A little-known fact about John Wick, a franchise with almost 10 years of cinematic success, has recently come to light. While the series is set to return soon with a new show, the first film in the series was actually on the verge of being scrapped at the last moment. Here are the details you need to know…
John Wick, nearly didn’t make it!
One of the biggest action phenomena of recent years, the John Wick series, almost never came to be. In an interview with Business Insider, the series’ directors, Chad Stahelski and David Leitch, revealed that the first film faced a major financial crisis, and it only survived thanks to an unexpected savior.
According to director Chad Stahelski, less than a week before filming was set to begin, the independent financing for the film fell short by about $6 million. Despite personal investments from lead actor Keanu Reeves and the directors, and producer Basil Iwanyk maxing out three credit cards, the project’s future hung in the balance.
At this critical point, the star of Desperate Housewives, Eva Longoria, unexpectedly stepped in to save the project. The Creative Artists Agency (CAA) made a last-ditch effort to offer some of their clients a chance to invest in the film and receive a share of its profits, and Longoria seized the opportunity, becoming the game-changer for John Wick’s fate.
Although we won’t be seeing a John Wick 5 anytime soon, the future of the franchise appears to be expanding with new spin-off projects. Even though Keanu Reeves is taking a temporary break from the series, the John Wick universe continues to grow, with an upcoming anime series being the latest addition to this ever-expanding world.
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