to be writing the upcoming films Lethal Finale and Kraven the Hunter.[21][22]

Filmography

Year Title Director Writer Notes & ref.
1979 Dracula Bites the Big Apple Yes No [2]
1982 Annie Assistant No [2]
1986 Vamp Yes Yes [2]
1994 Attack of the 5 Ft. 2 In. Women Yes No [5]
1998 Just the Ticket Yes Yes Also actor[6]
2002 Wishcraft Yes No [7]
2006 16 Blocks No Yes Also actor[8]
2011 The Mechanic No Yes [9]
2012 The Expendables 2 No Yes Nominated - IGN Movie Awards Best Action Film[23]
2014 The Equalizer No Yes [12]
2016 Countdown No Yes [14]
The Magnificent Seven No Yes Nominated - Saturn Awards Best Action Film[16]
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back No Yes [15]
2017 Renegades No Yes [17]
2018 The Equalizer 2 No Yes A on CinemaScore.[24]

Also co-producer.

2021 The Protégé No Yes [10]
2023 The Equalizer 3 No Yes A on CinemaScore.[25]

Also co-producer.

Fast Charlie No Yes 86% on Rotten Tomatoes[26]
2024 Kraven the Hunter No Yes Post-production[27]

Accolades

In 2014, for his work on The Equalizer, he was nominated at the 46th NAACP Image Awards for "Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture".[28]

References

  1. ^ "Home". Cinemascore. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Schwartz, David (July 27, 1986). "Richard Wenk, Vamping Out". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on March 4, 2022. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  3. ^ "Richard Wenk". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on April 28, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  4. ^ Tufaro, Greg (July 26, 2015). "Metuchen 'welcomes back' alumni for Hall of Fame nominations". Courier News. Archived from the original on September 25, 2020. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  5. ^ a b "National Lampoon 1992-1998".
  6. ^ a b "Just the Ticket". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on January 21, 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Wishcraft". Eye for Film. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  8. ^ a b Travers, Peter (March 7, 2006). "16 Blocks". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  9. ^ a b Kay, Jeremy (August 8, 2010). "Millennium sells US rights on The Mechanic to CBS Films". Screen Daily.
  10. ^ a b c McNary, Dave (October 13, 2017). "Gong Li to Star in Martin Campbell's Action-Thriller 'Ana' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  11. ^ Sneider, Jeff (October 12, 2012). "Wenk to pen 'Masters of the Universe'". Variety. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  12. ^ a b Fleming, Mike (March 21, 2013). "Antoine Fuqua Eyes 'Training Day' Re-Team With Denzel Washington In 'The Equalizer'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  13. ^ Sneider, Jeff (February 24, 2014). "Sequel to Denzel Washington Thriller 'Equalizer' Moves Forward as Sony Brings Back Writer Richard Wenk". TheWrap. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  14. ^ a b "WWE's Countdown Arrives in April". February 1, 2016. Archived from the original on March 11, 2016. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  15. ^ a b Fleming, Mike Jr. (May 19, 2015). "Ed Zwick In Talks To Direct 'Jack Reacher' Sequel". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  16. ^ a b Jayson, Jay (September 3, 2016). "The Magnificent Seven Chris Pratt And Denzel Washington Character Vignettes". ComicBook.com. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  17. ^ a b McNary, Dave (September 30, 2014). "'Into the Storm' Director Enlists in Navy SEAL Thriller 'The Lake' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  18. ^ "A Re-Imagining of 'Universal Soldier' Is In The Works With Richard Wenk Set To Write The Script (EXCLUSIVE)". Discussingfilm.com. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  19. ^ Padraig Cotter (October 11, 2018). "The Equalizer Writer Is Rebooting Universal Soldier". Screen Rant. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  20. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (March 31, 2022). "James Caan & Deadpool Star Morena Baccarin Join Pierce Brosnan In Philip Noyce's Fast Charlie, Filming Begins Next Week In New Orleans". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  21. ^ Kit, Borys (November 15, 2021). "Mel Gibson to Direct 'Lethal Weapon 5'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  22. ^ "Exclusive: 'Kraven the Hunter' Movie Lands 'Equalizer' Writer Richard Wenk". Collider. August 2, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  23. ^ Muove, Eppur Si; SteveButts; Miller, Greg; Moreupdated (December 5, 2012). "Best Action Movie - Best of 2012 Guide". IGN. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  24. ^ "Home". Cinemascore. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  25. ^ "Home". Cinemascore. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  26. ^ "Fast Charlie | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. December 8, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  27. ^ Dick, Jeremy (March 20, 2022). "Sony's Kraven the Hunter Movie Starts Filming, First Set Footage Revealed". MovieWeb. Archived from the original on March 20, 2022. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  28. ^ "NAACP Image Awards 2015: Full list of nominees and winners". Los Angeles Times. February 7, 2015. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
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