Just days ago co-directors Chad Stahelski and David Leitch revealed they were already developing a sequel to John Wick. The pair are currently in talks to direct Cowboy Viking Ninja next for Universal.
Today, the CEO of Lionsgate Jon Feltheimer made if official during a confrerence call via Variety. Feltheimer going even further proclaiming that “we see ‘John Wick’ as a multiple-title action franchise".
No details besides it's actually happening was announced, no word of a release date or if Reeves is expected to return as Wick.
This could likely leave their other stale franchises like TheExpendables in the dust.
Keanu Reeves has been reluctant to sign-on to franchises or even sequels for that matter, but this could be another story considering the amount of detail and preparation that went into the first film. If that magic can be recreated for a franchise then I'm sure Reeves would be a bit more willing to do it.
During an interview with Movies.com, co-directors Chad Stahelski and David Leitch of the action-packed breakout flick John Wick revealed a sequel is already in development.
“We’re in development right now,” Stahelski told us. They didn’t go into any specifics on story or if Reeves would return, though Stahelski did hint, “If we could work with Keanu Reeves for 10 movies you’d have a really cool career.”
“We have ideas for days and without blinking twice we know we can outdo the action from the original,” Stahelski said. “It’s the matter of story and how much you like the character. That’s always the most important. If there’s great action but you have a character that no one likes and doesn’t have charisma you’re not going to watch it. Look at any great action star, whether it’s Harrison Ford or Liam Neeson or Robert Downey Jr., pick a name, you love the guy first. Good action, bad action, you just love them in action. So we want to make sure we have a story and a character that everybody loves and then we’ll dress it with action that we promise will be awesome.”
This could make for a worthwhile franchise when the R-rated action genre is really struggling to find audiences.
A lot of attention to detail and time was put into setting-up the mythology for this underworld of assassins. It's only natural to consider they have many different angles they could pursue with sequels. Plus, I'm sure they do operate outside of New York and New Jersey.
The question of when this sequel will come together is another thing entirely as the directing duo could make Cowboy Ninja Viking starring Chris Pratt next. They also have a television project Rain which would see them re-teaming with Keanu Reeves.
Wick is currently out on hardcopy/digital platforms and is extremely worth checking out.
Variety reports that John Wick co-directors David Leitch and Chad Stahelski in talks with Universal to helm their adaptation of the comic book Cowboy Ninja Viking.
The comic book film already has Chris Pratt (Guardians of The Galaxy, Jurassic World) attached to star with a script from Zombieland and Deadpool screenwriters Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese. Apparently, they've met with Pratt and he gave the studio the go-ahead to start talks with them.
A man who suffers from multiple personality disorder and is put into a government program to be turned into a super-soldier with the attributes of a cowboy, a ninja and a viking.
It's been said that Pratt would play the character outside the persona, with other action leads taking the roles of the three personalities.
I'm a bit upset we're not getting a Wick sequel quickly put together but the directing duo founding the stunt company 87Eleven means the action will be top notch.
We've seen a huge list of names attributed to Marvel's massive casting search for Doctor Strange. Names such as Ewan McGregor, Joaquin Phoenix, Jared Leto, Oscar Isaac, Keanu Reeves, Ethan Hawke, and the heat-magnet Matthew McConaughey (True Detective, Dallas Buyers Club, Interstellar). While this might seem like an overload of actors circling for one role, this was the same case for Marvel finding an actor to play both Steve Rogers (Captain America) and Peter Quill (Star-Lord).
They are being extremely tough with their casting, and are likely trying to find someone good enough to take on the the important role. It's been said that Stephen Strange will eventually replace Tony Stark as the face of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. A huge feat and Marvel needs to make this casting choice perfect, or this concept might not work as they planned.
TheWrap is now stating the search might be two three frontrunners with a couple still in the race for the lead role. Colin Farrell fresh-off landing the lead in HBO's True Detective is the newest name added to the mix. Previously linked actor Benedict Cumberbatch makes comeback and newly resurrected action star Keanu Reeves is apart the group as well. However, it might seem like one of these gentleman is wooing Marvel a bit more.
Marvel's Kevin Feige actually showed-up to a screening of Keanu's latest flick John Wick, with the actor and director in attendance. Which is being strongly compared to the action-level of the original Matrix, earning a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from early reviews. While it says a lot that Kevin would make such a public appearance to the film of an active casting candidate. It should be noted that Adrianne Palicki is also in the film, who takes the role of Avenger Mockingbird in the Agents of SHIELD series.
Palicki has confirmed there are plans for Bobbi to make the leap to films, which could mean she's already filmed scenes. It could be just the case of Kevin sporting one of his Marvel alumni. Another theory is that Keanu is actually the main frontrunner, and Feige wanted to see audience reaction to the film first-hand. Ever since it's screening at SXSW the buzz has been huge, and it continues to impress critics and moviegoers alike. This new life given to Reeve's recent foggy action career, could be the final bit of heat needed for him to land the role.
I've already suggested that Marvel work fast to get Wick director Chad Stahelski on a project, before other studios try to lock him into a franchise. This could also be the case of Feige trying to figure out if Chad would be a good fit at Marvel as well. Chad has gone from stuntman to second-unit director to feature director in such a small span of time, this kind of talent will be noticed by a major studio very soon. It's said that excellent word-of-mouth could see Wick earning a lot more than originally projected for it's opening weekend.
Keanu Reeves is actually one of the only actors candid about the process. Talking with Collider it actually sounded like this was the first time he had heard about being a fan-favorite for the role. This could have led to him getting his agent to talk to Marvel about the idea. Reeves is famously known for being against sequels, and a Marvel contract could scare him away. However, he recently mentioned on the Jimmy Kimmel Show that his favorite film experience was making the Matrix trilogy. Could this mean he's a bit more open to a franchise role, if he's sort of clued-in to the overall plan?
Let's not forget that Keanu Reeves has worked with Doctor Strange's director Scott Derrickson on The Day The Earth Stood Still.
What could Marvel's Hawkeye movie look like? Well that remains to be seen, as people have some theories of what direction Marvel should go with a spin-off. Some think parring Clint with Black Widow to explore their shared adventures in Budapest is a good idea. My personal assumption is that Hawkeye could become a major lead in a West Coast Avengers/New Avengers splinter film. We've been hearing rumblings that Marvel is considering on using another team in a feature film, but unsure what that could be (Avengers West Coast, New Avengers, Secret Wars?).
With that said, there are plenty of awesome action filmmakers making their mark in the last couple of years. Who I think could make a pretty damn fine Hawkeye movie, whatever direction Marvel takes him. One in particular I believe could make the biggest impact for a badass solo Hawkeye movie, that would be John Wick director Chad Stahelski.
Chad is a director, 2nd unit director and stunt coordinator that has been making a name for himself with his company 87 Eleven. They are responsible for some of the best stunt/action sequences in Hollywood. He even did some stunt work on Iron Man 2, so there is a tiny connection to Marvel Studios. Some of the company's stunt credits include The Crow, Point Break, The Matrix Trilogy, Spider-Man 2, Mr. And Mrs. Smith, Serenity, V For Vendetta, 300, Die Hard 4, Rambo, Killer Elite, The Wolverine, Hunger Games 1-2, and Expendables 1-2.
One of the biggest concerns of Marvel fans is how to make a film compelling with a powerless hero. We don't seem to ask those questions when it comes to massively entertaining franchises like Bond or Bourne. I'm a bit curious why fans don't cut Hawkeye and Black Widow some goddamn slack. I believe there is some middle-ground where you could allow them to have some powers eventually. Barton does become both Ronin and Goliath, two alter-egos that have yet to be explored in the cinematic universe. There are plenty of stories to explore with both these characters, and Stahelski is the director to give fans a thrilling ride.
Below is the trailer for John Wick, a film which currently holds a 100% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Along with his second unit work on movies like Hunger Games, Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Expendables 2, and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. While a script likely doesn't exist for this possible spin-off, at least we have an idea of who should bring it to life.
We've been seeing an interesting trend of action films in 2014, low-level character-driven stories within the backdrop of the action genre. Basically, the anti-Michael Bay/Expendables are looking like they'll deliver the fun and dark humor known previously known for the genre. Movies like The Guest and The Equalizer are gathering a lot of buzz, and looks like Keanu Reeves next film John Wick could be similar. It's trailer is slick in a Collateral kind of way, and features Reeves as an ex-hit man who is forced out of retirement.
There are so many things I like about this trailer, hopefully this isn't just a well-cut trailer and the film delivers on the potential it's footage is showing us. It's director Chad Stahelski, is best known in Hollywood for working in the stunt department for decades. Being involved with films such as Point Break, The Crow, Matrix Trilogy, 300, The Wolverine, Hunger Games 1-2, Tron Legacy, Mr. And Mrs. Smith, V For Vendetta, Rambo, Live Free or Die Hard, Spider-Man 2, Iron Man 2, Killer Elite and Expendables 1-2. That background in amazing action sequences, could see this film becoming a cult-classic or a giant hit. Check out the first trailer below.
