Zak Penn

Zak Penn (also known as 자크 펜 and Зак Пенн) is an American screenwriter born on March 23, 1968, in New York, USA. Over a career spanning studio blockbusters and offbeat indie projects, he has built a reputation for mixing sharp genre instincts with character-driven storytelling.

Penn is widely recognized for his work in the superhero space, including co-writing X2 and X-Men: The Last Stand, and scripting The Incredible Hulk. He also contributed story work connected to The Avengers, placing him among the writers who helped shape modern comic-book cinema’s tone and scale.

Beyond tentpoles, Penn has stepped behind the camera as well, writing and directing the mockumentary-style Incident at Loch Ness and the ensemble comedy The Grand. His on-screen appearances include credits such as Tales from the Script and In Search of the Last Action Heroes, where he appears as himself discussing the craft.

On television, Penn co-created Syfy’s Alphas with Michael Karnow, expanding his screenwriting footprint into serialized sci-fi drama. Additional credits range from Chuck & Buck to Osmosis Jones, underscoring his versatility across formats and genres.