# David Callaham
**David Callaham** (David Elias Callaham, born 1977 in [Fresno, California](https://www.edgepedia.org/fresno-california)) is an American screenwriter and producer who writes high-profile action and superhero films, including *The Expendables* (2010), *Godzilla* (2014), *Wonder Woman 1984* (2020), *Mortal Kombat* (2021), *[Shang-Chi](https://www.edgepedia.org/shang-chi-marvel-cinematic-universe) and the Legend of the Ten Rings* (2021), and *Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse* (2023).[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/dave_callaham) • [2](https://wikizilla.org/wiki/David_Callaham) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1709264/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | David Elias Callaham, credited professionally as Dave Callaham[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1709264/bio/) |
| Born | 1977, Fresno, California, USA[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/dave_callaham) |
| First film | *Doom* (2005), an adaptation of the id Software video game, story and screenplay[2](https://wikizilla.org/wiki/David_Callaham) |
| Monsterverse connection | Story credit on *Godzilla* (2014), the first film in Legendary Pictures' Monsterverse; returned to write the screenplay for *Godzilla x Kong: Supernova* (2027)[2](https://wikizilla.org/wiki/David_Callaham) |
| Television work | Creator, writer, and executive producer of the Amazon series *Jean-Claude Van Johnson* (2016–2017, 6 episodes)[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1709264/) |
| Notable honors | Listed with 2 wins and 8 nominations in total on IMDb[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1709264/) |
## Early career
Callaham grew up in Orinda, California, and graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in English.[2](https://wikizilla.org/wiki/David_Callaham) He sold his first screenplay, *Horsemen*, in 2003.[2](https://wikizilla.org/wiki/David_Callaham) In entertainment-industry terms, he began his career as an assistant at CAA ([Creative Artists Agency](https://www.edgepedia.org/creative-artists-agency)).[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1709264/)
He followed with the thriller *Horsemen* (2009), where he was also an executive producer, and *Tell-Tale* (2009).[2](https://wikizilla.org/wiki/David_Callaham) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1709264/)
## Franchise and action films
Callaham wrote the initial script of what became [Sylvester Stallone](https://www.edgepedia.org/sylvester-stallone)'s *The Expendables* (2010) and received a screenplay and story credit, co-written with Stallone.[5](https://www.talkingpicturespodcast.com/dave-callaham-doom/) The franchise continued to carry his characters: *[The Expendables](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-expendables-franchise) 2* (2012), *The Expendables 3* (2014), and *Expend4bles* (2023) all credit him as having created or based the film on characters he originated.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1709264/)
**Superhero screenplays.** For *Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings* (2021), he shared screenplay and screen story credit with [Destin Daniel Cretton](https://www.edgepedia.org/destin-daniel-cretton) and Andrew Lanham.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1709264/) He also co-wrote the 2021 film adaptation of *Mortal Kombat* with Greg Russo and [Oren Uziel](https://www.edgepedia.org/oren-uziel).[6](https://muckrack.com/dave-callaham)
## Comedy and animation
He created, wrote, and executive produced the Amazon spy-comedy series *[Jean-Claude Van Johnson](https://www.edgepedia.org/jean-claude-van-johnson)*, in which [Jean-Claude Van Damme](https://www.edgepedia.org/jean-claude-van-damme) plays a fictionalized version of himself.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1709264/)
He wrote and produced the satirical animated film *[America: The Motion Picture](https://www.edgepedia.org/america-the-motion-picture)* (2021) and appears in it as a voice actor, credited for an "LGBTQ Rights Man in Crowd" and for [I. M. Pei](https://www.edgepedia.org/i-m-pei).[5](https://www.talkingpicturespodcast.com/dave-callaham-doom/) • [7](https://www.metacritic.com/person/dave-callaham/) His animated work continued with *Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse* (2023), for which he received a screenwriter credit.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1709264/)
## Upcoming projects
Callaham's announced credits include *Masters of the Universe* (2026) as screenwriter, *Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse* (2027), the untitled *Shang-Chi* sequel, and *Godzilla x Kong: Supernova* (2027).[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1709264/) • [8](https://www.movieinsider.com/p27852/david-callaham)
## Personal life
Callaham has been married to Bree Tichy since May 9, 2009, and they have one child.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1709264/) • [4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1709264/bio/)
## Reception by the numbers
Rotten Tomatoes records *Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse* as his highest-rated film at 95 percent, with *Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings* at 92 percent and *Wonder Woman 1984* at 57 percent; his lowest-rated film is *Doom* at 18 percent.[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/dave_callaham) Metacritic gives his 18 scored films an average career score of 52, with the highest at 86 (*Across the Spider-Verse*) and the lowest at 30 (*Expend4bles*).[7](https://www.metacritic.com/person/dave-callaham/)
## References
1. [David Callaham, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/dave_callaham)
2. [David Callaham, Wikizilla](https://wikizilla.org/wiki/David_Callaham)
3. [Dave Callaham, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1709264/)
4. [Dave Callaham Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1709264/bio/)
5. [Screenwriter Dave Callaham on DOOM, Talking Pictures Podcast](https://www.talkingpicturespodcast.com/dave-callaham-doom/)
6. [Dave Callaham's Profile, Muck Rack](https://muckrack.com/dave-callaham)
7. [Dave Callaham, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/person/dave-callaham/)
8. [David Callaham Film Credits, Movie Insider](https://www.movieinsider.com/p27852/david-callaham)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Directors, producers, and screenwriters › Screenwriters*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license