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IMDbPro

Zak Penn

  • Writer
  • Producer
  • Script and Continuity Department
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Zak Penn at an event for Ready Player One (2018)
In 'Free Guy,' a bank teller who discovers he is actually a background player in an open-world video game, decides to become the hero of his own story...one he rewrites himself. Now in a world where there are no limits, he is determined to be the guy who saves his world his way...before it is too late.
Play trailer2:25
Free Guy (2021)
5 Videos
12 Photos
Zak Penn's career began as a screenwriter when he sold his first script, Last Action Hero, at the age of twenty-three. Since then, Penn has become known for his work on numerous films based on Marvel comics, including X-Men 2 and X-Men: The Last Stand, The Incredible Hulk, and The Avengers. He has also dabbled in other genres, writing scripts for disparate films such as P.C.U., Behind Enemy Lines and Suspect Zero.

Penn's shift into independent cinema began when he collaborated with his idol, Werner Herzog, on the script for Rescue Dawn. Penn directed and co-starred with Herzog in Incident at Loch Ness, his award-winning "hoax" documentary about the legendary director's attempts to make a film about the equally legendary monster. The Grand, Penn's second completely improvised film, was his third film with Herzog, and featured an eclectic cast including Woody Harrelson, David Cross, Ray Romano, Cheryl Hines, Dennis Farina and Gabe Kaplan.

In addition, Penn co-wrote the original story for Antz and produced the animated film Osmosis Jones. His first foray into television was the critically acclaimed SyFy Channel original series "Alphas" starring David Strathairn. His most recent endeavor was video game documentary Atari: Game Over, which recently premiered on Xbox Live.
BornMarch 23, 1968
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornMarch 23, 1968
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 7 nominations total

    Photos12

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    Known for

    Steven Spielberg, Ben Mendelsohn, George Michael, Simon Pegg, Mark Rylance, Perdita Weeks, Kamara Benjamin Barnett, Mandy June Turpin, T.J. Miller, Lena Waithe, Stephen Mitchell, Neet Mohan, Win Morisaki, Elliot Barnes-Worrell, Kae Alexander, Sarah Sharman, Robert Gilbert, Raed Abbas, Letitia Wright, Tye Sheridan, Asan N'Jie, Hannah John-Kamen, Cara Theobold, Olivia Cooke, Alphonso Austin, Amy Clare Beales, Jane Leaney, Kathryn Wilder, and Philip Zhao in Ready Player One (2018)
    Ready Player One
    7.4
    • Writer
    • 2018
    Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Downey Jr., Lou Ferrigno, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Mark Ruffalo, and Chris Hemsworth in The Avengers (2012)
    The Avengers
    8.0
    • Writer
    • 2012
    Edward Norton and Lou Ferrigno in The Incredible Hulk (2008)
    The Incredible Hulk
    6.6
    • Writer
    • 2008
    Famke Janssen, Halle Berry, Alan Cumming, Anna Paquin, Ian McKellen, Shawn Ashmore, Hugh Jackman, and Aaron Stanford in X2: X-Men United (2003)
    X2: X-Men United
    7.4
    • Writer
    • 2003

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Writer



    • ROM: Spaceknight
      • screenplay
      • In Development
    • Dirty Dozen
      • screenplay
      • Pre-production



    • Beacon 23 (2023)
      Beacon 23
      5.7
      TV Series
      • created by
      • written for television by (creator)
      • 2023–2024
    • Ryan Reynolds, Taika Waititi, Dwayne Johnson, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Lil Rel Howery, Jodie Comer, Owen Burke, and Joe Keery in Free Guy (2021)
      Free Guy
      7.1
      • screenplay by
      • 2021
    • Evan Ferrante, Clinton Noble, Trey Gabehart, Emmanuel Mendes-Chumacerio, Chris R. Notarile, Heath Harper, Josh Rothman, Shannon McDermott, Oscar Alonso, Llenelle Gibson, Lindsey Bean, Collin Wheeler, and Tess Speranza in Jack Slater V (2020)
      Jack Slater V
      Short
      • characters
      • 2020
    • Steven Spielberg, Ben Mendelsohn, George Michael, Simon Pegg, Mark Rylance, Perdita Weeks, Kamara Benjamin Barnett, Mandy June Turpin, T.J. Miller, Lena Waithe, Stephen Mitchell, Neet Mohan, Win Morisaki, Elliot Barnes-Worrell, Kae Alexander, Sarah Sharman, Robert Gilbert, Raed Abbas, Letitia Wright, Tye Sheridan, Asan N'Jie, Hannah John-Kamen, Cara Theobold, Olivia Cooke, Alphonso Austin, Amy Clare Beales, Jane Leaney, Kathryn Wilder, and Philip Zhao in Ready Player One (2018)
      Ready Player One
      7.4
      • screenplay by
      • 2018
    • Robert Downey Jr., James Spader, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, and Tom Hiddleston in Lego Marvel's Avengers (2016)
      Lego Marvel's Avengers
      7.8
      Video Game
      • story "The Avengers" (uncredited)
      • 2016
    • Avengers Assemble in the Playroom
      6.1
      Video
      • story (uncredited)
      • 2012
    • David Strathairn, Ryan Cartwright, Laura Mennell, Malik Yoba, Warren Christie, and Azita Ghanizada in Alphas (2011)
      Alphas
      7.2
      TV Series
      • created by
      • story by
      • teleplay by (creator) ...
      • 2011–2012
    • Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Downey Jr., Lou Ferrigno, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Mark Ruffalo, and Chris Hemsworth in The Avengers (2012)
      The Avengers
      8.0
      • story
      • 2012
    • Edward Norton and Lou Ferrigno in The Incredible Hulk (2008)
      The Incredible Hulk
      6.6
      • screen story
      • screenplay
      • 2008
    • The Grand (2007)
      The Grand
      5.9
      • written by
      • 2007
    • Famke Janssen, Halle Berry, Kelsey Grammer, Anna Paquin, Patrick Stewart, Ben Foster, James Marsden, Hugh Jackman, and Elliot Page in X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
      X-Men: The Last Stand
      6.6
      • written by
      • 2006
    • X-Men: The Official Game (2006)
      X-Men: The Official Game
      6.5
      Video Game
      • screenplay & story
      • 2006
    • Fantastic Four (2005)
      Fantastic Four
      5.5
      Video Game
      • Writer
      • 2005
    • Jennifer Garner in Elektra (2005)
      Elektra
      4.7
      • written by
      • 2005
    • Suspect Zero (2004)
      Suspect Zero
      5.8
      • screenplay
      • story
      • 2004

    Producer



    • Beacon 23 (2023)
      Beacon 23
      5.7
      TV Series
      • executive producer
      • 2023–2024
    • David Strathairn, Ryan Cartwright, Laura Mennell, Malik Yoba, Warren Christie, and Azita Ghanizada in Alphas (2011)
      Alphas
      7.2
      TV Series
      • executive producer
      • 2011
    • The Grand (2007)
      The Grand
      5.9
      • producer
      • 2007
    • Jeff Bennett, Jim Cummings, Phil LaMarr, and Tasia Valenza in Ozzy & Drix (2002)
      Ozzy & Drix
      6.9
      TV Series
      • executive producer
      • 2003–2004
    • Incident at Loch Ness (2004)
      Incident at Loch Ness
      6.4
      • producer
      • 2004
    • Osmosis Jones (2001)
      Osmosis Jones
      6.3
      • producer (produced by)
      • 2001

    Script and Continuity Department



    • Armor Wars
      • script consultant
      • In Production



    • Julianne Moore and Gary Sinise in The Forgotten (2004)
      The Forgotten
      5.8
      • script revisions (uncredited)
      • 2004
    • Hulk (2003)
      Hulk
      5.6
      • script revision (uncredited)
      • 2003
    • xXx (2002)
      xXx
      5.8
      • Script Revisions (uncredited)
      • 2002
    • Reign of Fire (2002)
      Reign of Fire
      6.2
      • script revisions (uncredited)
      • 2002
    • Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, and Lucy Liu in Charlie's Angels (2000)
      Charlie's Angels
      5.6
      • script revisions (uncredited)
      • 2000
    • John Alexander in Mighty Joe Young (1998)
      Mighty Joe Young
      5.7
      • script revisions (uncredited)
      • 1998
    • Tommy Lee Jones, Ernest Borgnine, Jim Brown, George Kennedy, Frank Langella, and Clint Walker in Small Soldiers (1998)
      Small Soldiers
      6.3
      • script revisions (uncredited)
      • 1998
    • Antonio Banderas in The Mask of Zorro (1998)
      The Mask of Zorro
      6.8
      • script revisions (uncredited)
      • 1998
    • Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith in Men in Black (1997)
      Men in Black
      7.3
      • script revisions (uncredited)
      • 1997

    • In-development projects at IMDbPro

    Videos5

    New Trailer
    Trailer 2:25
    New Trailer
    Highlights From Ready Player One LIVE at SXSW
    Trailer 1:51
    Highlights From Ready Player One LIVE at SXSW
    Highlights From Ready Player One LIVE at SXSW
    Trailer 1:51
    Highlights From Ready Player One LIVE at SXSW
    "Dreamer" Trailer
    Trailer 2:29
    "Dreamer" Trailer
    Tales from the Script
    Trailer 2:23
    Tales from the Script
    'Ready Player One' Screenwriters Geek Out Over Working With Steven Spielberg
    Video 5:03
    'Ready Player One' Screenwriters Geek Out Over Working With Steven Spielberg

    Personal details

    Edit
    • Alternative name
      • Zak Pen
    • Born
      • March 23, 1968
      • New York, New York, USA
    • Spouse
      • Michele WeissAugust 29, 1998 - present

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Graduated from Wesleyan University in 1990.
    • Quotes
      ...if you get a bunch of cynical people making a big-budget Hollywood movie, the irony is it doesn't work. [referring to his experience with 'The Last Action Hero']

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