Related
For the past five years , the first name in action movie theatre has beenJohn Wick . apart from a few uncommon gems likeThe RaidandMad Max : Fury Road , the activity music genre had gone downhill over the years .
It was tough to receive compelling fight choreography or even cohesive editing . And then Keanu Reeves , writer Derek Kolstad , and director Chad Stahelski and David Leitch came along to shake things up with a stylized neo - noir about a legendary , widowed ex - hitman move on a violent violent disorder through the condemnable Hades to avenge his puppy . So , here are 10 Behind - The - Scenes Facts About TheJohn WickMovies .
Keanu Reeves does the majority of his own stunts
Let ’s get the one everyone knows out of the manner first . Keanu Reeves does the majority of his own stunts in theJohn Wickmovies . According to the actor himself , he did 90 % of his own stunt in the first movie and 95 % in the second movie .
This has allowed the editors more freedom in the cut room , as they are n’t beholden to piddle a cut to accommodate a stunt double ’s takings , because , most of the time , there is n’t a stunt double . Chad Stahelski , the director of all threeJohn Wickmovies ( although he was a cobalt - director on the first one , technically ) , was Reeves ’ stunt double inThe Matrixtrilogy , so they already have a strong resonance in this flying field .
The original script described John being in his mid-60s
In the initial screenplay forJohn Wickwritten by Derek Kolstad , which was then titledScorn , the title quality was described as an elderly man , in his mid-60s . This was to explicate the character ’s legendary reputation in the assassin community .
However , the casting team decided , instead , to go with an player who was n’t physically onetime but did havea storied history on the blind . Hence , Keanu Reeves . When Reeves agreed to asterisk in the moving-picture show , it was his melodic theme to change the title fromScornto the quality ’s name . OnThe Q&A with Jeff Goldsmith , Kolstad said that he named John and Helen Wick after his enate grandparents .
The rooftop garden in Chapter 2 is the same one from Spider-Man
InJohn Wick : Chapter 2 , there ’s a conniption countersink on the Continental ’s gorgeous rooftop garden in which John and Winston have a conversation . This is the rooftop garden in the Metropolitan Museum of Art ( the same museum that John purportedly “ leaves for ” in the following shot ) .
It ’s the same rooftop garden that was featured in Sam Raimi ’s firstSpider - Manmovie , starring Tobey Maguire . In that movie , the setting was used for a much more action - packed pulsation in the story – it ’s where Spidey rescues Mary Jane from the Green Goblin . Both films are gear up in New York , so it ’s skilful to know they were also shot there .
Halle Berry trained extensively with Parabellum’s attack dogs
Halle Berry was a hugeJohn Wickfan before bless on to appear in the third movie , and she was driven to match Keanu Reeves ’ allegiance to the education . It was no easy effort , but she nailed it . And not just in the fight stage dancing – she did such a great chore with the frankfurter preparation that the dogs responded to her like she was their own trainer .
Usually , when beast are involved in a movie , the featured beast ’s flight simulator will be just out of bod , hollo control to the creature . But because the dogs responded to Berry herself , the filmmakers working onParabellumhad a lot more exemption with where they could put the camera .
Keanu Reeves performed the nightclub fight sequence with a 104° fever
When the cast and crew behind the firstJohn Wickmovie were all set to shoot the nightspot engagement scene , according to the manager ’ comment , their star Keanu Reeves was suffering from the flu and he had a fever of 104 ° Fahrenheit . But they did n’t call off the shoot . He still manage to nail the vista .
The actor also reportedly had to learn and memorize all the stunt piece of work and stage dancing demand for the scene – which , by the way of life , is one of the longest and most complicated action set small-arm in the movie – on the daylight that it was take .
The mirror-room sequence was director Chad Stahelski’s first idea for Chapter 2
When managing director Chad Stahelski first get down thinking about a sequel toJohn Wick , the first thought he came up with was to reanimate Lee and Mr. Han ’s mirror - way fight sequence fromEnter the Dragon . AsJohn Wick : Chapter 2was gradually put together , Stahelski keep this melodic theme in his head , and it became the celluloid ’s climactic chronological sequence .
As it appears inChapter 2 , this sequence is a pretty clear nod to the scene fromEnter the Dragon , but it also take some stylistic motive from the labyrinth shot inthe remarkably goofy James Bond movieThe Man with the Golden Gun .
The Adjudicator was rewritten for Asia Kate Dillon
primitively , the Adjudicator character inJohn Wick : Chapter 3 – Parabellumwas written as a bulky man , barefaced with no eyebrow , featuring very masculine qualities . However , the type was change when Keanu Reeves and managing director Chad Stahelski were recite about non - binary role player Asia Kate Dillon .
They looked into Dillon ’s work , which includes purpose inBillions(the first non - binary main character in a North American boob tube show ) andOrange is the New Black , and found them to be ideal for the role . So , the role was rewrite to become them . Being a hugeJohn Wickfan , as soon as Dillon receive the offer , they instantly take the role without seeing a script .
There were many alternative story ideas for Chapter 2
2017’sJohn Wick : Chapter 2managed to fulfill fans of the master copy by going bigger and bolder while asseverate the unparalleled intensity and the centering on the title character from the first one . But it did n’t come together overnight . The sequel was the resolution of extensive discussions among the creative team .
In an audience with Screen Junkies , Chad Stahelski and David Leitch mentioned some of the alternative story idea for the continuation . One had John protect his daughter ( how that would ’ve played out is n’t precisely exonerated – would she also be Helen ’s girl ? ) , while another regard him rescue a love interest .
The rough cut of the first movie was 140 minutes long
According to directors Chad Stahelski and David Leitch ’s commentary on the firstJohn Wickmovie , the crude cut of the film time in at 140 minutes ( two hours and 20 moment ) . The last excision is 101 minutes long .
The 39 minutes that got cut out seemingly consist mostly of the title of respect character walk around : “ There ’s a ton of great shooter on the cutting way trading floor that ’s just Keanu Reeves walking in cool environments , ” said Leitch . Plus , the battle scene between John and Viggo was tenacious . It was cut down when the filmmakers substantiate Viggo would n’t be that difficult for John to defeat . Producer Basil Iwanyk also claim that the opening view was originally three times longer .
Chapter 2 has John’s highest kill count
John Wickkills a lot of peoplein all three of his movies . But he wipe out the most mass in the 2nd movie by a pretty blanket tolerance . In the first one , he killed 77 people ; inChapter 2 , he shoot down 128 people ; and inParabellum , he killed 94 masses .
base on the mediate soil get hold in the threequel , the filmmaker seem to be recover the right counterpoise between non - stop action and mass slaying as they get used to the rhythm of these films . Either mode , all three of these putting to death counts rival the number attributed to John Rambo , “ Tequila ” Yuen , and the Bride .
NEXT:10 Fast - Paced Action Thrillers To Watch If You Like The John Wick Franchise