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. He graduated from Metuchen High School in 1974, 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. In 1998, he wrote and directed the film Just the Ticket. In 2002, he directed the slasher film Wishcraft. In 2006, he wrote the script for Richard Donner's last film 16 Blocks. In 2011, he wrote the action film The Mechanic. By 2012, he wrote Simon West's ensemble action film The Expendables 2. In October 2012, he was hired to write the script for a Masters of the Universe reboot. He would receive an "additional literary material" credit for his work.
In 2014, he signed on to write the action film The Equalizer and its two sequels. In 2016, he wrote the action films Countdown, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, and The Magnificent Seven. In 2017, he was hired to write the script and story for Renegades. In 2018, Wenk was hired to write the reboot of Universal Soldier. In 2021, he wrote the action thriller film The Protégé. In 2023, he wrote the action film Fast Charlie. In 2024, he wrote the superhero film Kraven the Hunter and the upcoming cop action film Lethal Weapon 5.
Filmography Year Title Director Writer Notes & ref. 1979 Dracula Bites the Big Apple Also producer 1982 Annie Production assistant 1986 Vamp 1994 Attack of the 5 Ft. 2 In. Women 1998 Just the Ticket Also actor 2002 Wishcraft 2006 16 Blocks Also actor 2011 The Mechanic 2012 The Expendables 2 2014 The Equalizer 2016 Countdown The Magnificent Seven Jack Reacher: Never Go Back 2017 Renegades 2018 The Equalizer 2 Also co-producer 2021 The Protégé 2023 The Equalizer 3 Also co-producer Fast Charlie 2024 Kraven the Hunter 2026Masters of the Universe"additional literary material"
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". In 2025, for his work on Kraven the Hunter, he was nominated at the 45th Golden Raspberry Awards for "Worst Screenplay".
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