THE OVERARCHING THEME
-Keanu Reeves expressed a desire for his character to meet a definitive end in John Wick: Chapter 4.
-Despite their exhaustion, Reeves and director Chad Stahelski remain enthusiastic about advancing the franchise and are actively exploring the next storyline.
-The producers and filmmakers share a profound camaraderie and are steadfast in their commitment to crafting a worthy successor to the John Wick series.
In John Wick: Chapter 4, it seemed like the conclusion of the journey for the iconic assassin. Standing on the steps of the Sacre Coeur in Paris, John Wick (portrayed by Keanu Reeves) seemed to take his ultimate breath, finally triumphing over the formidable High Table. Remarkably, this aligns precisely with Keanu Reeves' vision, as revealed by franchise producer Basil Iwanyk.
Reeves experiences significant fatigue even under the best of circumstances while working on these films. His unwavering commitment to performing stunts and delivering exceptional performances is unmistakable. By the time Chapter 4 entered production, he had reached his breaking point. Iwanyk revealed that Reeves had earnestly requested John Wick's character to meet a "definitive" end at the conclusion of the film, hoping to finally find some respite. However, given the iconic nature of the character and the enduring appeal of the franchise, they settled for a 90% resolution, as shared by Iwanyk during an interview with Collider's Christina Radish while promoting the upcoming Wick spin-off, The Continental.
Iwanyk explained, "After the second, third, and fourth movies, the process of creating these films takes a tremendous toll on Keanu, both physically and emotionally. By the end, he often expresses, 'I can't go through this again,' and we completely understand his sentiments. He pours everything into it and becomes a mere shadow of himself. He was adamant about wanting his character to meet a 'definitive' end in this film. So, we decided to leave a 10% opening."
John, Paul, and Ringo,
Iwanyk continued to elaborate on the strong connection that had developed between the producers and filmmakers throughout the franchise's years of creation. This bond was so profound that, despite any one of them desiring a respite from the action, they all hesitated to take one, fearful of potentially missing out on the next installment. Drawing a comparison between Stahelski and Reeves and The Beatles, Iwanyk expressed his willingness to patiently wait until the creative duo is struck by their next wave of inspiration, allowing them to resume their collaborative work.
"We've all developed such strong friendships, genuinely like each other, and are tremendously pleased with the critical and commercial success of these films. It leads us to ponder, 'How can we reunite the team in a way that justifies an engaging storyline for the next chapter in John's journey?' Right now, it's Keanu and Chad [Stahelski] collaborating to unravel the narrative. To put it in perspective, they're akin to Paul McCartney and John Lennon, and I'm more like Ringo. They'll give me a call and say, 'We're getting the band back together. Here's when you come in, and here's what our storyline entails.'"
"We Crave More Wick" "We're all eagerly anticipating another John Wick installment. While the specifics and timing remain uncertain, our mutual affection for both the project and each other drives our commitment to finding the right path forward," he elaborated. "Have we discovered that path yet? Not quite. And if we can't find it, will there be another chapter? Absolutely not. We won't rush it simply for the sake of doing so."
"The Continental" is set to debut on Peacock on September 22nd.