Keanu Reeves Fought Towards Studio Pushback Over John Wick’s Pet’s Destiny

John Wick continues to resonate with audiences a decade after its launch, thanks, partially, to the unlucky slaying of the eponymous murderer’s pet, which his late spouse gifted him. The co-directors of the traditional neo-noir motion thriller reveal it practically had an alternate ending with Wick’s canine that star Keanu Reeves fought vehemently in opposition to.

Talking with Enterprise Insider, John Wick co-helmer David Leitch shared how Lionsgate executives had been frightened that killing off the lead character’s pet may “alienate” audiences and result in backlash. Given the violence occurring all through the film, Leitch believed the canine’s destiny was the least of their worries. “We had been instructed, ‘It is unhealthy luck.’ ‘It is unhealthy juju.’ ‘It is Outdated Yeller, you may’t do that!’ ‘Nobody will wish to see this on-screen; you are going to alienate the viewers,'” Leitch stated. “And I am like, ‘We will execute individuals at shut vary; killing the canine is one factor, however what in regards to the brutal bloodbath of all these human beings? Are they going to have the ability to settle for that?'”

In John Wick, the titular hitman accepts a beagle pet his spouse Helen gifted him earlier than she died so he may cope along with her loss, placing his love for canine on full show. After a gaggle of Russian gangsters accost Wick and fail to intimidate him into giving them his automobile, the group led by Iosef Tarasov (Alfie Allen) invade his residence, assaults him and kills the pet earlier than stealing his automobile. An alternate ending would have seen the pet survive, given he was killed off-screen. Nevertheless, co-director Chad Stahelki stated Reeves was adamant the pet’s demise remained part of the story. “For the following couple of weeks it was steered that we shoot an various ending revealing that the pet truly is not lifeless,” Stahelski stated. “However Keanu stood up for us. And Basil [Iwanyk, producer] stood as much as the traders, and ultimately, they only felt, ‘F*** it, let’s have a look at what these guys can do.'”

Stahelski and Leitch confronted a number of fights to get John Wick into cinemas. The film ended up at Lionsgate as larger studios dismissed the concept of selling an motion movie by first-time administrators and misplaced religion in Reeves because of a string of vital and industrial flops. The film additionally skilled lukewarm suggestions from its preliminary check screenings, with Stahelski fearing it was lifeless on arrival.

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Nevertheless, John Wick grew to become a cult traditional following its launch, incomes $86 million worldwide in opposition to a $30 million finances and garnering an 86% vital score on Rotten Tomatoes. The film gained extra appreciation over time and kickstarted some of the revered motion franchises, with the latest installment, 2023’s Chapter 4, grossing $440 million worldwide and changing into probably the most critically acclaimed entry within the movie collection.

John Wick 5 Is in Early Improvement

Lionsgate is growing John Wick 5 after saying the upcoming sequel in Could, although Stahelski insists he’d solely make the film if the script is worthy. Subsequent up for the John Wick franchise is the spinoff movie, Ballerina, starring Ana de Armas and that includes an look from Reeves. A John Wick sequel collection starring Reeves can also be within the works.

Followers can watch John Wick in theaters for a restricted time to mark its tenth anniversary. Lionsgate and Fathom Occasions have arrange screenings for Nov. 3 and Nov. 6 in choose cinemas, together with an prolonged preview of Ballerina as a bonus.

Supply: Enterprise Insider

An ex-hitman comes out of retirement to trace down the gangsters who killed his canine and stole his automobile.

Director

Chad Stahelski , David Leitch

Launch Date

September 19, 2014

Solid

Keanu Reeves , Michael Nyqvist , Alfie Allen , Willem Dafoe , Dean Winters

Writers

Derek Kolstad

Runtime

1 hour 41 minutes

Manufacturing Firm

Summit Leisure, Thunder Street Footage, 87Eleven, MJW Movies, DefyNite Movies

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