About the Producer
THE JOURNEY
Michael Wehrhahn born in the heart of New Jersey on Hollywood’s original motion picture lots through his father ( Lawrence Wehrhahn) a former executive at Republic Pictures Michael had no idea what was in store for his future.Today As an Executive Producer of the 2015 feature film The Monkey King “Havoc in Heaven’s Palace” starring Donnie Yen (Star Wars, XXX) and Chow Yun Fat (Crouching Tiger, Pirates of the Caribbean), Wehrhahn has seen his Chinese based production break all box office records in china bringing in 56 million dollars opening weekend, Grossing over 170 million worldwide.
Owner of the franchise Michael successfully branded the Asian classic into the North American Market place bringing it to US audiences and signing aboard business partner Robert Harris (former president of Universal and Ron Howards Imagine) to further exploit the brand to new chapters. Hollywood’s next dynamic Duo.
With the success of the 2015 Feature release, Michael stormed Hollywood with re branding the cult classic. Working with top Hollywood animation companies such as The Third Floor and Café FX’s, David Ebner with a handful of well know writers Michael created a re imagined version The Legend Begins for US audiences. Incorporating US talent with his Asian counterparts as he discussed with Most US studios to find the perfect fit.
Today in the market place wehrhahn has adapted the brand into several licensed properties exploiting the property to new audiences.
Most recently Licensed, wehrhahn has co produced The first Augmented Reality Game which is available on The Monkey King’s own Channel alongside Marvel’s Stan Lee and The Kids Universe.
But this isn’t the first time Michael has co produced with China’s film industry. In 2008 he teamed up with China’s Super Star Leon Lai to produce Sony’s production of A Melody Looking in which was a musical feature pop stars Janice Vidal, Chapman, and Jill Vidal. Inspired by Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker feature, Michael always wanted to do a production that’s was built on music with live action and story driven.
Earlier in 2006 Michael co-produced alongside Nick Quested President of Gold Crest and Executive producer Thadd Turner filming in Tombstone’s Old West creating the Feature Film 7 Mummies starring Billy Drago, Cerina Vincent and Matt Shultz. Michael incorporated world famous Tony Leung, Hong Kong’s (HKSA, Hong Kong Stuntman’s Association) Vice President and Action Director to choreograph the action sequences for the climax of the film.
As a successful business owner and founder of Global Star Productions in 1992, Michael produced and distributed several titles including 27 episodes of Felix the Cat Live a live action version of the cartoon. During the boom of the digital era and reality show drama phase, Michael created and Co-produced alongside Battlestar Galactica’s Richard Hatch the TV Reality show “Who the Frak. Several episodes were shot displaying the actor’s life from Sci Fi Convention to international cruises as well as his home life struggles. Wehrhahn also created a social network under Michael’s direction for fans to interact with the show as well as watch streaming episodes live.
In 2003 Michael alongside Richard Hatch produced The 25th Anniversary reunion of Battlestar Galactica in Universal City California reuniting fans with the show from around the world for the new release of the epic series on television.
At the turn of the century, Michael was relocated to Wilmington North Carolina to work for Screen Gem Studios assisting Frank Capra Jr. President and Gerrald Waller VP in business affairs on the lots during filming of Dawson’s Creek, The Black Night, and One Tree Hill as well as there tourism and financing campaigns.
During Michaels Teens, life wasn’t always on the back of the camera. By his late teens Michael was exploding on the daytime scene Appearing in Soaps like ABC’s All My Children and Aarron Spellings Central Park West. With later transitioning to night time roles on CBS Now and Again. Eventually filmmakers took notice to Michaels martial arts training since childhood in which brought Michael on the big screen starring in films like Blazin alongside rap icon fat Joe and the Virtual Reality Movie What’s Eating You along with other walk on roles It could happen to you The Professional, Jerky Boys and Secret War.
During this time Michael was contracted with NBC Late Night With Conan O Brien Show to perform multiple sketch performances on the show with Conan o Brien and the the crew doubling for William Preston (Water World) Known as Oldie as well as playing characters like the upside down man and numerous other characters during the show.
During Michaels childhood prior to his professional careers in the arts, Michael worked at his family film archival business in NJ assisting clients with their libraries and working for clients such as: ABC 20/20, The Nightly News, Labine Mayer/ Ryan’s Hope, The space programs and (MOMA) Museum of Modern Art. Originally when first started at this facility Michael started this position very young and his boss was the now famous Joe Pantoliano prior to his break out role in Risky Business and the Goonies.
Alongside this training the family business was also contracted by NBC in which Michael also worked daily as a news researcher for NBC news traveling back and forth to NYC with selected archives to be cut and broadcasted daily from the family storage and research facility.
