Richard Wenk
Born1956 (age 67–68)
Metuchen, New Jersey, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Occupations
  • Screenwriter
  • Film director
Years active1986–present
Notable work

Richard Wenk (born 1956) is an American film screenwriter and director best known for his work on The Expendables 2 (2012), The Equalizer film series (2014–2023), and The Magnificent Seven (2016).

Early life

Wenk was born in 1956 in Metuchen, New Jersey.[1][2] He graduated from Metuchen High School in 1974,[3] and from the New York University Tisch School of the Arts in 1979.[1]

Career

Wenk worked as an assistant to director John Huston on the 1982 film Annie.[1] 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.[1] In 1994, he directed the comedy film Attack of the 5 Ft. 2 In. Women.[4] In 1998, he wrote and directed the film Just the Ticket.[5] In 2002, he directed the slasher film Wishcraft.[6] In 2006, he wrote the script for Richard Donner's last film 16 Blocks.[7] In 2011, he wrote the action film The Mechanic.[8] By 2012, he wrote Simon West's ensemble action film The Expendables 2.[9] In October 2012, he was hired to write the script for the Masters of the Universe reboot.[10]

In 2014, he signed on to write the action film The Equalizer and its two sequels.[11][12] In 2016, he wrote the action films Countdown, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, and The Magnificent Seven.[13][14][15] In 2017, he was hired to write the script and story for Renegades.[16] In 2018, Wenk was hired to write the reboot of Universal Soldier.[17][18] In 2021, he wrote the action thriller film The Protégé.[9] In 2023, he wrote the action film Fast Charlie.[19] He was announced to be writing the upcoming films Lethal Finale and Kraven the Hunter.[20][21]

Filmography

Year Title Director Writer Notes & ref.
1979 Dracula Bites the Big Apple Yes No [1]
1982 Annie Assistant No [1]
1986 Vamp Yes Yes [1]
1994 Attack of the 5 Ft. 2 In. Women Yes No [4]
1998 Just the Ticket Yes Yes Also actor[5]
2002 Wishcraft Yes No [6]
2006 16 Blocks No Yes Also actor[7]
2011 The Mechanic No Yes [8]
2012 The Expendables 2 No Yes [9]
2014 The Equalizer No Yes [11]
2016 Countdown No Yes [13]
The Magnificent Seven No Yes [15]
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back No Yes [14]
2017 Renegades No Yes [16]
2018 The Equalizer 2 No Yes Also co-producer
2021 The Protégé No Yes [9]
2023 The Equalizer 3 No Yes Also co-producer
Fast Charlie No Yes
2024 Kraven the Hunter No Yes Post-production[22]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Schwartz, David (July 27, 1986). "Richard Wenk, Vamping Out". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on March 4, 2022. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Richard Wenk". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on April 28, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. 1 2 "National Lampoon 1992-1998".
  5. 1 2 "Just the Ticket". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on January 21, 2023.
  6. 1 2 "Wishcraft". Eye for Film. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  7. 1 2 Travers, Peter (March 7, 2006). "16 Blocks". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  8. 1 2 Kay, Jeremy (August 8, 2010). "Millennium sells US rights on The Mechanic to CBS Films". Screen Daily.
  9. 1 2 3 4 McNary, Dave (October 13, 2017). "Gong Li to Star in Martin Campbell's Action-Thriller 'Ana' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  10. ↑ Sneider, Jeff (October 12, 2012). "Wenk to pen 'Masters of the Universe'". Variety. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  11. 1 2 Fleming, Mike (March 21, 2013). "Antoine Fuqua Eyes 'Training Day' Re-Team With Denzel Washington In 'The Equalizer'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  12. ↑ 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.
  13. 1 2 "WWE's Countdown Arrives in April". February 1, 2016. Archived from the original on March 11, 2016. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  14. 1 2 Fleming, Mike Jr. (May 19, 2015). "Ed Zwick In Talks To Direct 'Jack Reacher' Sequel". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  15. 1 2 Jayson, Jay (September 3, 2016). "The Magnificent Seven Chris Pratt And Denzel Washington Character Vignettes". ComicBook.com. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  16. 1 2 McNary, Dave (September 30, 2014). "'Into the Storm' Director Enlists in Navy SEAL Thriller 'The Lake' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  17. ↑ "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.
  18. ↑ Padraig Cotter (October 11, 2018). "The Equalizer Writer Is Rebooting Universal Soldier". Screen Rant. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  19. ↑ 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.
  20. ↑ Kit, Borys (November 15, 2021). "Mel Gibson to Direct 'Lethal Weapon 5'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  21. ↑ "Exclusive: 'Kraven the Hunter' Movie Lands 'Equalizer' Writer Richard Wenk". Collider. August 2, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  22. ↑ 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.
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