Richard Wenk Explained

Richard Wenk
Birth Place:Metuchen, New Jersey, U.S.
Years Active:1986–present
Nationality:American

Richard Wenk (born 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. 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, , 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.[19] 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

YearTitleDirectorWriterNotes & ref.
1979Dracula Bites the Big Apple
1982Annie
1986Vamp
1994Attack of the 5 Ft. 2 In. Women
1998Just the TicketAlso actor
2002Wishcraft
200616 BlocksAlso actor
2011The Mechanic
2012The Expendables 2Nominated - IGN Movie Awards Best Action Film[23]
2014The Equalizer
2016Countdown
The Magnificent SevenNominated - Saturn Awards Best Action Film
2017Renegades
2018The Equalizer 2A on CinemaScore.[24] Also co-producer.
2021The Protégé
2023The Equalizer 3A on CinemaScore.[25] Also co-producer.
Fast Charlie86% on Rotten Tomatoes[26]
2024Kraven the HunterPost-production[27]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Home . 2024-03-05 . Cinemascore . en-US.
  2. News: Richard Wenk, Vamping Out. Schwartz. David. The Washington Post. July 27, 1986. https://archive.today/20220304193215/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/style/1986/07/27/richard-wenk-vamping-out/31e4b353-0c55-41b9-b009-1f4d03af2dd6/. live. March 4, 2022. March 4, 2022.
  3. Web site: Richard Wenk. British Film Institute. https://web.archive.org/web/20190428145255/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba7b635c8. dead. April 28, 2019. March 4, 2022.
  4. Web site: Metuchen 'welcomes back' alumni for Hall of Fame nominations. Tufaro. Greg. Courier News. July 26, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20200925040236/https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/education/in-our-schools/2015/07/26/metuchen-hall-fame/30567035/. live. September 25, 2020. March 4, 2022.
  5. Web site: National Lampoon 1992-1998.
  6. Web site: Just the Ticket . . https://web.archive.org/web/20230121015839/https://ew.com/article/1999/03/05/just-ticket/ . January 21, 2023 . live .
  7. Web site: Wishcraft. Eye for Film. 4 March 2022.
  8. Travers . Peter . Peter Travers . 16 Blocks . . . March 7, 2006 . March 4, 2022 .
  9. News: Kay . Jeremy . Millennium sells US rights on The Mechanic to CBS Films . August 8, 2010 . Screen Daily.
  10. Sneider. Jeff . Wenk to pen 'Masters of the Universe' . . 2012-10-12 . March 4, 2022.
  11. Web site: Fleming . Mike . Antoine Fuqua Eyes 'Training Day' Re-Team With Denzel Washington In 'The Equalizer' . . March 4, 2022. March 21, 2013 .
  12. News: Sneider. Jeff. Sequel to Denzel Washington Thriller 'Equalizer' Moves Forward as Sony Brings Back Writer Richard Wenk. March 4, 2022. TheWrap. February 24, 2014.
  13. News: WWE's Countdown Arrives in April . February 1, 2016. March 4, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20160311070808/http://horrorfreaknews.com/wwes-countdown-arrives-in-april. March 11, 2016. dead.
  14. News: Fleming. Mike Jr.. Ed Zwick In Talks To Direct 'Jack Reacher' Sequel. March 4, 2022. Deadline Hollywood. May 19, 2015.
  15. Web site: The Magnificent Seven Chris Pratt And Denzel Washington Character Vignettes. Jay. Jayson. . September 3, 2016. March 4, 2022.
  16. News: McNary. Dave. 'Into the Storm' Director Enlists in Navy SEAL Thriller 'The Lake' (EXCLUSIVE). March 4, 2022. Variety. September 30, 2014.
  17. Web site: A Re-Imagining of 'Universal Soldier' Is In The Works With Richard Wenk Set To Write The Script (EXCLUSIVE). Discussingfilm.com. March 4, 2022.
  18. Web site: The Equalizer Writer Is Rebooting Universal Soldier. Padraig Cotter. Screen Rant. October 11, 2018. March 4, 2022.
  19. Web site: Gong Li to Star in Martin Campbell's Action-Thriller 'Ana' (EXCLUSIVE). Variety. Dave. McNary. Dave McNary. October 13, 2017. March 4, 2022.
  20. Web site: Wiseman. Andreas. James Caan & Deadpool Star Morena Baccarin Join Pierce Brosnan In Philip Noyce's Fast Charlie, Filming Begins Next Week In New Orleans. March 31, 2022. Deadline Hollywood. April 10, 2022.
  21. Web site: Kit. Borys. 2021-11-15. Mel Gibson to Direct 'Lethal Weapon 5'. March 4, 2022. The Hollywood Reporter. en-US.
  22. Web site: Exclusive: 'Kraven the Hunter' Movie Lands 'Equalizer' Writer Richard Wenk. Collider. August 2, 2018. March 4, 2022.
  23. Web site: Muove . Eppur Si . SteveButts . Miller . Greg . Moreupdated . 2012-12-05 . Best Action Movie - Best of 2012 Guide . 2024-02-22 . IGN . en.
  24. Web site: Home . 2024-02-17 . Cinemascore . en-US.
  25. Web site: Home . 2024-02-17 . Cinemascore . en-US.
  26. Web site: 2023-12-08 . Fast Charlie Rotten Tomatoes . 2024-02-17 . www.rottentomatoes.com . en.
  27. Web site: Dick . Jeremy . March 20, 2022 . Sony's Kraven the Hunter Movie Starts Filming, First Set Footage Revealed . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220320140833/https://movieweb.com/kraven-the-hunter-started-filming/ . March 20, 2022 . March 20, 2022 . MovieWeb.

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