Derek Kolstad

Derek Kolstad (born 1974) is a writer best known for the John Wick film series. 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 for success in Hollywood at first. 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 another Dolph Lundgren film titled The Package. By the end of 2012, Kolstad sold his other script, titled Scorn to Thunder Road Pictures, and in April 2013, Keanu Reeves agreed to star in the film. It was Reeves who suggested the name of the film change to John Wick after the title character who was named after Kolstad's grandfather. The film went on to be a major box office and critical success. It was followed by a sequel, John Wick: Chapter 2 in 2017 and a third film was announced soon after the release of the second. In addition to the movies, Kolstad also wrote the videogame John Wick: Chronicles and is participating in the John Wick comic book series. Kolstad lives in Pasadena, California with his wife Sonja.