Richard Wenk
{{short description|American screenwriter and director}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Richard Wenk
| image =
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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|5|6}}
| birth_place = Metuchen, New Jersey, U.S.
| occupation = {{hlist|Screenwriter|Film director}}
| mother =
| father =
| spouse =
| years_active = 1986–present
| nationality = American
| notable_works = {{Plainlist|
}}
| website =
}}
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).
Early life
Wenk was born in 1956 in Metuchen, New Jersey.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/style/1986/07/27/richard-wenk-vamping-out/31e4b353-0c55-41b9-b009-1f4d03af2dd6/|title=Richard Wenk, Vamping Out|last=Schwartz|first=David|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=July 27, 1986|archive-url=https://archive.today/20220304193215/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/style/1986/07/27/richard-wenk-vamping-out/31e4b353-0c55-41b9-b009-1f4d03af2dd6/|url-status=live|archive-date=March 4, 2022|access-date=March 4, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba7b635c8|title=Richard Wenk|work=British Film Institute|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428145255/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba7b635c8|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 28, 2019|access-date=March 4, 2022}} He graduated from Metuchen High School in 1974,{{cite web|url=https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/education/in-our-schools/2015/07/26/metuchen-hall-fame/30567035/|title=Metuchen 'welcomes back' alumni for Hall of Fame nominations|last=Tufaro|first=Greg|work=Courier News|date=July 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925040236/https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/education/in-our-schools/2015/07/26/metuchen-hall-fame/30567035/|url-status=live|archive-date=September 25, 2020|access-date=March 4, 2022}} and from the New York University Tisch School of the Arts in 1979.
Career
Wenk worked as an assistant to director John Huston on the 1982 film Annie. 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. In 1994, he directed the comedy film Attack of the 5 Ft. 2 In. Women.{{Cite web|url=http://lampoon.rwinters.com/Lampoon1992-1998.htm|title=National Lampoon 1992-1998}} In 1998, he wrote and directed the film Just the Ticket.{{cite web |title=Just the Ticket |website=Entertainment Weekly |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121015839/https://ew.com/article/1999/03/05/just-ticket/ |archive-date=January 21, 2023 |url-status=live |url=https://ew.com/article/1999/03/05/just-ticket/}} In 2002, he directed the slasher film Wishcraft.{{cite web|title=Wishcraft|url=http://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/wishcraft-film-review-by-trinity|website=Eye for Film|access-date=4 March 2022}} In 2006, he wrote the script for Richard Donner's last film 16 Blocks.{{cite magazine |last=Travers |first=Peter |author-link=Peter Travers |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/16-blocks-20060307 |title=16 Blocks |magazine=Rolling Stone |publisher=Wenner Media |date=March 7, 2006 |access-date=March 4, 2022 }} In 2011, he wrote the action film The Mechanic.{{Cite news |last=Kay |first=Jeremy |url=http://www.screendaily.com/news/distribution/millennium-sells-us-rights-on-the-mechanic-to-cbs-films/5016808.article |title=Millennium sells US rights on The Mechanic to CBS Films |date=August 8, 2010 |work=Screen Daily}} 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.{{cite magazine|last=Sneider|first=Jeff |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118060695 |title= Wenk to pen 'Masters of the Universe' |magazine=Variety |date=2012-10-12 |access-date=March 4, 2022}}
In 2014, he signed on to write the action film The Equalizer and its two sequels.{{cite web|last=Fleming |first=Mike |url=https://deadline.com/2013/03/antoine-fuqua-eyes-training-day-re-team-with-denzel-washington-in-the-equalizer-458699/ |title=Antoine Fuqua Eyes 'Training Day' Re-Team With Denzel Washington In 'The Equalizer' |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=March 4, 2022|date=March 21, 2013 }}{{cite news|last=Sneider|first=Jeff|title=Sequel to Denzel Washington Thriller 'Equalizer' Moves Forward as Sony Brings Back Writer Richard Wenk|url=https://www.thewrap.com/equalizer-2-moving-forward-sony-brings-back-screenwriter-richard-wenk-exclusive/|access-date=March 4, 2022|work=TheWrap|date=February 24, 2014}} In 2016, he wrote the action films Countdown, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, and The Magnificent Seven.{{cite news|url=http://horrorfreaknews.com/wwes-countdown-arrives-in-april|title=WWE's Countdown Arrives in April |date=February 1, 2016|access-date=March 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311070808/http://horrorfreaknews.com/wwes-countdown-arrives-in-april|archive-date=March 11, 2016|url-status=usurped}}{{cite news|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|title=Ed Zwick In Talks To Direct 'Jack Reacher' Sequel|url=https://deadline.com/2015/05/jack-reacher-sequel-ed-zwick-director-paramount-1201429671/|access-date=March 4, 2022|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=May 19, 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://comicbook.com/2016/09/03/the-magnificent-seven-chris-pratt-and-denzel-washington-characte/|title=The Magnificent Seven Chris Pratt And Denzel Washington Character Vignettes|first=Jay|last=Jayson|work=ComicBook.com |date=September 3, 2016|access-date=March 4, 2022}} In 2017, he was hired to write the script and story for Renegades.{{cite news|last1=McNary|first1=Dave|title='Into the Storm' Director Enlists in Navy SEAL Thriller 'The Lake' (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/steve-quale-action-lake-luc-besson-1201317432/|access-date=March 4, 2022|work=Variety|date=September 30, 2014}} In 2018, Wenk was hired to write the reboot of Universal Soldier.{{cite web|title=A Re-Imagining of 'Universal Soldier' Is In The Works With Richard Wenk Set To Write The Script (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://discussingfilm.com/2018/10/09/a-re-imagining-of-universal-solider-is-in-the-works-with-richard-wenk-set-to-write-the-script-exclusive/|website=Discussingfilm.com|access-date=March 4, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/universal-soldier-reboot-writer/|title=The Equalizer Writer Is Rebooting Universal Soldier|author=Padraig Cotter|work=Screen Rant|date=October 11, 2018|access-date=March 4, 2022}} In 2021, he wrote the action thriller film The Protégé.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/asia/gong-li-martin-campbell-ana-1202589041/|title=Gong Li to Star in Martin Campbell's Action-Thriller 'Ana' (EXCLUSIVE)|website=Variety|first=Dave|last=McNary|author-link=Dave McNary|date=October 13, 2017|access-date=March 4, 2022}} In 2023, he wrote the action film Fast Charlie.{{cite web|last=Wiseman|first=Andreas|url=https://deadline.com/2022/03/deadpool-morena-baccarin-james-caan-pierce-brosnan-fast-charlie-1234991656/|title=James Caan & Deadpool Star Morena Baccarin Join Pierce Brosnan In Philip Noyce's Fast Charlie, Filming Begins Next Week In New Orleans|date=March 31, 2022|work=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=April 10, 2022}} In 2024, he wrote the superhero film Kraven the Hunter and the upcoming cop action film Lethal Finale.{{Cite web|last=Kit|first=Borys|date=2021-11-15|title=Mel Gibson to Direct 'Lethal Weapon 5'|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/mel-gibson-lethal-weapon-5-direct-1235048056/|access-date=March 4, 2022|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en-US}}{{cite web|url=http://collider.com/kraven-the-hunter-movie-richard-wenk/|title=Exclusive: 'Kraven the Hunter' Movie Lands 'Equalizer' Writer Richard Wenk|website=Collider|date=August 2, 2018|access-date=March 4, 2022}}
Filmography
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".{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=February 7, 2015 |title=NAACP Image Awards 2015: Full list of nominees and winners |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-naacp-image-awards-2014-full-list-of-nominees-20141209-story.html |access-date=October 6, 2024 |website=Los Angeles Times}} In 2025, for his work on Kraven the Hunter, he was nominated at the 45th Golden Raspberry Awards for "Worst Screenplay".{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/razzie-awards-nominations-2025-full-list-1236114097/ |title=Razzie Awards: 'Joker 2' Tops Nominations; 'Madame Web', 'Megalopolis', 'Reagan' Also Among Nominees |last=Nordyke |first=Kimberly |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=January 21, 2025 |access-date=January 22, 2025}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|0921013}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wenk, Richard}}
Category:20th-century American male writers
Category:20th-century American screenwriters
Category:21st-century American male writers
Category:21st-century American screenwriters
Category:American male screenwriters
Category:Film directors from New Jersey
Category:Metuchen High School alumni
Category:People from Metuchen, New Jersey
Category:Screenwriters from New Jersey