[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]John Wick was something of a statement film on two levels. First, it showed that Keanu Reeves hasn’t lost a step and is still bankable as an action star. Second, it displayed the immense directorial talents of former stuntmen turned directing duo, Chad Stahelski and David Leitch.
Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer appears to have heard those statements loud and clear. According to Variety, during a conference call to discuss 3rd quarter earnings, Feltheimer stated, “We see ‘John Wick’ as a multiple-title action franchise.”
This is definitely good news for Stahelski and Leitch, who already started to develop the sequel.
During an interview for Movies.com, the duo didn’t go into the specifics of the story or whether Reeves will indeed return. However, Stahelski did say, “If we could work with Keanu Reeves for 10 movies you’d have a really cool career.”
Stahelski and Leitch seem supremely confident that future films won’t suffer from lack of proper action. Stahelski asserted that key will be their ability to create a story and characters the audience will find engaging.
“We have ideas for days and without blinking twice we know we can outdo the action from the original. 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.”
Leitch offered a similar sentiment by stating, “You gotta go on a journey with the guy and have to like the guy.”
Regardless of the fact that Stahelski and Leitch have begun development for their sequel to John Wick, they may have to put it on hold for a little bit. In an earlier story, it was reported that the directing duo were being eyed to potentially direct an adaptation of Image Comics’ Cowboy Ninja Viking, which will star Chris Pratt.
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