Photo: Murray Close/Lionsgate
Get ready for some action!
After nearly four years and adelayed release date,Keanu Reevesis reprising his role as Mr. Wick — and he saysJohn Wick: Chapter 4is the most intense installment yet.
“There’s all of that John Wick swag — cars, weapons, jiujitsu. But withChapter 4, we took it to another level,” Reeves said in aJohn Wick: Chapter 4stunt breakdownfor IGN Fan Fest. “It’s been about 12 weeks of training. You see the effort and the commitment from the [stunt] team.”
The muscle cars also make a big comeback inJohn Wick: Chapter 4.
“We took the car-driving to the next level, which I really enjoy,” Reeves told Total Film. “There’s 180s, forward-into-reverse 180s, reverse-into-forward 270s, drifting. It was really fun to get a chance to learn those skills, and to play.”
But it wasn’t all fun and games, the actor added, sharing that the film was the “hardest physical role” of his career thus far. “They really trained me up to be able to have what we call the toolbox,” he explained.
Still, it seems that all that hard work was worth it. In March 2023, Criticsshared their reactions to the filmafter initial screenings, with many praising the film’s pacing and action choreography. Consequence editorLiz Shannon Millerwrote on Twitter thatJohn Wick 4’s “three-hour runtime makes so much sense when you’re going that hard. The third act alone… just glorious.”
On March 17, 2023, the cast and crew learned thatLance Reddick, who played Charon, had suddenly died at the age of 60. Reeves and director Chad Stahelski dedicated the fourth film to his memory.
From plot points to the release date, here’s everything we know aboutJohn Wick: Chapter 4.
What isJohn Wick: Chapter 4about?
Niko Tavernise/Lionsgate
Is there a trailer forJohn Wick: Chapter 4?
In November 2022, Lionsgate released theofficial trailerforJohn Wick: Chapter 4. The two-minute, 29 seconds-long clip opens with a conversation between John Wick and his old friend, Caine.
“You’re going to die,” Caine says. To which Wick replies: “Maybe not.”
The trailer then shows a new villain, the Marquis de Garmont, stating his plans to completely reboot the High Table’s pecking order. “A new day is dawning. New ideas. New rules. New management,” he says.
The New York Continental’s manager, Winston, explains to Wick that he must challenge the Marquis to single combat.
“I don’t sit at The Table,” Wick says, before Winston responds: “Your family does.”
Fans are then introduced to Katia — a character whom director Chad Stahleski describes asWick’s “former family,“similar to a stepsister.
The trailer closes with the Marquis making Wick a big promise. “If you win, The Table will honor its word. You will have your freedom,” he says.
Before releasing the official trailer, Lionsgate excited fans aboutJohn Wick: Chapter 4with ashort teaser, which the entertainment company first shared at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2022.
Who is in the cast?
Steve Granitz/WireImage ; Frazer Harrison/WireImage ; George Pimentel/Getty
“Laurence Fishburne is a legend. He’s a beautiful man, a beautiful spirit and a remarkable artist. He’s one of the greats,” Wick said during aninterviewwith IGN for Fan Fest 2023.
Sadly, just a week shy of theJohn Wick: Chapter 4premiere,Reddick died suddenly at the age of 60. After hearing the news, a number of celebrities and industry professionalspaid tribute to the actoron social media.
“We are deeply saddened and heartbroken at the loss of our beloved friend and colleague Lance Reddick,” Reeves and director Chad Stahelski said in ajoint statement.“He was the consummate professional and a joy to work with. Our love and prayers are with his wife, Stephanie, his children, family and friends. We dedicate the film to his loving memory. We will miss him dearly.”
New to the franchise isBill Skarsgård. The seasoned actor plays a leading role in the fourth film as the Marquis de Gramon.
“I wouldn’t really say [he’s] the antagonist, buthe’s the one in charge of cleaning up all the messesfrom the first three movies,” director Chad StahelskitoldCollider.
“I’ve been a fan of [Sanada] forever, like a 30-year fan. He was originally going to play a part for me inJohn Wick 3but he tore his Achilles tendon right before,” Stahelski shared.
Who is directingJohn Wick: Chapter 4?
Jun Sato/WireImage
Chad Stahelski has directed all three of the previous John Wick films, andChapter 4is no exception.
In aconversation withColliderat CinemaCon 2022, he spoke about the fourth installment and what fans can expect.
“Chapter 4is a good continuation of all three previous films,” he said. “We introduced a ton of new characters. Keanu has got some new skill sets. He’s [also] got some new props, which are great.”
During a separateinterviewwith the outlet, Stahelski revealed thatJohn Wick: Chapter 4will have the longest run time of all the movies — clocking in between two hours and 30 minutes.
Where wasJohn Wick: Chapter 4filmed?
James Devaney/GC Images
Chapter 4takes John Wick worldwide, including Japan, Jordan, Germany and France.
In July 2021, Reeves was photographedfilming in Berlin. He was alsospotted chatting with fansoutside of his hotel.
After wrapping the film, Reevesgave each member of his stunt team a Rolex Submarinerengraved with the words, “The John Wick Five.”
When willJohn Wick: Chapter 4premiere?
Lionsgate / Courtesy Everett
The film will hit theaters on March 24, 2023.
Whiletalking toWIRED, Stahelski and Reeves discussed why they wanted to giveJohn Wick: Chapter 4a theatrical release.
“Maybe it’s our generation, but I like seeing a movie in the cinema, even if it’s meant for streaming eventually. It’s such a different experience,” the franchise’s director said.
Reeves added: “I thinkthe power of cinema — part of it is its novelty, but also its scale. You see a close-up of a wonderful performance with emotions and storytelling that touch you. Whether it’s horror or action or comedy, you’re seeing a face that’s, you know, 20 feet tall. Yeah. You’re, like, there. The intimacy of that.”
Will there be aJohn Wick: Chapter 5?
In August 2020, the CEO of Lionsgate, John Feltheimer, did confirm that the company hasplans to produce a fifth John Wick movie.
The original hope was to film the fourth and fifth movies back to back. However, the COVID-19 pandemic made those plans impossible.
Several months later, Reevestold Total Filmthat a fifth installment is not guaranteed.
“You have to see how the audience responds to what we did,” he said. “The only reason we’ve had a chance to make these movies is that people have liked what we have done. So, I think we have to wait and see how the audience responds to it. Hopefully, they’ll like it.”
The audience more than liked it.John Wick: Chapter 4raked in a whopping $141.4 million globally during opening weekend at the box office in March 2023. This prompted Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Joe Drake to tellThe Hollywood ReporterthatJohn Wick: Chapter 5is under consideration.
“There’s a will and there’s an openness. And you could certainly interpret that ending in different ways,” Drake told the outlet. “We’re all going to take a tiny rest here and then scratch at ideas about whether there’s a credible way to get into five. But there’s no guarantee.”
source: people.com
