Derek Kolstad (born April 4, 1974) is an American screenwriter and film producer. He is the creator of the John Wick franchise, which began in 2014. He continued to write for the first two sequels of the franchise and is mainly known as a screenwriter of action films and shows.
Biography Originally from Madison, Wisconsin, Kolstad attended Edgewood High School of the Sacred Heart and later studied business administration at Taylor University in Indiana. He moved to California at age 24 to pursue screenwriting. He says he started writing films when he was a teenager, but he struggled to find success in Hollywood at first.Doug Moe, Doug Moe: John Wick, hit man, Madison.com, January 6, 2014.
Career The first script he sold was called Acolyte, which was purchased by Voltage Pictures in June 2012. After that, he got some writing and re-writing work, including work on One in the Chamber, starring Dolph Lundgren and Cuba Gooding Jr. He then wrote The Package, which also starred Lundgren.
Kolstad sold a script titled Scorn to Thunder Road Pictures, which signed Keanu Reeves for the lead role in April 2013. At Reeves' suggestion, the film was renamed John Wick after the title character, whom Kolstad had named after his maternal grandfather. The film was released in 2014 and was followed by John Wick: Chapter 2 in 2017 and John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum in 2019.Gary Collinson, An interview with Derek Kolstad, screenwriter of John Wick, Flickering Myth, October 24, 2014. Kolstad wrote the video game John Wick: Chronicles and was involved with the creation of a comic book series. However, he was not asked by the studio to continue writing for the fourth or subsequent films.
In 2017, it was reported that Kolstad would write a live-action television adaptation of the Hitman franchise as well as an action-thriller titled The Steward.Dave McNary, ‘John Wick’ Writer Derek Kolstad Sets up ‘The Steward’ With Cristal Pictures, Variety, June 19, 2017.James White, Hitman Targets A TV Relaunch With John Wick's Derek Kolstad, Empire, November 13, 2017.Borys Kit, 'John Wick 3' Brings Back Writer Derek Kolstad, Hollywood Reporter, June 1, 2017. In 2019, it was reported that Kolstad would write and produce a live-action film adaptation of the Just Cause franchise. In 2020, Netflix announced that Kolstad would be an executive producer and writer on a Splinter Cell anime series. In 2021, Kolstad was hired to write the screenplay for a live-action adaptation of Hellsing for Amazon Prime Video.
Kolstad wrote the screenplay for the 2021 film Nobody starring Bob Odenkirk, and two episodes of the 2021 Marvel Studios television series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
Personal life Kolstad lives in Pasadena, California with his wife Sonja and twin children.
Filmography Also credited as "characters created" in the John Wick franchise.
Film Year Title Writer Producer Director 2012 One in the Chamber William Kaufman 2013 The Package Jesse V. Johnson 2014 John Wick Chad StahelskiDavid Leitch 2017 John Wick: Chapter 2 Chad Stahelski 2019 John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum 2021 Nobody Ilya Naishuller 2025 Nobody 2 Timo Tjahjanto Normal Ben Wheatley TBA Painter Garrett Warren The Reckoner Kenji Tanigakihttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/the-furious-director-kenji-tanigaki-peter-dinklage-reckoner-1236634874/
Television Year(s) Title Writer Executiveproducer Notes 2020 Die Hart Also creator 2021 The Falcon and the Winter Soldier Episodes "Power Broker" and "The Whole World Is Watching" 2023 The Continental: From the World of John Wick 2025–present Splinter Cell: Deathwatch Also creator
Documentary appearance Wick Is Pain (2025)
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