Back in May, we shouted from every possible rooftop that John Wick 2 was a certainty, because the first film was an awesome amalgamation of pulpy action and robust amounts of headshots. As the second Keanu Reeves-driven film is in pre-production, we’re getting more information about the sequel, as well as the potential for a new action film franchise.
Movies.com spoke with directors Chad Stahelski and David Leitch, and the duo said that it’s not just about the great action scenes.
We have ideas for days and without blinking twice we know we can outdo the action from the original. It’s the matter of story and how much you like the character. That’s always the most important. If there’s great action but you have a character that no one likes and doesn’t have charisma you’re not going to watch it.
That Stahelski and Leitch think they can outdo the action of the first film is not surprising, considering they come from the world of Hollywood stunts. It’s also not surprising that John Wick is receiving a sequel, as the original more than tripled its budget in ticket sales. However, John Wick 2 may just be one film in a potentially fresh franchise, as Lionsgate recently went on record to claim their interest in turning the actioner into a series of flicks.
What made John Wick so interesting was a combination of inventive action sequences — like the third-act scene where Wick decimates his foes using a car — a refurbished Keanu Reeves cool factor, and a simple yet polished narrative that was fun and easy to follow. There’s no official word yet on just how many film we’ll get out of the series, but if Stahelski and Leitch have their way, it might just be 10.
“If we could work with Keanu Reeves for 10 movies, you’d have a really cool career.”
