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{{short description|American screenwriter (born 1968)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2013}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2013}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
|name = Zak Penn
| name = Zak Penn
|image = Zak Penn by David Shankbone.jpg
| image = Zak Penn by Gage Skidmore.jpg
|caption = Penn at the Tribeca Film Festival
| caption = Penn at the 2017 [[San Diego Comic-Con]]
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1968|9|1}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1968|3|23}}
|birth_place = New York, United States
| birth_place = [[New York (state)|New York]], U.S.
|occupation = Film director, screenwriter, producer
| occupation = Screenwriter
|parents = Arthur Penn}}
| parents =
}}


'''Zak Penn''' (born March 23, 1968) is an American screenwriter and director.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://movies.nytimes.com/person/167055/Zak-Penn|work=The New York Times|title=The New York Times}}</ref> Penn wrote and directed ''[[Incident at Loch Ness]]'' and ''[[The Grand (film)|The Grand]]'', and co-wrote the script for ''[[X2 (film)|X2]]'', ''[[X-Men: The Last Stand]]'' and the story for ''[[The Avengers (2012 film)|The Avengers]]''. With Michael Karnow, Penn is the co-creator of the TV series ''[[Alphas]]'' on the [[Syfy]] network.<ref>[http://www.stargazette.com/article/20110918/LIFE/110918002/More-Alphas-Writing-an-autistic-character-importance-planning-ahead?odyssey=nav|head Stargazette.com]</ref>
'''Zak Penn''' (born March 23, 1968) is an American screenwriter.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/person/167055/Zak-Penn|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309133122/http://movies.nytimes.com/person/167055/Zak-Penn|url-status=dead|archive-date=2008-03-09|department=Movies & TV Dept.|publisher=[[Baseline (database)|Baseline]] & [[All Movie Guide]]|date=2008|title=The New York Times}}</ref> Penn wrote and directed ''[[Incident at Loch Ness]]'' and ''[[The Grand (film)|The Grand]]'', wrote the script for [[The Incredible Hulk (film)|''The Incredible Hulk'']], co-wrote the scripts for ''[[X2 (film)|X2]]'', ''[[X-Men: The Last Stand]]'', and the story for ''[[The Avengers (2012 film)|The Avengers]]''. With Michael Karnow, Penn is the co-creator of the TV series ''[[Alphas]]'' on the [[Syfy]] network.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stargazette.com/article/20110918/LIFE/110918002/More-Alphas-Writing-an-autistic-character-importance-planning-ahead?odyssey=nav%7Chead|title=Elmira Star-Gazette|website=Elmira Star-Gazette}}</ref>


==Early life==
==Early life==
Penn graduated from [[Wesleyan University]] in 1990. His screenplay for ''[[PCU (film)|PCU]]'' was based on his experiences at the [[Eclectic Society (Fraternity)|Eclectic Society]] house. He is the son of New York businessman and lawyer Arthur Penn, who led the acquisition of the Capital Markets Assurance Corporation from Citicorp.<ref name="Thomas Jefferson University">[http://www.jefferson.edu/jmc/radiology/news_rao.cfm Jefferson Names First Endowed Chair in Department's History], Jefferson.edu.</ref>
Penn was born in [[New York (state)|New York]]. He is the son of New York businessman and lawyer Arthur Penn, who led the acquisition of the Capital Markets Assurance Corporation from [[Citicorp]].<ref name="Thomas Jefferson University">{{cite web | url= http://www.jefferson.edu/jmc/radiology/news_rao.cfm | title= Jefferson Names First Endowed Chair in Department's History| website= Jefferson.edu| publisher= Jefferson University| date= | accessdate=}}</ref>

Zak Penn graduated from [[Wesleyan University]] in 1990. His screenplay for ''[[PCU (film)|PCU]]'' was based on his experiences at the [[Eclectic Society (Fraternity)|Eclectic Society]] house.


==Career==
==Career==

Films that Penn has been involved in writing include ''[[Last Action Hero]]'', ''[[Inspector Gadget (film)|Inspector Gadget]]'', ''[[X2 (film)|X2]]'', ''[[X-Men: The Last Stand]]'', and ''[[Elektra (2005 film)|Elektra]]''. Penn wrote early drafts of ''[[Hulk (film)|Hulk]]'', ''[[The Incredible Hulk (film)|The Incredible Hulk]]'', and ''[[The Avengers (2012 film)|The Avengers]]''.
Films that Penn has been involved in writing include ''[[Last Action Hero]]'', ''[[X2 (film)|X2]]'', ''[[X-Men: The Last Stand]]'', and ''[[Elektra (2005 film)|Elektra]]''. Penn wrote early drafts of ''[[Hulk (film)|Hulk]]'', ''[[The Incredible Hulk (film)|The Incredible Hulk]]'', ''[[The Avengers (2012 film)|The Avengers]]'' and ''[[Free Guy]]''.


Penn is also a jury member for the digital studio Filmaka, a platform for undiscovered filmmakers to show their work to industry professionals.<ref name="Filmaka">[http://www.filmaka.com/profile_jury_favfilms.php?profile_id=5681 Filmaka Jury Member Zack Penn], Filmaka.com.</ref>
Penn is also a jury member for the digital studio Filmaka, a platform for undiscovered filmmakers to show their work to industry professionals.<ref name="Filmaka">[http://www.filmaka.com/profile_jury_favfilms.php?profile_id=5681 Filmaka Jury Member Zack Penn], Filmaka.com.</ref>


In July 2012, [[Avatar Press]] released the first issue of Penn's first comic book, Hero Worship. The six issue series is co-written with ''[[Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 TV series)|Star Wars: The Clone Wars]]'' screenwriter Scott Murphy and drawn by Michael DiPascale. It centers on Zenith, an indestructible hero who has fans following every disaster, trying to catch a glimpse of the ultimate celebrity and risking their own lives in the process. One fan becomes so obsessed that it leads to the development of his own powers.
In July 2012, [[Avatar Press]] released the first issue of Penn's first comic book, ''Hero Worship''. The six-issue series is co-written with ''[[Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 TV series)|Star Wars: The Clone Wars]]'' screenwriter Scott Murphy and drawn by Michael DiPascale. It centers on Zenith, an indestructible hero who has fans following every disaster, trying to catch a glimpse of the ultimate celebrity and risking their own lives in the process. One fan becomes so obsessed that it leads to the development of his own powers.


He directed the documentary film [[Atari: Game Over]].
He directed the documentary film ''[[Atari: Game Over]]''.


==Writing credits==
==Filmography==
===Films===
*''[[Last Action Hero]]'' (with [[Adam Leff]] and [[Shane Black]]) (1993)
{| class="wikitable"
*''[[PCU (film)|PCU]]'' (with [[Adam Leff]]) (1994)
|- style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
*''[[Men in Black]]'' (uncredited co-writing) (1997) <ref>http://www.nytimes.com/1998/08/23/magazine/the-blockbuster-script-factory.html?pagewanted=all</ref>
! rowspan="2" style="width:33px;"|Year
*''[[The Mask of Zorro]]'' (uncredited co-writing) (1998) <ref>http://www.nytimes.com/1998/08/23/magazine/the-blockbuster-script-factory.html?pagewanted=all</ref>
! rowspan="2"|Title
*''[[Inspector Gadget (film)|Inspector Gadget]]'' (with [[Kerry Ehrin]]) (1999)
! colspan="2"|Credited as
*''[[Behind Enemy Lines (2001 film)|Behind Enemy Lines]]'' (with [[David Veloz]]) (2001)
! rowspan="2"|Notes
*''[[X2 (film)|X2]]'' (2003) (story only)
|-
*''[[Incident at Loch Ness]]'' (with [[Werner Herzog]]) (2004) (also director)
! width=65 | [[Film director|Director]]
*''[[Suspect Zero]]'' (with [[Billy Ray (screenwriter)|Billy Ray]]) (2004)
! width=65 | [[Screenwriter|Writer]]
*''[[Fantastic Four (2005 video game)|The Fantastic Four]]'' (2005) (video game)
|-
*''[[Elektra (2005 film)|Elektra]]'' (with [[Stu Zicherman]] and [[Raven Metzner]]) (2005)
|1993
*''[[X-Men: The Official Game]]'' (2006) (video game)
|''[[Last Action Hero]]''
*''[[X-Men: The Last Stand]]'' (with [[Simon Kinberg]]) (2006)
|{{no}}
*''[[The Grand (film)|The Grand]]'' (with [[Matt Bierman]]) (2007) (also director)
|{{partial|Story}}
*''[[The Incredible Hulk (film)|The Incredible Hulk]]'' (with [[Edward Norton]] rewrites) (2008)
| Co-story writer with Adam Leff
*''[[Alphas]]'' (co-created with [[Michael Karnow]]) (2011) (TV)
|-
*''[[The Avengers (2012 film)|The Avengers]]'' (story only, with [[Joss Whedon]]) (2012)
|1994
*''[[Atari: Game Over]]'' (2014) (Director)
|''[[PCU (film)|PCU]]''
*''[[Pacific Rim (film)#Sequel|Pacific Rim: Maelstrom]]'' (with [[Guillermo del Toro]]) (2018)
|{{no}}
*''[[Ready Player One (film)|Ready Player One]]'' (with [[Ernest Cline]] and [[Eric Eason]]) (2018)
|{{yes}}
|Co-screenwriter with Adam Leff
|-
|1997
|''[[Men in Black (1997 film)|Men in Black]]''
|{{no}}
|{{yes|Uncredited}}
|<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/08/23/magazine/the-blockbuster-script-factory.html|title=The Blockbuster Script Factory|first=Jaime|last=Wolf|newspaper=The New York Times|date=August 23, 1998}}</ref>
|-
|1998
|''[[Antz]]''
|{{no}}
|{{yes|Uncredited}}
|Story consultant
|-
|1999
|''[[Inspector Gadget (film)|Inspector Gadget]]''
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|Co-screenwriter with [[Kerry Ehrin]]
|-
|2000
|''[[Charlie's Angels (2000 film)|Charlie's Angels]]''
|{{no}}
|{{yes|Uncredited}}
|Script revisions
|-
|2001
|''[[Behind Enemy Lines (2001 film)|Behind Enemy Lines]]''
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|Co-screenwriter with David Veloz
|-
|2002
|''[[Reign of Fire (film)|Reign of Fire]]''
|{{no}}
|{{yes|Uncredited}}
|<ref>{{cite web|last=Ullrich|first=Chris|url=https://www.comicmix.com/2008/04/15/interview-zak-penn-on-the-grand-x-men-fans-and-co-writing-hulk/|title=Interview: Zak Penn on The Grand, X-Men Fans and Co-Writing Hulk|date=April 15, 2008|website=ComicMix|accessdate=February 18, 2023}}</ref>
|-
|2003
|''[[X2 (film)|X2]]''
|{{no}}
|{{partial|Story}}
|Co-story writer with [[David Hayter]] and [[Bryan Singer]]
|-
|rowspan="2"|2004
|''[[Incident at Loch Ness]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|Directorial debut; co-screenwriter with [[Werner Herzog]]; on-screen appearance
|-
|''[[Suspect Zero]]''
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|Co-screenwriter [[Billy Ray (screenwriter)|Billy Ray]]
|-
|2005
|''[[Elektra (2005 film)|Elektra]]''
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|Co-screenwriter with Stu Zicherman and [[Raven Metzner]]
|-
|2006
|''[[X-Men: The Last Stand]]''
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|Co-screenwriter with [[Simon Kinberg]]
|-
|2007
|''[[The Grand (film)|The Grand]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|Co-screenwriter with Matt Bierman
|-
|2008
|''[[The Incredible Hulk (film)|The Incredible Hulk]]''
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|Story; with uncredited screenwriting rewrites by [[Edward Norton]]
|-
|2012
|''[[The Avengers (2012 film)|The Avengers]]''
|{{no}}
|{{partial|Story}}
|Co-story writer with [[Joss Whedon]]
|-
|2014
|''[[Atari: Game Over]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|Documentary; on-screen appearance
|-
|2018
|''[[Ready Player One (film)|Ready Player One]]''
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|Co-screenwriter with [[Ernest Cline]]
|-
|2021
|''[[Free Guy]]''
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|Co-screenwriter with [[Matt Lieberman]]
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! rowspan="2" style="width:33px;"|Year
! rowspan="2"|Title
! colspan="4"|Credited as
! rowspan="2"|Notes
|-
! width=50 | [[Screenwriter|Writer]]
! width=50 | [[Television producer|Producer]]
! width=50 | [[Showrunner]]
! width=50 | [[Television program creator|Creator]]
|-
|2011–2012
|''[[Alphas]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes|Executive}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|Co-created with Michael Karnow
|-
|2023
|''[[Beacon 23]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes|Executive}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|
|-
|}

===Video games===
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! rowspan="2" style="width:33px;"|Year
! rowspan="2"|Title
! colspan="3"|Credited as
! rowspan="2"|Notes
|-
! width=50 | [[Creative director]]
! width=50 | [[Screenwriter|Writer]]
! width=50 | [[Technical director]]
|-
|2005
|''[[Fantastic Four (2005 video game)|Fantastic Four]]''
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|Credited for game story and dialogue
|-
|2006
|''[[X-Men: The Official Game]]''
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|Credited for screenplay
|-
|}


==References==
==References==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Penn, Zak}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Penn, Zak}}
[[Category:1968 births]]
[[Category:1968 births]]
[[Category:American male screenwriters]]
[[Category:Film directors from New York (state)]]
[[Category:American film directors]]
[[Category:American film producers]]
[[Category:American film producers]]
[[Category:American male screenwriters]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Wesleyan University alumni]]
[[Category:Wesleyan University alumni]]

Latest revision as of 19:57, 28 May 2024

Zak Penn
Penn at the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con
Born (1968-03-23) March 23, 1968 (age 56)
New York, U.S.
OccupationScreenwriter

Zak Penn (born March 23, 1968) is an American screenwriter.[1] Penn wrote and directed Incident at Loch Ness and The Grand, wrote the script for The Incredible Hulk, co-wrote the scripts for X2, X-Men: The Last Stand, and the story for The Avengers. With Michael Karnow, Penn is the co-creator of the TV series Alphas on the Syfy network.[2]

Early life

[edit]

Penn was born in New York. He is the son of New York businessman and lawyer Arthur Penn, who led the acquisition of the Capital Markets Assurance Corporation from Citicorp.[3]

Zak Penn graduated from Wesleyan University in 1990. His screenplay for PCU was based on his experiences at the Eclectic Society house.

Career

[edit]

Films that Penn has been involved in writing include Last Action Hero, X2, X-Men: The Last Stand, and Elektra. Penn wrote early drafts of Hulk, The Incredible Hulk, The Avengers and Free Guy.

Penn is also a jury member for the digital studio Filmaka, a platform for undiscovered filmmakers to show their work to industry professionals.[4]

In July 2012, Avatar Press released the first issue of Penn's first comic book, Hero Worship. The six-issue series is co-written with Star Wars: The Clone Wars screenwriter Scott Murphy and drawn by Michael DiPascale. It centers on Zenith, an indestructible hero who has fans following every disaster, trying to catch a glimpse of the ultimate celebrity and risking their own lives in the process. One fan becomes so obsessed that it leads to the development of his own powers.

He directed the documentary film Atari: Game Over.

Filmography

[edit]

Films

[edit]
Year Title Credited as Notes
Director Writer
1993 Last Action Hero No Story Co-story writer with Adam Leff
1994 PCU No Yes Co-screenwriter with Adam Leff
1997 Men in Black No Uncredited [5]
1998 Antz No Uncredited Story consultant
1999 Inspector Gadget No Yes Co-screenwriter with Kerry Ehrin
2000 Charlie's Angels No Uncredited Script revisions
2001 Behind Enemy Lines No Yes Co-screenwriter with David Veloz
2002 Reign of Fire No Uncredited [6]
2003 X2 No Story Co-story writer with David Hayter and Bryan Singer
2004 Incident at Loch Ness Yes Yes Directorial debut; co-screenwriter with Werner Herzog; on-screen appearance
Suspect Zero No Yes Co-screenwriter Billy Ray
2005 Elektra No Yes Co-screenwriter with Stu Zicherman and Raven Metzner
2006 X-Men: The Last Stand No Yes Co-screenwriter with Simon Kinberg
2007 The Grand Yes Yes Co-screenwriter with Matt Bierman
2008 The Incredible Hulk No Yes Story; with uncredited screenwriting rewrites by Edward Norton
2012 The Avengers No Story Co-story writer with Joss Whedon
2014 Atari: Game Over Yes No Documentary; on-screen appearance
2018 Ready Player One No Yes Co-screenwriter with Ernest Cline
2021 Free Guy No Yes Co-screenwriter with Matt Lieberman

Television

[edit]
Year Title Credited as Notes
Writer Producer Showrunner Creator
2011–2012 Alphas Yes Executive No Yes Co-created with Michael Karnow
2023 Beacon 23 Yes Executive Yes Yes

Video games

[edit]
Year Title Credited as Notes
Creative director Writer Technical director
2005 Fantastic Four No Yes No Credited for game story and dialogue
2006 X-Men: The Official Game No Yes No Credited for screenplay

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The New York Times". Movies & TV Dept. Baseline & All Movie Guide. 2008. Archived from the original on March 9, 2008.
  2. ^ "Elmira Star-Gazette". Elmira Star-Gazette.
  3. ^ "Jefferson Names First Endowed Chair in Department's History". Jefferson.edu. Jefferson University.
  4. ^ Filmaka Jury Member Zack Penn, Filmaka.com.
  5. ^ Wolf, Jaime (August 23, 1998). "The Blockbuster Script Factory". The New York Times.
  6. ^ Ullrich, Chris (April 15, 2008). "Interview: Zak Penn on The Grand, X-Men Fans and Co-Writing Hulk". ComicMix. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
[edit]
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