After being shot by Winston in Parabellum, John Wick: Chapter 4 picks up with Wick taking the fight to the High Table. Wick finds a new path to defeating the High Table and earning his freedom. However, the High Table adds a powerful new weapon to the board in the form of the Marquis Vincent de Gramont. Wick must continue to fight against those hunting him, including an old friend, as he fights to earn his freedom.
Chad Stahelski returns to direct John Wick: Chapter 4. The newest installment features a star-studded returning cast led by Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Lance Reddick, and Ian McShane. Joining the cast of John Wick: Chapter 4 are powerhouse actors Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgård, Hiroyuki Sanada, Shamier Anderson, Rina Sawayama, Scott Adkins, and Clancy Brown. The John Wick franchise began in 2014 and has grown to an expansive action franchise with four installments, an upcoming prequel television series, The Continental, and the spin-off movie Ballerina.
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Screen Rant spoke with Reeves about John Wick: Chapter 4. He discussed his favorite part of world-building for the franchise and how his skills as an action performer continue to improve with each movie. Reeves also shared his thoughts about working with Donnie Yen.
Keanu Reeves on John Wick: Chapter 4
Screen Rant: Keanu, John Wick is one of the only film franchises that gets better with every single installment. How have John and the action evolved over the last four films? Has your approach changed to John with the more you learn about him?
Keanue Reeves: I think as I’ve been spending more time on [my movie martial arts], I’m getting a little bit better at them. I’m still not very good, but I try really hard. And that allows the director, with his invention, to do more. Before I did a 180, now I’m going forward into a 180 into reverse with gear change, and then a gun. They’re more complex than they used to be.
Those nunchucks too; you’re pretty proficient at it those bad boys as well. The world-building of John Wick is one of my favorite aspects of the franchise. What’s been your favorite part of the world to explore in John Wick?
Keanue Reeves: I would say one of my favorite parts is the creating of it. Sitting down with the director, visionary Chad Stahelski, “What can we do next?” Which I guess folds into the second half of your question previously, which was how is that expanding? How am I learning more about John Wick? I’m really learning about him more as we develop the story.
It’s almost in real time with the audience in a weird kind of time collapse. “Here’s the idea, we’re gonna go make a movie and share it with you.” That’s all kind of connected as one thing. And so, I got to learn in Chapter Four that I had this friendship with Donnie Yen. I had Hiroyuki Sanada, who’s the manager of the Osaka Continental; we have a past. I’m learning that with the movies, and that’s actually really playful and creative and fun.
I want to talk about Donnie for a second because I love his character Caine. You and Donnie have this lived-in friendship that we already established. Can you talk about working with him on this film?
Keanue Reeves: He’s so good. His action of course is next level. His flavor is so good and skilled, and then just as an artist watching him find the character? He had to play blind, but what he did with that, how it was believable, and how his comedy actually too… He’s very funny. His timing is so good.
All hail the King, Laurence Fishburne as the Bowery King. People love him and you’re reteaming with Hiroyuki Sanada, who you’ve worked with on 47 Ronin, is there anybody else from your filmography that you’d like to see enter the John Wick universe?
Keanue Reeves: Peter Stormare was in it, so that’s good. We have that Constantine connection there. Who would be good going back? I just was thinking about Bill & Ted… Madea! I think John Wick and Madea. He has to hide out in a house with Madea.
About John Wick Chapter 4
Following the events of Parabellum, John Wick has found a new path to defeating the High Table and is taking the fight to them. But before he can try to earn his freedom, a powerful new enemy will turn even more people against Wick, including one of his oldest and most dangerous friends.
Check back for our other John Wick Chapter 4 interviews:
Laurence Fishburne Ian McShane & Lance Reddick Hiroyuki Sanada & Shamier Anderson Chad Stahelski
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