The first film hasn’t even made it over here yet, but John Wick directors Chad Stahelski and David Leitch are already mulling over ideas for a sequel to the action thriller, which is in development.
John Wick finds Keanu Reeves as the titular tough guy, who has given up bullet slinging for a quiet life after his wife dies. But, because he’s a cinematic assassin, his life can never quite be that easy or calm. On a random errand, he runs afoul of some gangsters who take a shine to his car. Rebuffed, they track him down and take everything, even killing his beloved dog. Enraged, Wick picks up the tools of his trade once more and soon no one is safe...
Stuntmen-turned-directors Stahelski and Leitch (the latter isn’t credited but definitely worked on calling the shots) made something that US audiences have embraced as a cult hit and has helped boost Reeves’ career. While there are no specifics on the sequel’s story or even if the star will return, the filmmakers know their focus, as they told Movies.com.
“We have ideas for days and without blinking twice we know we can outdo the action from the original,” Stahelski says. “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.”
John Wick finally arrives here on April 10, and you can watch the trailer below. Stahelski and Leitch have become in-demand directors on the back of the film, most recently entering talks to direct Chris Pratt in **Cowboy Ninja Viking.