DAVID MCKENNA

Best known for his achievements as a screenwriter, David McKenna has written and produced several notable films over the course of his three decades in the entertainment industry. Arguably his most acclaimed work to date is the Academy Award nominated film American History X. Edward Norton was nominated for Best Actor for his role as a neo-nazi skinhead who struggles to reform himself and save his family after living a life consumed by violence, hate, and bigotry.

David also wrote an adaptation of the book Blow which starred Johnny Depp, Ray Liotta and Penelope Cruz. The film chronicles the real life story of George Jung, an enterprising drug smuggler who partnered with Pablo Escobar and the Medellin Cartel to bring cocaine to America during the late 70's and 80's.

One of his proudest works was the film Embattled, where he had the opportunity to work with his son Colin, who was born with the rare chromosomal abnormality Williams Syndrome. Colin plays a starring role as the special needs son of a famed championship MMA fighter, played by Stephen Dorff in one of his greatest performances. Colin’s older brother in the film, brilliantly played by Darren Mann, took on the role of the family patriarch when their dad left during his rise to fame. Deciding to follow in his dad’s MMA footsteps, he soon finds himself reliving the many layers of his abusive upbringing and struggles to stop the cycle.

David co-wrote the remake of the 1970’s TV show S.W.A.T. with David Ayer. The film, which stars Samuel L. Jackson, Colin Farrell, and LL Cool J marks McKenna’s biggest box office hit, grossing over $300 million.

David also penned Get Carter which was a remake of the 1971 cult film that starred Michael Caine. The new version stars Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine, Miranda Richardson, Rachel Leigh Cooke, Mickey Rourke, and Alan Cumming. 

He made the jump into television as the creator, executive producer and writer of the NBC Pentagon drama E-Ring. Also executive-produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, the political drama starred Benjamin Bratt and Dennis Hopper.

Though he has numerous film and TV projects in various stages of development,  David is already hard at work on his follow-up to The Republic— stay tuned for updates!