Derek Kolstad
Personal details
  • Born:
    • Birthday: 1974-04-04
    • Born Place: Madison, Wisconsin, USA

Derek Kolstad

Derek Kolstad is an American screenwriter and film producer, best known as the creator of the immensely popular John Wick franchise, which began in 2014. Born on April 4, 1974, in Madison, Wisconsin, Kolstad attended Edgewood High School of the Sacred Heart and later studied business administration at Taylor University in Indiana. At the age of 24, he moved to California to pursue a career in screenwriting. Despite starting to write films as a teenager, he faced a lengthy struggle to achieve success in Hollywood, working various odd jobs while honing his craft. His persistence paid off when he sold his first script, "Acolyte," in June 2012, followed by other writing and re-writing work on films like One in the Chamber and The Package. His breakthrough came with "Scorn," a script he sold to Thunder Road Pictures, which ultimately became John Wick, starring Keanu Reeves. Kolstad continued to write for the first two sequels of the John Wick franchise and is primarily recognized for his work in action films and shows. His other notable writing credits include the 2021 film Nobody, starring Bob Odenkirk, and two episodes of the Marvel Studios television series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Kolstad resides in Pasadena, California, with his wife Sonja and their twin children.

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