Originally dreamt up as a movie titled Scorn by screenwriter Derek Kolstad, John Wick landed Keanu Reeves and served as a catalyst for the revival of the career for the fan-favorite actor. No doubt. For more, www.smithlgreg.com, A Dungeons & Dragons TV Series May Accompany the Upcoming Chris Pine Movie, 'Bridgerton' Star Reg-Jean Page Levels Up as Newest 'Dungeons & Dragons' Cast Addition, The 10 Most Action-Packed Classic Westerns of All Time, Ranked, Sylvester Stallone and Nathan Fillion Hijack the New 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. A . That first draft, as most writers attest, tends to be fast, rude, and messy. Email news@gamespot.com. But in an interview with Collider, Kolstad said the franchise got a little too big for him and that he wasnt asked by the studio to return. I love those, but the first movie that comes out with a bunch of people at a bar hanging out and chilling will be like, "Thank God.". on March 23, 2021 at 11:43AM PDT. What is Woody Allen's Net Worth in 2022? Now, a new take is coming to television, which feels like a particularly appropriate medium for such a lore-drenched, multi-faceted world asD&D. He then wrote The Package, which also starred Lundgren. Unfortunately, however, that wont work for Dereks fans. Kolstad cited the many legal meetings he has to have to see what characters are actually available in his playground, especially given the shifting rights situations with thatDungeons & Dragonsmovie. Well, I am doing A Company Man for David Leitch. It doesn't worry Kolstad, however, saying that "you want everything to succeed because that's only good for the franchise as a wholeif it's this massive spectacle at a quarter billion dollars that does well, great, because I want my show to exist in a little, little subset shadow of it." The products discussed here were independently chosen by our editors. Even with the most creative forms of Hollywood accounting, the franchise has made enough to become a tentpole for the Lionsgate stable and barring any disasters, the studio will likely continue funding however many films the creative team so desires. Hes in active development at present on a sequel for Uni, with that project being just one of those he has in the works with studios and streamers. Not really. Camille's writing has been published on several websites, and she enjoys writing articles and short stories in her spare time. I think with the silent gunfight, it's the same. When he gets a break from work, he enjoys spending time with his loved ones. March 8, 2023 8:57am. What served as your initial inspiration for this? But if you can write action in a screenplay, and an actor and a producer and a director and a studio and everyone else can read it and just have that grin of, "Oh, I can't wait to see that," and then it becomes different on set, it doesn't matter, because the script got it there. And to play with Sega? "Floyd," an original action feature centered around a Latino veteran described as "John Wick" meets "The Big Lebowski," is currently in development. All rights reserved. You guys are working on four now. When the kids go down late at night, I just love opening up a final draft and going page one and just seeing where it goes. Derek is most widely known for his work in the film industry, but that isnt the only thing hes done. We look forward to working with them, Derek and our all-star producers to bring this compelling IP to life.. When you think about when I sold that, I think I sold the screenplay at the end of February and we were shooting in November of the same year. And let's be honest, our favorite episodes of our favorite series tend to be the one where they ran out of money, and it's two guys in a room. I had done some direct to DVD and that kind of stuff beforehand, but I know very little about that one and yet I give it my blessing, because how fucking cool is that? ", RELATED: A Dungeons & Dragons TV Series May Accompany the Upcoming Chris Pine Movie, Kolstad went on to explain the kinds of changes he is willing to make to the series, especially as it relates to his current series bible: "I stick with macro at this stage in the game, because this thing is such important IP, you have to be malleable. Obviously we had Chapter Two and then when we get to Chapter Three, it's titled Parabellum, which actually comes from the movie itself. See Derek Kolstad full list of movies and tv shows from their career. The original Streets of Rage came out on the Genesis in 1991. He wrote or co-wrote the second and third films in the John Wick series, and his profile has only . Kolstad is writing the screenplay for the film, which is set to star &#82 Derek spent years writing scripts and thinking of ideas and at one point he considered giving it all up and focusing on something else. During the siege, my favorite little anecdotal image is when John and the gunman are on either side of the wall and the gunman goes to shoot and John does this crouch spin, shoots behind his back thing. I've got to ask this and get it off my chest, you're born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin. Kolstad did however give a brief update on The Continental, which is a Starz spinoff TV series set within the world of the John Wick films but following the various assassins who come and go at the secret hotel that harbors them. I am. Six years and three movies later, the John Wick franchise is one of Hollywood's most prominent [], By Adam Barnhardt Versatility is an important quality to have in the entertainment industry and its something Derek definitely has. It's just an incredible piece of filmmaking. One of the jobs he had was in advertising. But seeing what the industry is and how things go, I just believe that you bless everything and hope it all the best, and to the players involved who are doing other things elsewhere. So the dog was a part of it since the very beginning. It was about The Continental. Biography. Now granted, there was again, pushback from the studio, because, "Dude, no. That said, he probably doesnt have as much time to read as hed like at this point in his life. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. But with Wick, every single move tells a story. One of the principals of the production company, Story Kitchen, Kolstad continues to be represented by Circle of Confusion and Behr Abramson Levy Johnson. You don't need a lot of plot. Derek Kolstad: Yeah, it's pretty nutso, outside of what we're all dealing with, and every conversation begins with 10 to 12 minutes of that. Nearly 30 years later, a long-delayed fourth installment was released for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Microsoft Windows. I really like getting involved with directors and actors and executives and producers who have that and I can be a catalyst to get them where it needs to be. You're killing the dog. If you look at that character and you look at the beard of that character, you can't see John Wick shaven, and yet the goal was always to get him shaved until Chad and Dave were like, "Actually" Because they were doing a fitting in one of those really super expensive suits, and I saw the picture on a cell phone and it was the first image of John Wick with the hair, with the beard. He Is a Wisconsin Native. I want to come near the end where everything is canonical, it's biblical, it's happened. One of the things I loved about that silent gunfight is Chad always wanted to do something like that. "You look at that and you could be hurt, and I would say if I was 20 years ago, I would have been. But over time and over development, I'm a lover of dogs, and suddenly that became much more central and key. Absolutely. Although he always felt like he wanted to pursue a career in screenwriting, he initially found himself on a more traditional path. Writer: Nobody. Also credited as "characters created" in the John Wick franchise. I'm a Hawkeye through and through. That's great. He moved to California at age 24 to pursue screenwriting. Brady Fujikawa and Jon Humphrey have been tasked with shepherding the project on behalf of the studio. I'm going out with a pitch for a television series based on the My Friend Pedro video game, as well as for Bendy and the Ink Machine. Screenwriter Kolstad created the John Wick character and universe and has solo writing credit on the first two Keanu Reeves . Join the Escapist + for ad-free viewing. And so they couriered it over to him and then I got a call at one. I've got A Darker Shade Of Magic, over at Sony, which has been a joy, with Victoria Schwab. I love everything he's done. Reeves is gearing up to begin filming on John Wick Chapter 4 fairly soon after wrapping The Matrix 4, and Chad Stahelski is returning to direct, but this time with just Shay Hatten billed as the screenwriter. I love to write, man. EXCLUSIVE: Derek Kolstad, scribe and creator of the John Wick franchise and co-writer of the upcoming Marvel mini-series The Falcon And the Winter Soldier, is teaming up with Swiss producer-distrib Kolstad wrote the screenplay for the 2021 film Nobody starring Bob Odenkirk, and two episodes of the 2021 Marvel television series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. It was the big genre guys, but a lot of them came back with, I think everyone came back with, "It can't just be a dog. He's like, "Whoa, whoa, whoa." John Wick 4 hits theaters in May 2022, and will star Keanu Reeves once more. Kolstad also gave one possible detail for where his show might take place, saying that he wants to "go deeper and deeper into the Underdark." Even in the genre space, even in horror space, just change things. Since then, he has written three other installments in the franchise and he isnt stopping there. All Rights Reserved. I have no idea. And yet, if it moved the needle, even a little bit more, make it a better pic, then we'd all do it. The big names behind every John Wick film are directors Chad Stahelski and David Leitch, writer Derek Kolstad, and (of course) leading man Keanu Reeves. [11] In 2021, Kolstad was hired to write the screenplay for a live-action adaptation of Hellsing for Amazon Prime Video.[12]. Kolstad was the sole writer on the first two John Wick films, and he shared a writing credit on John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum from 2019, which he shared with Shay Hatten, Chris Collins and Mark Abrams. The big news is Kolstad told me he is not writing John Wick 4. First of all, it's one of first scenes in the entire franchise that actually uses a song with words rather than a piece of Bates' score. Do you think you and the team would entertain that number? Derek Kolstad is the author of Scorn (4.50 avg rating, 8 ratings, 0 reviews) and JOHN WICK (2.00 avg rating, 1 rating, 1 review) And then we see it and you're like, "Yes!" In this Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom trailer breakdown, Logan Plant highlights Link's four new powers, along with bringing some speculation surrounding some hidden bits tucked away in the gameplay. Okay, let's start here. Be it Gene Autry or Shane, there's no rush. 1. Did you have a treatment for where you wanted to see everything from the get-go, or are you a movie-by-movie guy? When you think of the . Kolstad revealed that while it wasn't his choice not to write the movies, he's very aware of how Hollywood works. But this was one of those rare situations where we kind of fought with our gut and it turned out to be right. Kolstad isn't involved with the next two John Wick movies, which will be shot back-to-back and star Keanu Reeves. 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I do what I can, but again, going back to the best idea wins, Chad and David are just poets at this. You mentioned you weren't too involved with The Continental, and obviously there's that Ballerina movie that's in development out there, as well. At a certain stage the studio will tell you, your creation is graduated, and you wish it well, the franchise creator says. Additional credits include The Man from Nowhere, Splinter Cell and Die Hart. I just giggled, going, "Oh! To be honest, I love it all. I've got to ask, what's the status of The High Table and assassins in this world? [10] In 2020, Netflix announced that Kolstad would be an executive producer and writer on a Splinter Cell anime series. Six years and three movies later, the John Wick franchise is one of Hollywood's most prominent action franchises. But a lot of times, you go into these movies, after so much work behind the scenes, and people take it differently. Obviously, John Wick's kind of at the forefront of the whole Hollywood action world. But he did reveal that when it comes to many of the big eventsD&Dfans know and love, he doesn't"want to go in the middle of the mythos. I'm 46, I grew up with the guy. I hear about people and I've read it every now and then, once the director and actors are signed on, I'll just put a little standpoint in, in regards to action, but more often than not, it's fun to see Kung Fu on the page. . Photo credit: Shannon Cottrell. Image of Derek Kolstad can be found here. Marketing was like, "Dude, that's four to five million dollars in free advertising so far, so it's John Wick instead of Scorn." If I can emulate and replicate any success I've had with John Wick elsewhere, I'm going to be that 11-year-old that snuck into an R-rated movie, giggling. It's just weird. Read the full interview with Derek Kolstad via Collider. Its no secret that breaking into the entertainment industry can be difficult. And it's been a joy.". You said you're developing stuff. And he's a brilliant dude, so we're going over every line of dialogue, every line in the script. This is his only acting credit to date. Think it over and let us know your thoughts either in the comments section or by hitting me up on Twitter at @AdamBarnhardt! Kolstad was the sole writer on the first two John Wick films, and he shared a writing credit on John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum from 2019, which he shared with Shay Hatten, Chris Collins and Mark Abrams. Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos. Because you look at The Matrix of it all and you look at the way Hollywood is moving about right now, it's just the nascent stages. Both of them are remakes of movies that I f-cking love. That was my first theatrical. Subscribe to Deadline Breaking News Alerts and keep your inbox happy. Search Menu He continued to write for the sequels of the franchise and is mainly known as a screenwriter of action films and shows. Check out Derek Kolstad's movies list, family details, net worth, age, height, filmography, biography, upcoming movies, photos, awards, songs, videos and Latest News . Derek has invested a lot of time and energy into building a successful career, but that isnt the only thing hes been focused on over the years. The truth of Charlamagne tha God's wife - Jessica based on characters created by / written by. You mentioned earlier that the rapid production process, we're talking what? To see them up on the screen again, that would be great. Tell us what's wrong with this post? The fourth film is slated for May 27, 2022, and Kolstad also adds that hes not involved with the already announced fifth John Wick film. Well, everyone enjoys it. He said it wasn't his decision, but he's excited to see where it goes: "No, it wasn't my decision. Brian Welk. When I get to see the cut, I'm excited. There's also a John Wick spin-off movie titled Ballerina in development. Kolstad was asked about his involvement with John Wick 4 and 5, which will be directed by Chad Stahelski and will shot back-to-back this year. And yet, it's been a fucking joy. There we go!" Action is action, and we'll get to that, and it will be cool, but when a guy says or does a certain thing, that's where TV has its strong point.". Derek Kolstad [photo: Shannon Cottrell] "Derek is the perfect writer to shepherd the Forgotten Runes Wizard's Cult TV series," said @ElfJTrul and @Dotta, co-creators of Forgotten Runes . He's an associate editor for Collider and has written for . Kolstad also revealed that he isn't sure what the series title will be ("I don't know. We were like 13-year-olds who snuck into an R-rated movie, jumping up and down in your seat, giggling and clapping too loud. You'd much rather keep the story intimate. I don't know how many drafts we did, but it was all of us in the trenches and it just felt good. Two sequels . Regardless, Lionsgates involvement indicates strong confidence in Kolstads script. But can you imagine without it? Kolstad was asked about his involvement with John Wick 4 and 5, which will be directed by Chad Stahelski and . It's the bottle episode, and they talk, and they go deep, and they say, 'I am the man who knocks,' or whatever the classic line is that I can't remember right now from Breaking Bad. Deadline brings word that Lionsgate has acquired to rights to Kolstads adaptation of Streets of Rage, based on the Sega video game franchise of the same name. Apparently too big for creator Derek Kolstad to remain involved. In June 2021, we got our first look at Sam Fisher so let's dive into everything we know so far about the Netflix Splinter Cell series.. I always write with dead actors in mind, so this is my Paul Newman in his 70s with a 16-year-old dog. Chapter Two was, I think, I might've just put it in the heading. 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