Lionsgate Wants 'JOHN WICK' To Be Their Next Action Franchise; Sequel Announced By Studio!

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 The Expendables 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.



SOURCE: VARIETY

'JOHN WICK' Directors Reveal Sequel In Development

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.




SOURCE: MOVIES

Universal Eyeing JOHN WICK Directors For COWBOY NINJA VIKING Starring Chris Pratt

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.



SOURCE: VARIETY

Marc Forster Will Direct Cowboy Ninja Viking For Universal

Deadline reports that Universal has hired Marc Forster (Quantum of Solace, Machine Gun Preacher) to direct Cowboy Ninja Viking. Forster is currently wrapping up the Brad Pitt zombie action film World War Z. This relatively unknown comic book film got some heat when Zombieland/Deadpool writers Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese signed on to write the film's script when it was originally setup at Disney. The studio ended up passing on the film as it was too edgy for the family friendly Disney. Universal would eventually take on the project and it's finally moving forward.

Paul Wernick & Rhett Reese Writing Cowboy Ninja Viking For Disney

Deadline reports that Disney has bought the film rights to the comic Cowboy Ninja Viking. They're hired Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese to start work on the screenplay. A multiple personality disorder patient is trained to be an assassin with three different skill sets and the personalities that come with them tries to bring down the nefarious organization that made him. The pair are best known for their work on Zombieland but are also gaining praise for the Deadpool script. They've also worked on the Venom spin-off and G.I. Joe: Cobra's Revenge.