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Greg Russo
Born1981
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Occupation
  • Screenwriter
  • director
  • producer
EducationVassar College
Years active2010–present

Greg Russo is an American screenwriter and director. He is best known for writing the 2021 film adaptation of Mortal Kombat. He is also set to write a sequel to the 2017 film Death Note, adaptations of F.E.A.R., Saints Row, Space Invaders and System Shock, which he will also direct.

Early life

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Russo attended Vassar College after graduating high school in Cherry Hill. Russo couldn’t find work in the film industry when he graduated in 2003, so he spent the next four years working for a headhunting firm in New Jersey, an experience he called “lucrative but soul-sucking.” When his then-girlfriend (now spouse), Tricia Gonnella, was accepted in a graduate program in film at the University of Southern California in 2007, they moved to Los Angeles.[1]

Career

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Russo's first break came in 2010, when he optioned the contained thriller spec script "Down" to Relativity Media.[2]

He followed up "Down" in October 2010 with the highly received action thriller spec "I-95" which placed #3 overall with 97 votes on the year end HIT LIST - a list of the best un-produced original screenplays in Hollywood hosted by The Tracking Board.[3] "I-95" was later changed to "Autobahn" and optioned by Inferno Entertainment.[4]

In 2011, Russo sold an original action-thriller pitch entitled "Black Ice" to Alloy Entertainment.[5] He also worked on the Paramount action film "Heatseekers" produced by Michael Bay.[6]

In 2012, Russo was hired to write the action film "High Speed" for Act of Valor director Scott Waugh.[7]

In 2013, Russo was hired by Relativity Media to adapt the sci-fi/action Arcana comic "Continuum" into a feature film.[8] Later that year, Universal Pictures hired Russo to adapt its action/spy film It Takes a Thief based on the TV series of the same name.[9]

In the summer of 2014, Russo sold the original TV pilot "Chop Shop" to 20th Century Fox with Chris Morgan producing.[10]

In 2015, New Line Cinema hired Russo to pen disaster thriller "Category 6" a sequel to the film Into the Storm[11]

In November 2016, it was announced that Russo would be penning an adaptation of the 1992 video game Mortal Kombat for New Line Cinema, directed by Simon McQuoid and produced by James Wan.[12] The film was released on April 23, 2021. It opened at #1 at the U.S. domestic box office and grossed $83.7 million worldwide.[13][14]

In May 2017, Russo was initially attached as writer for Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, but confirmed in November 2018 that he was no longer involved with the project.[15][16] In was also revealed that Russo was hired by Sony Pictures to adapt the anime Robotech into a feature film.[17]

In May 2018, Russo was hired to write an adaptation of the 2005 video game F.E.A.R.[18] Also in 2018, Russo was hired by New Line Cinema to pen an adaptation of the DC Comics title Highwaymen.[19]

In August 2018, it was announced that Russo would be penning the sequel to the 2017 American adaptation of Death Note for Netflix. Russo also affirmed that the film will be more faithful to the source material.[20][21]

In April 2019, Russo became attached to write an adaptation of the Saints Row franchise, with F. Gary Gray set to direct.[22] Later in July, Russo was attached to write an adaptation of Space Invaders for New Line Cinema.[23]

In January 2022, it was announced that Russo would direct, write and executive produce a television adaptation of System Shock for the streaming service Binge. The series will mark Russo's directorial debut.[24]

In 2023, Russo preemptively sold an original sci-fi thriller pitch titled "Seismic" to Netflix with 21 Laps producing.[25]

References

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  1. ^ Hertz, Larry. "The Screenplay for Mortal Kombat? Yup. Greg Russo '03 Wrote That!". Vassar College. Vassar College. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  2. ^ Kit, Jay A. Fernandez,Borys; Fernandez, Jay A.; Kit, Borys (2010-03-25). "Relativity Media options 'Down' screenplay". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2022-10-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ TBA (2010-12-09). "THE HIT LIST 2010 (FULL LIST)". The Tracking Board. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  4. ^ Miller, Daniel (2011-08-03). "Inferno Taking Ride on 'Autobahn' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  5. ^ Fernandez, Jay A. (2011-03-29). "Screenwriter Greg Russo Sells Action Pitch 'Black Ice' to Alloy (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  6. ^ Fernandez, Jay A. (2011-03-29). "Screenwriter Greg Russo Sells Action Pitch 'Black Ice' to Alloy (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  7. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (2012-02-17). "After Navy SEAL Pic 'Act Of Valor,' Bandito Brothers Rev 'High Speed' Racing Pic". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  8. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (2013-07-18). "Comic-Con: Relativity Acquires 'Continuum;' Greg Russo Scripting Time Travel Comic Book Adaptation". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  9. ^ Kroll, Justin (2013-10-30). "Universal Turning 1970s Series 'It Takes a Thief' into Film (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  10. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (2014-09-20). "Duo Of Writers Sell Assassin & Auto-Theft Dramas Produced By Chris Morgan To Fox". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  11. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (2015-02-03). "New Line Sets Greg Russo To Script Hurricane Pic 'Category 6'". Deadline. Archived from the original on February 4, 2015. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  12. ^ Kroll, Justin (2016-11-19). "'Mortal Kombat' Reboot Finds Director in Simon McQuoid (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
  13. ^ Rubin, Rebecca (2021-03-30). "'Mortal Kombat' Release Date Pushed Back". Variety. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
  14. ^ "Mortal Kombat". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
  15. ^ Busch, Anita (2017-05-22). "'Resident Evil' Franchise Reboot: James Wan On Board To Produce From Greg Russo Script". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
  16. ^ Fisher, Jacob (2018-11-19). "Greg Russo Talks 'Resident Evil' Reboot (Exclusive Interview Part Two)". DiscussingFilm. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
  17. ^ Busch, Anita (2017-05-22). "'Resident Evil' Franchise Reboot: James Wan On Board To Produce From Greg Russo Script". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  18. ^ "Survival horror F.E.A.R. is getting a movie adaptation". Flickering Myth. 2018-05-13. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
  19. ^ "F. Gary Gray to Direct Saints Row Movie". ComingSoon.net. 2019-04-30. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  20. ^ "THR: Sequel to Netflix's Death Note Film in the Works". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
  21. ^ "Death Note 2 Writer Says Netflix Sequel Will Draw From Source Material". ScreenRant. 2021-04-20. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
  22. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (2019-04-30). "F. Gary Gray Developing To Direct Movie Based On Video Game Franchise 'Saints Row' For Fenix, Koch, Occupant". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
  23. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (2019-07-12). "'Space Invaders' On New Line Launchpad; 'Mortal Kombat's Greg Russo To Script Alien-Invasion Pic". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
  24. ^ Rosario, Alexandra Del (2022-01-27). "'Mortal Kombat' Scribe Greg Russo To Adapt 'System Shock' For Binge Live-Action Series". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
  25. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (2023-02-13). "Netflix Picks Up 'Seismic' From 'Mortal Kombat's Greg Russo; Shawn Levy's 21 Laps Producing". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
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