There aren’t many people who would want to go toe to toe with Keanu Reeves’ assassin character from the ‘John Wick’ franchise. But director Oliver Stone sounds like he’s spoiling for a fight –– or a war of words, at least.
Speaking to Variety at the Transilvania International Film Festival where he was picking up a lifetime achievement award, Stone was unflinching in his criticism of the action movies where Reeves cuts a swathe through various enemies.
f9HakKt6vPZWClZUV638w3
Stone on ‘John Wick’
Here’s what Stone had to say about the ‘Wick movies:
“I saw ‘John Wick 4’ on the plane. Talk about volume. I think the film is disgusting beyond belief. Disgusting. I don’t know what people are thinking. Maybe I was watching ‘G.I. Joe’ when I was a kid. But Keanu Reeves kills, what, three, four hundred people in the f*****g movie. And as a combat veteran, I gotta tell you, not one of them is believable. I realize it’s a movie, but it’s become a video game more than a movie.”
It might sound surprising coming from the director of violent movies such as ‘Natural Born Killers’, ‘Platoon’ and the writer of 1983’s ‘Scarface’, but then much of his filmography has been about the horrors of such actions.
Stone was also vocal when it came to his feelings about modern movies’ style:
“How many cars can crash? How many stunts can you do? What’s the difference between ‘Fast and Furious’ and some other film? It’s just one thing after another. Whether it’s a super-human Marvel character or just a human being like John Wick, it doesn’t make any difference. It’s not believable.”
He’s also angry about the way movies are made these days:
“When they make movies now, they want to think about how do we market it, who’s going to watch it? Of course, that’s a consideration. But it becomes the sole consideration. You really have to have a bigger and bigger hit, which ruins the business because it makes the margins bigger, and of course that makes the cost of the film bigger.”
Keanu Reeves as John Wick in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’ Photo Credit: Murray Close.
Going nuclear
In his own career, Stone hasn’t enjoyed as much success as his 1980s and 1990s heyday, with his dramatic movies failing to connect with audiences and struggles to get documentaries made as he’s increasingly seen as a contrarian.
Most recently, Stone had to fight to make a documentary called ‘Nuclear Now’ about how nuclear power has been unfairly vilified (despite the likes of events such as Hiroshima and Chernobyl).
Here’s what he said about the frustrations of the new documentary:
“It was rejected. It was rejected at birth. No financing. No company wanted to do it. No Netflix. It’s crazy. People in showbiz are idiots. They just go with the trend; they just go with the fashion — it’s a fashion business.”
Keanu Reeves as John Wick in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’ Photo Credit: Murray Close.
Keanu Reeves is one of the most beloved actors of his generation!
Reeves’ resume features classic movies like ‘Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure,’ ‘Point Break,’ ‘Speed,’ ‘The Matrix’ series and the ‘John Wick’ franchise.
His latest, ‘John Wick: Chapter 4,’ which is once again directed by Chad Stahelski, opens in theaters on March 24th.
In honor of the new ‘Wick’ movie, Moviefone is counting down the 30 greatest Keanu Reeves movies of all time, including ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’
When a devoted husband and father (Reeves) is left home alone for the weekend, two stranded young women (Lorenza Izzo and Ana de Armas) unexpectedly knock on his door for help. What starts out as a kind gesture results in a dangerous seduction and a deadly game of cat and mouse.
A representative of an alien race that went through drastic evolution to survive its own climate change, Klaatu (Reeves) comes to Earth to assess whether humanity can prevent the environmental damage they have inflicted on their own planet. When barred from speaking to the United Nations, he decides humankind shall be exterminated so the planet can survive.
In this Shakespearean farce, Hero (Kate Beckinsale) and her groom-to-be, Claudio (Robert Sean Leonard), team up with Claudio’s commanding officer, Don Pedro (Denzel Washington), the week before their wedding to hatch a matchmaking scheme. Their targets are sharp-witted duo Benedick (Kenneth Branagh) and Beatrice (Emma Thompson) — a tough task indeed, considering their corresponding distaste for love and each other. Meanwhile, meddling Don John (Reeves) plots to ruin the wedding.
A group of high-school friends (Reeves, Crispin Glover and Ione Skye Leitch) must come to terms with the fact that one of them, Samson (Daniel Roebuck), killed another, Jamie (Danyi Deats). Faced with the brutality of death, each must decide whether to turn their friend in to the police, or to help him escape the consequences of his dreadful deed.
Reunited after 15 years, famous chef Sasha (Ali Wong) and hometown musician Marcus (Randall Park) feel the old sparks of attraction but struggle to adapt to each other’s worlds.
Six months after the events depicted in The Matrix, Neo (Reeves) has proved to be a good omen for the free humans, as more and more humans are being freed from the matrix and brought to Zion, the one and only stronghold of the Resistance. Neo himself has discovered his superpowers including super speed, ability to see the codes of the things inside the matrix and a certain degree of pre-cognition.
But a nasty piece of news hits the human resistance: 250,000 machine sentinels are digging to Zion and would reach them in 72 hours. As Zion prepares for the ultimate war, Neo, Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) are advised by the Oracle (Gloria Foster) to find the Keymaker (Randall Duk Kim) who would help them reach the Source. Meanwhile Neo’s recurrent dreams depicting Trinity’s death have got him worried and as if it was not enough, Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving) has somehow escaped deletion, has become more powerful than before and has fixed Neo as his next target.
A lonely doctor (Sandra Bullock) who once occupied an unusual lakeside home begins exchanging love letters with its former resident, a frustrated architect (Reeves). They must try to unravel the mystery behind their extraordinary romance before it’s too late.
Harry Sanborn (Jack Nicholson) is an aged music industry exec with a fondness for younger women like Marin (Amanda Peet), his latest trophy girlfriend. Things get a little awkward when Harry suffers a heart attack at the home of Marin’s mother, Erica (Diane Keaton). Left in the care of Erica and his doctor (Reeves), a love triangle starts to take shape.
Tom Ludlow (Reeves) is a disillusioned L.A. Police Officer, rarely playing by the rules and haunted by the death of his wife. When evidence implicates him in the execution of a fellow officer, he is forced to go up against the cop culture he’s been a part of his entire career, ultimately leading him to question the loyalties of everyone around him.
Keanu Reeves as John Wick in ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum.’
Super-assassin John Wick (Reeves) returns with a $14 million price tag on his head and an army of bounty-hunting killers on his trail. After killing a member of the shadowy international assassin’s guild, the High Table, John Wick is excommunicado, but the world’s most ruthless hit men and women await his every turn.
In “DC League of Super-Pets,” Krypto the Super-Dog (Dwayne Johnson) and Superman (John Krasinski) are inseparable best friends, sharing the same superpowers and fighting crime in Metropolis side by side. When Superman, Batman (Reeves) and the rest of the Justice League are kidnapped, Krypto must convince a rag-tag shelter pack—Ace the hound (Kevin Hart), PB the potbellied pig (Vanessa Bayer), Merton the turtle (Natasha Lyonne) and Chip the squirrel (Diego Luna) to master their own newfound powers and help him rescue the superheroes.
Annie Wilson (Cate Blanchett), young widow and mother of three, makes her living foretelling others’ futures—though her own has become cloudier than even she can see. Threatened by a client’s (Hilary Swank) violent husband (Reeves) and plagued by visions of a missing local woman (Katie Holmes), Annie finds herself pulled into a thicket of lies and deception in which her extraordinary gift may ultimately get her killed.
In 18th century France, Marquise de Merteuil (Glenn Close) asks her ex-lover Vicomte de Valmont (John Malkovich) to seduce the future wife (Michelle Pfeiffer) of another ex-lover (Reeves) of hers in return for one last night with her. Yet things don’t go as planned.
The human city of Zion defends itself against the massive invasion of the machines as Neo (Reeves) fights to end the war at another front while also opposing the rogue Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving).
Maverick old-guard coach Jimmy McGinty (Gene Hackman) is hired in the wake of a players’ strike to help the Washington Sentinels advance to the playoffs. But that impossible dream hinges on whether his replacements can hunker down and do the job. So, McGinty dusts off his secret dossier of ex-players who never got a chance (or screwed up the one they were given) and knits together a bad-dream team of guys who just may give the Sentinels their title shot.
John Wick (Reeves) is forced out of retirement by a former associate looking to seize control of a shadowy international assassins’ guild. Bound by a blood oath to aid him, Wick travels to Rome and does battle against some of the world’s most dangerous killers.
The story of the Buckman family and friends, attempting to bring up their children. They suffer/enjoy all the events that occur: estranged relatives, the ‘black sheep’ of the family, the eccentrics, the skeletons in the closet, and the rebellious teenagers.
Aspiring Florida defense lawyer Kevin Lomax (Reeves) accepts a job at a New York law firm. With the stakes getting higher every case, Kevin quickly learns that his boss (Al Pacino) has something far more evil planned.
When aspiring model Jesse (Elle Fanning) moves to Los Angeles, her youth and vitality are devoured by a group of beauty-obsessed women who will take any means necessary to get what she has.
Woody (Tom Hanks) has always been confident about his place in the world and that his priority is taking care of his kid, whether that’s Andy or Bonnie. But when Bonnie adds a reluctant new toy called “Forky” (Tony Hale) to her room, a road trip adventure alongside old and new friends will show Woody how big the world can be for a toy.
In this loose adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Henry IV,” Mike Waters (River Phoenix) is a gay hustler afflicted with narcolepsy. Scott Favor (Reeves) is the rebellious son of a mayor. Together, the two travel from Portland, Oregon to Idaho and finally to the coast of Italy in a quest to find Mike’s estranged mother. Along the way they turn tricks for money and drugs, eventually attracting the attention of a wealthy benefactor and sexual deviant.
Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Reeves) are high school buddies starting a band. They are also about to fail their history class—which means Ted would be sent to military school—but receive help from Rufus (George Carlin), a traveller from a future where their band is the foundation for a perfect society. With the use of Rufus’ time machine, Bill and Ted travel to various points in history, returning with important figures to help them complete their final history presentation.
John Wick (Reeves) uncovers a path to defeating The High Table. But before he can earn his freedom, Wick must face off against a new enemy with powerful alliances across the globe and forces that turn old friends into foes.
Keanu Reeves as John Constantine in 2005’s ‘Constantine.’
John Constantine (Reeves) has literally been to Hell and back. When he teams up with a policewoman (Rachel Weisz) to solve the mysterious suicide of her twin sister, their investigation takes them through the world of demons and angels that exists beneath the landscape of contemporary Los Angeles.
Los Angeles SWAT cop Jack Traven (Reeves) is up against bomb expert Howard Payne (Dennis Hopper), who’s after major ransom money. First it’s a rigged elevator in a very tall building. Then it’s a rigged bus–if it slows, it will blow, bad enough any day, but a nightmare in LA traffic. And that’s still not the end.
In Los Angeles, a gang of bank robbers who call themselves The Ex-Presidents commit their crimes while wearing masks of Reagan, Carter, Nixon and Johnson. Believing that the members of the gang could be surfers, the F.B.I. sends young agent Johnny Utah (Reeves) to the beach undercover to mix with the surfers and gather information.
Set in the 22nd century, The Matrix tells the story of a computer hacker who joins a group of underground insurgents fighting the vast and powerful computers who now rule the earth.
Sometime after the events of ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum,’ John Wick (Keanu Reeves) has recovered from his injuries and seeks to kill the leader of the High Table, while Winston Scott (Ian McShane) must face the consequences of his actions. The new leader of the High Table, Marquis Vincent de Gramont (Bill Skarsgård), wants Wick dead and hires hundreds of assassins to kill him, including a tracker named Mr. Nobody (Shamier Anderson), and Caine (Donnie Yen), a blind assassin who is old friends with Wick.
Aided by another old friend, Shimazu Koji (Hiroyuki Sanada), the manager of the Osaka Continental Hotel, as well as the Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne), Wick agrees to Winston’s dangerous plan to earn him his freedom, which involves Wick rejoining the Ruska Roma, assassinating German High Table member Killa (Scott Adkins), and challenging Marquis Vincent de Gramont to a duel to the death. But first John Wick will need to survive till sunrise if he wants a chance at getting his life back.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Bill Skarsgård about his work on ‘John Wick: Chapter 4,’ how he was a fan before joining the franchise, creating his villainess character, and working with Keanu Reeves.
(L to R) Ian McShane as Winston and Bill Skarsgård as Marquis in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’ Photo Credit: Murray Close.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch.
Moviefone: To begin with, were you a fan of the ‘John Wick’ movies before joining the franchise?
Bill Skarsgård: Yeah, I was a fan of the franchise. I’d seen at least the first two films, possibly all three of them before I was approached to join the fun. It’s special that way, when you’re very familiar with the world as a fan, and then all of a sudden you are on set acting opposite John Wick himself. It’s very strange.
(L to R) Director Chad Stahelski and Bill Skarsgård as Marquis in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’ Photo Credit: Murray Close.
MF: Your character has a very specific look. The way he walks, talks and dresses is very specific. Can you talk about your approach to creating the character?
BS: I mean, they don’t go into any details of who this guy really is or where he comes from. He just appears in the movie. I enjoyed the script, I really enjoyed Chad, and I read it and I think it was initially conceived for an older actor. I was like, “Okay, this is an interesting choice.” I just wanted to play him because there’s no real backstory and I can invent whatever I want with it. I had a bunch of ideas going into who he is and there’s quirkiness, strangeness and delicious sinister moments. I was like, “Okay, he’s in Paris. He’s called the Marquis Vincent de Gramont. Is he French or is he from a French colony somewhere?” I mean, I just went with it and created. Chad really, just gave me the freedom of creating this thing that’s in the movie. I really enjoy that part of it. The franchise is very stylized and Chad had a great concept. It was just such a pleasure to be a part of it.
Keanu Reeves as John Wick in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’ Photo Credit: Murray Close.
MF: Finally, what was it like working with Keanu Reeves?
BS: I’ve been a fan of his since I was eight when the first ‘Matrix’ came out. It was truly an honor to be a part of his movie and his franchise, and he couldn’t be a nicer guy. It was surreal acting opposite him, but just the nicest, sweetest guy and such a hard worker, and a genuinely caring actor, and a caring individual. It was just a treat.
Keanu Reeves as John Wick in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’ Photo Credit: Murray Close.
Following the events of ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum,’ John Wick (Keanu Reeves) seeks to kill the leader of the High Table, and Winston Scott (Ian McShane) must face the consequences of his actions. The new leader of the High Table, Marquis Vincent de Gramont (Bill Skarsgård), wants Wick dead and hires hundreds of assassins to kill him, including a tracker named Mr. Nobody (Shamier Anderson), and Caine (Donnie Yen), a blind assassin who is old friends with Wick.
Aided by another old friend, Shimazu Koji (Hiroyuki Sanada), the manager of the Osaka Continental Hotel, as well as the Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne), Wick agrees to Winston’s dangerous plan to earn him his freedom, which involves Wick rejoining the Ruska Roma, assassinating German High Table member Killa (Scott Adkins), and challenging Marquis Vincent de Gramont to a duel to the death. But first John Wick will need to survive until sunrise if he wants a chance at getting his life back.
Keanu Reeves as John Wick in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’ Photo Credit: Murray Close.
Initial Thoughts
With over-the-top action, more character development, and a satisfying conclusion, ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ is the best of the ‘John Wick’ sequels and is on par with the original film. Keanu Reeves excels in his signature role, and Donnie Yen is finally given a part in an American film worthy of his great talents.
The Story, the Action and the Direction
2014’s ‘John Wick’ was a revolutionary film for the action genre and helped to rejuvenate Keanu Reeves’ career (more on that later). What felt like a perfect stand-alone action movie was eventually transformed into a huge franchise, thanks to the success of its sequels and upcoming spinoffs. While ‘John Wick: Chapter 2’ was a strong sequel that expanded the “Wick Universe,” ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum,’ while a good movie in its own right, was ultimately not as satisfying a conclusion to the series as expected as it basically ended with a “To Be Continued.”
‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ is absolutely a satisfying ending to the title character’s story (at least for now) and one that fans of the series truly deserve. With the exception of the introduction of Halle Berry’s great character Sofia Al-Azwar in ‘Parabellum,’ who unfortunately does not appear in ‘Chapter 4,’ the third movie does not seem that relevant anymore, as most of the new film follows the same story beats: Wick and Winston atoning for their actions in ‘Chapter 2.’ While I think a trilogy would have made the series stronger in the long run, I understand the studio wanting to stretch it out given its success, and I guess ‘Parabellum’ needed to set up the upcoming spinoff ‘Ballerina.’
Director and former stunt coordinator Chad Stahelski, who upped the game for action movies with the first ‘John Wick’ ups his action game again with this film, which truly contains some amazing fight sequences. And it’s not just the scenes with what Reeves has called “Gun-Fu,” the movie also has “Car-Fun,” as well as “Sword-Fu” moments. The scenes are shot incredibly well and fluid, and allows the audience to follow the wild action without missing a beat. Particularly impressive is a massive gun and sword fight that takes place at the Osaka Continental Hotel, as well as the final set-piece, a 10-minute-plus long fight sequence that takes place on a steep set of outdoor stairs.
(L to R) Ian McShane as Winston, Keanu Reeves as John Wick, and director Chad Stahelski on the set of ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’ Photo Credit: Murray Close.
Keanu Reeves is one of our most beloved, and at times, underrated actors. Reeves has starred in countless modern classics like ‘Point Break,’ ‘Speed,’ and of course ‘The Matrix,’ but it seems like he didn’t finally receive the respect he deserved for his impressive career until he starred in the surprise hit ‘John Wick,’ which completely changed everything for the actor. Keanu is now a national treasure, and his dedication to the role of John Wick, as demonstrated in his training videos on YouTube, shows just how much this role has meant to him, and just how talented an actor he really is.
John Wick was never your typical action character, as his origin story began with the death of his wife (to an illness, not assassination) and his motivation was to avenge the death of the dog she gave him before she died. From inception, this gave the character more depth and made him more emotionally vulnerable than most action heroes. Reeves’ deep emotional connection as an actor is part of what makes him so good as this character and that is only elevated by the new movie. While in some ways he will always be remembered for playing Neo in ‘The Matrix’ series, it’s safe to say John Wick is now Reeves’ signature character. With ‘Chapter 4’ the actor not only brings his character to a satisfying conclusion, but also seems to be at the apex of his talents and career.
Donnie Yen as Caine in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’ Photo Credit: Murray Close.
Donnie Yen’s Caine
Best known for his work on the ‘Ip Man’ series, actor and martial artist Donnie Yen has only appeared in a few American films such as ‘Rogue One’ and ‘XXX: Return of Xander Cage,’ and he has not really been given a chance to show off his talents until now. In ‘Chapter 4,’ Donnie Yen is truly brilliant as Wick’s old friend and adversary Caine, and absolutely shines in the role. He creates a fully formed character as the blind assassin, and is completely believable in the role. His action sequences are some of the best in the film, and he brings a lot of humor to the part, and has great onscreen chemistry with Reeves. There are some hints in the movie that Caine may continue on in future installments or spinoffs, and I for one would love to see Yen return to the role.
(L to R) Ian McShane as Winston and Bill Skarsgård as Marquis in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’ Photo Credit: Murray Close.
The Villains
While not necessarily a villain, like Caine, Shamier Anderson’s Mr. Nobody is an adversary to Wick and one of the great new characters this film introduces. He is mysterious at first, and we’re not quite sure who’s side he is really on, which makes him more interesting to follow throughout the film. His physicality and skills are a match for Wick, but their mutual love of dogs is key to them possibly calling a truce before film’s end. I was not that familiar with Anderson’s work previous to this movie, but was impressed with his portrayal of the character and would love to see him appear in the franchise again.
Although he is really only in one sequence, action star Scott Adkins steals his scene as Killa, a physically massive German High Table member that poses a threat to Wick. The actor is heavily made-up and physically imposing, while his martial arts skills are well on display, regardless of the character’s size. Character actor Clancy Brown is always good when he appears in small but pivotal roles, and has another strong one here as the Harbinger, who works for the High Table.
But the true villain of the movie is the Marquis Vincent de Gramont, played by Bill Skarsgård. The actor does his best with the material, but like Alfie Allen’s Tarasov in the first movie, and Riccardo Scamarcio’s Santino D’Antonio in the second, the character comes off as a spoiled brat, and without the power of the High Table, one on one, is no threat for Wick, which does play out in the final scenes of the movie. He’s your standard “Bond Villain” behind the scenes pulling the strings, and I would have liked a main villain that could really be a physical threat for our hero, but perhaps that is why they cast Yen and Adkins in their roles.
Laurence Fishburne as Bowery King in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’ Photo Credit: Murray Close.
The Supporting Cast
The ‘Matrix’ reunion is cut short again as Laurence Fishburne does return as the Bowery King but has limited screen time. However, it is always nice to see Fishburne and Reeves share the frame again, and his role is pivotal to Wick’s success. Actors Hiroyuki Sanada and Rina Sawayama are great additions to the franchise as Shimazu Koji and his daughter Akira, respectively, and it was fascinating to see the Osaka version of the Continental Hotel.
Tragically, actor Lance Reddick, who has played Charon, the concierge of the Continental Hotel in New York, in all four ‘Wick’ movies died this past week, just before the film’s release. Unfortunately, the actor’s role is limited in the new movie, but his performance now has new context as it will be one of his last. Reddick’s character was a staple of the series, always having great chemistry with McShane and Reeves, particularly in ‘Parabellum,’ and the actor will definitely be missed.
But in many ways it is Ian McShane’s Winston Scott who has the biggest upgrade in ‘Chapter 4.’ The character played an important but small role in the original, and that role has grown in each new installment. Winston’s power is threatened in this film, and like a scared animal backed into a corner, we learn what happens when you cross the character. It’s his plan that could help John regain his freedom, and in turn help himself return to power, but McShane allows the character to come across in a way that you feel he is motivated by his friendship and respect for Wick as much as he is by his own self-preservation. And again, his lovely moments with Reddick as Charon will take on more resonance now that the actor is gone.
(L to R) Lance Reddick as Charon and Ian McShane as Winston Scott in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’
Is ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ the last one, or will there be a ‘John Wick 5?’
Without giving anything away, there definitely is a finality to ‘John Wick: Chapter 4,’ or at least a satisfying conclusion to the main character’s story arc. Regardless of the movie’s outcome, rest assured that the franchise will not end here. While there are plans for a ‘John Wick: Chapter 5,’ director Chad Stahelski and star Keanu Reeves have both said recently that they plan to take a break from the character and the franchise for a while.
But no matter what happens with the flagship ‘Wick’ series, the franchise and especially ‘Chapter 4’ have created such a big world with so many interesting characters that it will go on for the foreseeable future. Already in production is ‘Ballerina,’ based on characters introduced in ‘Parabellum,’ including Unity Phelan’s Rooney (now played by Oscar nominee Ana de Armas) and Anjelica Huston’s “The Director.” The movie is helmed by ‘Underworld’s Len Wiseman and will also feature Reeves, McShane and Reddick, reprising their roles, and it is said to be set between ‘Parabellum’ and ‘Chapter 4.’
There has also been talk of a spinoff featuring Halle Berry’s ‘Parabellum’ character, and a possible crossover with Bob Odenkirk’s ‘Nobody’ series. Not to mention the upcoming series adaption called ‘The Continental,’ which is an origin story for the Winston Scott character, featuring Colin Woodell playing a young Winston, as well as Oscar winner Mel Gibson.
Final Thoughts
In the end, ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ is an action-packed and emotional rollercoaster with fantastic new characters and a satisfying conclusion to the title character’s arc. Keanu Reeves reminds us why we love him playing his beloved signature character, and Donnie Yen dazzles creating a new character you’ll want to see again, while director Chad Stahelski delivers the best sequel in the series.
‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ receives 9.5 out of 10 stars.
Keanu Reeves as John Wick in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’ Photo Credit: Murray Close.
Keanu Reeves as John Constantine in 2005’s ‘Constantine.’
Business-heavy stories about producers renewing the deals with studios don’t usually offer up too many interesting nuggets of news. But when that filmmaker is Akiva Goldsman, and he’s involved with two big franchises in ‘Constantine’ and ‘I Am Legend’––and is happy to talk about them––that’s a different situation.
So with Goldsman’s Weed Road company returning to Warner Bros. (which is almost news in itself given the company’s recent round of cost-cutting and tax write-offs), there is an update on both the comic book adaptation starring Keanu Reeves and the post-apocalyptic thriller that, seemingly against the odds given how the first movie ended, appears set to return Will Smith to screens.
2005’s ‘Constantine’ brought the character first created by Alan Moore, Stephen R. Bissette, Rick Veitch, and John Totleben (and developed by Garth Ennis and Jamie Delano’s ‘Hellblazer’ comics) to screens.
He’s as supernatural exorcist and demonologist, and something of a detective, though his personal life is a mess and his personal grooming leaves something to be desired.
In the movie, Reeves’ Constantine is approached by Detective Angela Dodson (Rachel Weisz) who needs his help to prove that her twin sister Isabel’s (also Weisz) death was not a suicide. As he looks into Isabel’s death, he realizes demons are trying to break through to the human world, and his battles lead him into the middle of a conflict between the Angel Gabriel (Tilda Swinton) and Satan (Peter Stomare).
“This is a credit to Keanu, who endlessly has said, ‘this is the character I want to return to.’ Finally, he said it enough times that it stuck. The character is very much Keanu and the way he and Francis saw the world of good and evil, and the wonderful and authentic noir where there is a world behind the world of good and evil coexist with our world right up close. Beyond that, we are still discovering it as I am writing the script.”
ZsJKPhu0po3avG6kUpCH76
What’s new with the ‘I Am Legend’ sequel?
‘I Am Legend,’ meanwhile, was a 2007 horror action thriller, coincidentally also directed by Lawrence. It adapted Richard Matheson’s much-praised 1954 novel, which posited a world where a devastating virus had wiped out almost all of humanity and turned the rest into vampire-like mutants who roam the world looking for victims.
Robert Neville, the focus of the story, goes on a mission to find the scientific basis for the pandemic that caused all this, and chronicles his increasingly stressed encounters with his fellow former humans.
In the movie, Smith plays Neville, who is an army virologist surviving in a ruined New York and looking to find a cure for the virus that caused all the trouble––which was originally a mutated measles strain intended to cure cancer. His wife and daughter died in a helicopter crash as they attempted to flee a quarantine of Manhattan and Neville has company in the shape of his German Shepherd dog Sam.
We learned about a potential sequel nearly a year ago, but at that point speculated that it seemed unlikely to star Smith since (spoiler alert) his character appeared to die at the end, heroically sacrificing his life after finally finding a cure so other survivors (Alice Braga’s Anna and her son, Ethan, played by Charlie Tahan) may live.
Yet that was in the cinematic cut––a later home entertainment release has an alternate where In the ending that wasn’t included in the theatrical cut, the zombies leave Smith’s Neville alone once he returns the body he was testing the cure on back to them. Smith, Anna and Ethan travel to Vermont to spread the cure.
Goldsman, who is also writing that movie (Lawrence is not attached to direct, at least not yet), didn’t specify exactly how Smith’s character story would continue, nor did he offer up any details as to how fellow attached star Michael B. Jordan might fit in.
Goldsman had this to say about the movie,
“This will start a few decades later than the first. “I’m obsessed with ‘The Last of Us,’ where we see the world just post-apocalypse but also after a 20-30-year lapse. You see how the earth reclaims the world, and there’s something beautiful in the question of, as man steps away from being the primary tenant, what happens? That will be especially visual in New York. I don’t know if they’ll climb up to the empire state building, but the possibilities are endless. We trace back to the original Matheson book, and the alternate ending as opposed to the released ending in the original film. What Matheson was talking about was that man’s time on the planet as the dominant species had come to an end. That’s a really interesting thing we’re going to get to explore. There will be a little more fidelity to the original text.”
It’s perhaps no surprise that the huge HBO Max hit video game adaptation would be a touchstone, even though the new ‘Legend’ has been in development long before it infected the pop cultural consciousness.
We’ll have to wait and see what exactly happens with the ‘Legend’ follow-up. Given how busy Goldsman is (he also juggles time spent working on ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ series for Paramount+ and a wealth of other projects in development), it could be a while before either movie is ready to go before cameras. We’d predict that the ‘Constantine’ follow-up would be first.
Will Smith in 2007’s ‘I Am Legend.’
Other Movies Similar to ‘Constantine’ and ‘I Am Legend:’
Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon in AMC’s ‘The Walking Dead.’
Unlike the usually frenetic pace of the ‘John Wick’ movies themselves, the pace of information about casting for the in-production movie spin-off film ‘Ballerina’ has been more of a slow, consistent drip feed.
And the latest word on the ensemble is that ‘The Walking Dead’ mainstay Norman Reedus is now aboard.
“We’re huge fans of Norman, and we’re confident that the fans will be just as excited as we are that he’s joining the ‘Wick’ universe,” producer Erica Lee. “He’ll make an incredible addition to ‘Ballerina.’ ”
Nothing is known yet about exactly what role Reedus will be filling, but the movie stars ‘No Time to Die’ and ‘Knives Out’ actor Ana de Armas as the title character.
‘Ballerina’ will follow the Ballerina character glimpsed briefly (and there played by Unity Phelan) in ‘Parabellum’ and tracks a young assassin who seeks revenge against the people who killed her family. Which does feel apt for something set in John Wick’s world.
Ian McShane in ‘John Wick: Chapter 2’
So far, the movie’s cast has started to feel like a reunion for ‘Wick’ performers, as several veterans of the main film series are confirmed to be showing up. Ian McShane, for example, will be back as Winston, the manager of the Continental hotel, part of the chain of luxury facilities which offers accommodation and assistance to assassins such as John Wick.
Lance Reddick is once more playing Charon, the concierge of the main Continental in New York, while Anjelica Huston will show up as the Director, the head of the Ruska Roma crime organization who raised Wick and trains young women like the Ballerina.
And talking of John Wick, the Keanu Reeves character who kicked (and punched and shot) it all off, is reportedly making a cameo in the new film.
Many of the ‘Wick’ regulars will also show up in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’, which is much further along. ‘Ballerina’ has yet to chalk up a release date, while ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ is headed our way on March 24th next year.
As for Reedus, he recently wrapped up a 12-year run on ‘The Walking Dead’, the zombie-crammed survival series that became a massive pop cultural sensation. He hasn’t left that world completely behind, though, as he’s filming a spin-off series focused on his character, Daryl Dixon.
Anjelica Huston to reprise her role as the Director, starring opposite Ana de Armas in ‘Ballerina,’ the new film set in the ‘John Wick’ universe. Photo: Lionsgate.
jeTNQ5NBRWKrFQ0PXYJJT6
TlDD6Rxp
At this point, it’s looking that ‘Ballerina, the Ana de Armas-starring ‘John Wick’ spin-off, will feature a wealth of people from the main franchise, at least to help it initially.
The latest recruit for the movie, according to Variety, is Lance Reddick, who has appeared in all three ‘Wick’ movies, and will once again play Charon, concierge at the assassin-catering Continental Hotel.
“Charon is an indispensable part of the world of ‘Wick,’ ” producer Erica Lee said in a statement. “It’s great to know that Lance will continue to make his mark on this franchise.”
He’s just the latest piece of crossover casting for the movie, since Keanu Reeves (aka John Wick himself) is reportedly going to show up, though that has yet to be officially confirmed.
Keanu Reeves as John Wick in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’
More solid is word that Ian McShane will be Continental manager in the movie, while Anjelica Huston is aboard as The Director, who is the head of the Ruska Roma crime organization.
‘Ballerina’ will follow the Ballerina character glimpsed briefly (and there played by Unity Phelan) in ‘Parabellum’ and tracks a young assassin who seeks revenge against the people who killed her family. Which does feel apt for something set in John Wick’s world.
‘Ballerina’ has yet to chalk up a release date, though ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ is headed our way on March 24th next year.
(L to R) Michael Gandolfini and Alessandro Nivola in ‘The Many Saints of Newark.’
Elsewhere, we have a double dose of Marvel/Disney+ casting news.
Michael Gandolfini, who so far is best known for playing the younger Tony Soprano (the role his father James made famous on TV in ‘The Sopranos’) in ‘Sopranos’ movie prequel ‘The Many Saints of Newark’, is joining ‘Daredevil: Born Again’.
The much-anticipated Disney+ series will see Charlie Cox’s blind lawyer-turned-vigilante fully make the transition from his Netflix years (assuming it is exactly the same character, the jury remains out on that) to the MCU after popping up in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ and his even more memorable recent run on episodes of ‘She-Hulk’.
‘Daredevil: Born Again’ promises to re-ignite the clash between Daredevil and Kingpin, AKA Wilson Fisk, brought to hulking life by Vincent D’Onofrio on the Netflix show and now in ‘Hawkeye’.
Written and executive produced by ‘Covert Affairs creators’ Matt Corman and Chris Ord, the new series’ story is a mystery for now, though we do know it’ll span 18 episodes in its first season.
As for who Gandolfini is playing, Deadline has heard from sources that it could be an ambitious sort called Liam from Staten Island––though that, of course, could be misinformation to throw scoopers off the trail. And who knows if that’s also cover for another comic book character. We’ll know more when the series arrives in 2024.
The show, which saw Tom Hiddleston’s adopted Asgardian and trickster god fall afoul of a mysterious organization known as the Time Variance Agency after affecting the timeline by absconding with the Tesseract during ‘Avengers: Endgame’, ended in a cliffhanger, with Loki in a different timeline.
Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead are the main directors for the second season of the show, which has finished shooting and should be on screens next year.
Marvel Studios’ ‘Loki’ Season 2.
jeTNQ5NBRWKrFQ0PXYJJT6
TlDD6Rxp
Anjelica Huston to reprise her role as the Director, starring opposite Ana de Armas in ‘Ballerina,’ the new film set in the ‘John Wick’ universe. Photo: Lionsgate.
The news continues to arrive about ‘John Wick’ spin-off movie ‘Ballerina’, which has ‘No Time to Die’s Ana de Armas starring. And from the sounds of it, it’ll be even more closely connected to the ‘Wick’ world than we thought.
This makes sense, since The Director, who is the head of the Ruska Roma crime organization, is seen in that third movie training up young female ballerinas with some very harsh techniques. And she also oversees the training of male orphans as assassins.
It’s to the Director that Keanu Reeves’ embattled hit man comes to for help, though her assistance costs her when the High Table – controllers of crime in the ‘Wick’ world – decide to punish her giving some who is excommunicado by stabbing her in the hands. No one says they’re not literal when it comes to rough justice.
“The idea of ‘Ballerina’ was formed around the scenes with Anjelica in ‘John Wick 3’, says producer Erica Lee. “Anjelica Huston is an icon and is nothing less than Hollywood royalty. The world of Wick is always made richer by her commanding screen presence.”
Len Wiseman, better known for the likes of the ‘Underworld’ franchise and ‘Live Free or Die Hard’, is in the director’s chair for the movie, which has a script from ‘Parabellum’ co-writer Shay Hatten.
Lionsgate also previously announced that Ian McShane, who has played Winston, the complicated manager of the Continental Hotel seen in the movies, will be back to reprise the role.
(L to R) Keanu Reeves and Donnie Yen in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’ Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
News leaked earlier this month that the key figure in the entire franchise – that would be Keanu Reeves himself – will also show up in the spin-off.
There is, of course, no information about what Wick might be doing in the movie (besides kicking, punching and shooting people, we can only assume), or how big his involvement will be beyond a potential cameo, since this is really intended to focus on de Armas’ character.
‘Ballerina’ will follow the Ballerina character glimpsed briefly (and there played by Unity Phelan) in ‘Parabellum’ and tracks a young assassin who seeks revenge against the people who killed her family. Which does feel apt for something set in John Wick’s world.
“We’re thrilled to have Ian McShane joining us for a pivotal role in ‘Ballerina’, says producer Basil Iwanyk. “He’s been such an integral part of the franchise since the original John Wick. It’s been fun to have him on this journey as the Wick universe expands.”
Keanu Reeves as John Wick in ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum.’
The ‘John Wick’ universe just continues to expand, with a fourth main movie headed our way in a few months (and giving out cryptic social media clues about… something – probably a trailer) and ‘The Continental’ TV series making its way through post-production after shooting this year.
Attention is now turning to ‘Ballerina’, the movie spin-off of the ‘Wick’ films, which stars Ana de Armas.
Lionsgate has announced that Ian McShane, who has played Winston, the complicated manager of the Continental Hotel seen in the movies, will be back to reprise the role.
There is, of course, no information about what Wick might be doing in the movie (besides kicking, punching and shooting people, we can only assume), or how big his involvement will be beyond a potential cameo, since this is really intended to focus on de Armas’ character.
‘Ballerina’ will follow the Ballerina character glimpsed briefly (and there played by Unity Phelan) in ‘Parabellum’ and tracks a young assassin who seeks revenge against the people who killed her family. So… yes, very much a ‘John Wick’ story.
“We’re thrilled to have Ian McShane joining us for a pivotal role in ‘Ballerina’, says producer Basil Iwanyk. “He’s been such an integral part of the franchise since the original John Wick. It’s been fun to have him on this journey as the Wick universe expands.”
There is no statement about Reeves – but then, his presence is probably something the producers were trying to keep quiet a little longer. And the studio has yet to reveal who else is in the cast, but with cameras now rolling, expect more details soon.
‘The Continental’, which focuses on a younger iteration of Winston, is also due on screens in 2023 via Peacock. That show features Mel Gibson, Colin Woodell, Nhung Kate and Katie McGrath in its ensemble.
The fourth ‘Wick’ movie, meanwhile, finds Reeves in familiar territory. “John Wick takes on his most lethal adversaries yet in the upcoming fourth installment of the series,” reads the official logline for the next movie. “With the price on his head ever increasing, Wick takes his fight against the High Table global as he seeks out the most powerful players in the underworld, from New York to Paris to Osaka to Berlin.”
‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ lands in theaters on March 24th next year. ‘Ballerina’ has yet to confirm a release date.
Ian McShane in ‘John Wick: Chapter 2’
jeTNQ5NBRWKrFQ0PXYJJT6
KxtFVeB4
Directed by The Kirby Brothers (George and Harry Kirby), the new sequel sees the return of Scott Adkins as Mike Fallon, who must beat the top assassins in the world to protect the ungrateful son of a mafia boss (George Fouracres), save the life of his only friend (Perry Benson) and rekindle his relationship with his maniacal father figure (Ray Stevenson).
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Scott Adkins about ‘Accident Man: Hitman’s Holiday,’ making the sequel, its new story, new characters, returning to the role, the fight scenes, reuniting with Ray Stevenson, why the Kirby Brothers were the right filmmakers to direct this movie, and working with Keanu Reeves on the upcoming ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’
Scott Adkins as Mike Fallon in the action/thriller film, ‘Accident Man: Hitman’s Holiday,’ a Samuel Goldwyn Films release. Photo courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films.
You can read our full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview with Scott Adkins about ‘Accident Man: Hitman’s Holiday.’
Moviefone: To begin with, when making the first film, at what point did you realize that these characters and this story would make a great sequel and franchise?
Scott Adkins: Well, when I was a kid, it was a comic book. I grew up reading it, and I always thought it would make a great film. So, I must admit that making the first one, I was hoping that it would do well, because I knew it could be a franchise if the public responded to it well. So, that was always there in the back of my head, but you don’t want to tempt fate, do you?
It took us a few years since the first one to get the second one across the finish line, to be honest. The pandemic didn’t help and other reasons. But for sure, ‘Accident Man’ works as a franchise. There’re many more stories to be told.
MF: As an actor, what do you like about playing Mike Fallon?
SA: First of all, he’s an expert martial artist, and that’s kind of my bag, so I knew I could do that. What I loved about the comic was how British it was, and how violent and funny it was at the same time. Comics were like that back in the day, but you never used to make movies like that. Everyone was scared to make those sorts of movies, and it was hard for me to get producers to sign on to it for a while.
But I think when ‘Deadpool’ came out, that really showed that it’s okay to have a lot of fun and be a little bit rude, and have violence, and swear words, and that people are going to have a good time watching it. Because growing up in England, reading things like ‘2000 AD,’ that’s the way comic books were. They were quite adult in many ways, and that was the vision for the thing. We wrote ‘Accident Man’ before ‘Deadpool’ came out, by the way.
(L to R) Beau Fowler as Paco The Killer Clown and Scott Adkins as Mike Fallon in the action/thriller film, ‘Accident Man: Hitman’s Holiday,’ a Samuel Goldwyn Films release. Photo courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films.
MF: Can you talk about filming the action scenes in ‘Accident Man: Hitman’s Holiday,’ and working out the fight choreography with the stunt coordinators and the other actors?
SA: I was a lot more involved this time around. I’m always very involved with the fights, of course, but I was even more involved this time because my go-to guy, Tim Mann, who did the fights in the first one, we couldn’t get him. He had already choreographed some fights, and then he took another project. So, we were kind of scrambling. Andy Long choreographed the fights that I have with him, and he also choreographed and shot another fight that happens with Sarah Chang‘s character.
But then it was a mix and match. The directors, there’s Harry and there’s George, and George is a stuntman himself. In fact, the first time I met him was on ‘Doctor Strange’ because he was stunt doubling Benedict Cumberbatch. So, they are really clued up with the action as well. It was a lot of people just mucking into choreographing it and shooting these action sequences.
They’re all daunting because I know that they’re all going to hurt. It’s like you wake up in the morning, you have a fight scene day, and you’re like, “Oh my God, this is going to suck.” You’ve just got to grit your teeth and get through it. They’re all daunting, man. People get hurt. It is painful. If it’s not painful, you’re not doing it right. I do loads of them, of course. It’s all part of it. I’m a lifelong martial artist.
You condition your body to get hit, and that’s part of the gig. Sometimes you get hit hard in the face by accident, or accidents happen. On this one, the action was sort of front loaded the first week. It was all the end stuff we did first. So, finishing the first week, going into the second week of a four-week shoot, I was already injured. I hurt my knee, and that really sucks when you’re injured. But, if you do enough action films, you’re going to be injured for a few of them.
(L to R) Perry Benson as Finicky Fred and Scott Adkins as Mike Fallon in the action/thriller film, ‘Accident Man: Hitman’s Holiday,’ a Samuel Goldwyn Films release. Photo courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films.
MF: Can you talk about Mike’s friendship with Finicky Fred and how that forwards the plot?
SA: In the first one, he kills all of his friends. He thinks they’re his friends, but he ends up killing most of them. So, we wanted this film to be about finding the importance of having friends and family in your life, even though you may be a stone-cold killer. We all need friends, we all need mates, we all need people to rely on, and that’s essentially his arc through this story. Of course, Fred, Perry’s character, is integral to the telling of that arc.
MF: Was the relationship between Mike and Siu-ling, played by Sarah Chang, inspired by Inspector Clouseau and Cato’s relationship in the original ‘Pink Panther’ movies?
SA: Absolutely. I’m a big fan of ‘The Pink Panther’ movies. I’m a big fan of Peter Sellers. Some of those fights in those movies, they’re so funny. Ours is a bit more highlighting the action rather than the comedy, but that was essentially what I wanted to do.
I wanted to make Sarah’s character kind of be like my Cato but in an updated sort of way, but have the fun of that, and that you never know when she’s going to strike. We’re probably around the same age. Our generation are going to know, but I think the kids coming up today, they probably haven’t seen those movies, and they absolutely should.
(L to R) Scott Adkins as Mike Fallon and Sarah Chang as Wong Siu-ling in the action/thriller film, ‘Accident Man: Hitman’s Holiday,’ a Samuel Goldwyn Films release. Photo courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films.
MF: Can you also talk about working with the Kirby Brothers, and when you are making a movie like this, is it helpful to work with filmmakers who have a background in stunts and fight coordinating?
SA: Yeah, absolutely. When I first conceived the idea of making ‘Accident Man’ as a film, I wanted it to have a Matthew Vaughn or Edgar Wright feel to it. As directors, they definitely have that sensibility. They’re very visually stylistic, and they’re English. They come from the world of stunts, so they ticked all the boxes in what I wanted ‘Accident Man’ to be.
MF: What was it like reuniting with Ray Stevenson on this movie?
SA: Ray’s great. He’s a consummate professional, an amazing actor, and a real team player. We were just lucky to have him in the film. He brings that gravitas to that character, and he’s got a scene where he has to explain the whole plot, and you need a great actor for something like that. Ray’s the man. He’s great.
Ray Stevenson as Big Ray in the action/thriller film, ‘Accident Man: Hitman’s Holiday,’ a Samuel Goldwyn Films release. Photo courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films.
MF: Finally, what was it like for you to join the ‘John Wick’ franchise and work with Keanu Reeves on ‘John Wick: Chapter 4?’
SA: I’m a big fan of the ‘John Wick’ films. I think they are the best action films going at the moment when it comes to what Hollywood is doing. It’s a massive thrill to be involved.
Keanu is just, as everyone says, the nicest guy. Chad Stahelski‘s an incredible director, and it was amazing to watch him work. I can’t wait for it to come out. I’m as disappointed as everyone that it’s been delayed till March. I can’t wait to see it!
Keanu Reeves as John Wick in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’
7ogSLqOBZsRtdD8vG3zAO2
