Mark Vahradian: Producing Adaptations from A CIVIL ACTION to PET SEMATARY

Mark Vahradian joins us on the fourth episode of Unedited: From Idea to Manuscript and Shelf to Screen. Mark has produced adaptations from some of the biggest names in literature, including Lee Child (Jack Ryan starring Chris Pine), Stephen King (Paramount’s recent Pet Sematary features) and even William Shakespeare (Ten Things I Hate About You, a loose adaptation of the Bard’s Taming of the Shrew). Less obvious adaptations, including Transformers, are also discussed. Mark brings his wealth of insights from working with some of the best film talent in the world into a conversation about publishing and how features and book-to-screen has evolved over the last three decades. 

Mark Vahradian was born in Mission Viejo, California. He is a graduate of Duke University and the UCLA School of Law. He spent nine years as a senior film executive at the Walt Disney Company, where he worked to bring to the big screen such films as Flight Plan, Miracle, Remember the Titans, Gone in 60 Seconds, Con Air, Pearl Harbor, and Enemy of the State. Thereafter, Mark spent three years as president of Jerry Weintraub Productions. He is currently president of production for di Bonaventura Pictures.

Vahradian most recently produced the animated film Transformers One for Paramount, starring Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson and Brian Tyree Henry. Other recent productions include Transformers: Rise of the Beasts and Pet Sematary: Bloodlines for Paramount and Plane starring Gerard Butler for Lionsgate Pictures. He also produced Infinite starring Mark Wahlberg, Pet Sematary, Bumblebee and Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit starring Chris Pine for Paramount Pictures, Deepwater Horizon starring Mark Wahlberg for Lionsgate and Participant, Man on a Ledge starring Sam Worthington and Red 1 & 2 starring Bruce Willis for Summit Entertainment. He has executive produced the Transformers film franchise (including Transformers: The Last Knight, Transformers: Age of Extinction, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, and the first Transformers) for Paramount Pictures. The Transformers franchise has grossed a combined total of $5.26 billion worldwide. Other producing credits include Annapolis and executive producing Nancy Drew.