Wernick and Reese first collaborated in 2001, creating, writing, and executive-producing The Joe Schmo Show for Spike TV. The series drew Spike’s highest-ever ratings. Joe Schmo was named to numerous Best Of lists, including Time's "Top 10 TV Shows of 2003" and Entertainment Weekly's "50 Best TV Shows Ever on DVD."
The Schmo format has sold internationally, in the UK, France, Spain, and New Zealand. Wernick and Reese followed up with Invasion Iowa, a high-concept, high-stakes comedy Hybrid starring william Shatner. The show premiered on Spike in the first quarter of 2005 and aired internationally immediately following. Invasion Iowa was released on DVD in May, 2009.
Wernick and Reese's first feature collaboration was the 2009 hit movie Zombieland, which they created and also executive-produced. The movie was released by Sony Pictures in theaters October 2, 2009. Zombieland went on to become one of the highest grossing zombie movies of all time.
Wernick and Reese followed Zombieland with Paramount Pictures’ G.I. Joe: Retaliation, starring Dwayne Johnson, Channing Tatum, and Bruce Willis, and which was released on March 27, 2013. The sequel outperformed the original, grossing nearly $400 million.
Paul Wernick wrote and executive produced 20th Century Fox's Deadpool, along with writing and producing partner Rhett Reese. Deadpool starred Ryan Reynolds, and was directed by Tim Miller. The R-rated film was released on February 12, 2016. Its opening weekend was the highest grossing of all time for R-Rated films. The team's next project, sci-fi thriller Life, was released in March 2017. The film was directed by Daniel Espinosa, produced by Skydance, and through Sony Pictures, with Ryan Reynolds, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Rebecca Ferguson starring.
