Recently celebrating the 10th anniversary of John Wick, producer David Leitch and director Chad Stahelski shared some fascinating insights about a key moment in the film. Keanu Reeves, known for his passionate dedication to his roles, was instrumental in ensuring that a heartbreaking scene made it to the final cut. deadline(Also Read: Keanu Reeves is Hollywood’s youngest 60-year-old with 5 movies in the pipeline, a hit novel and more)
‘We were told that luck has returned’
It’s hard to imagine that the reputed killer ended his story on a happy note, especially after the emotional devastation caused by the death of his puppy. David recalled the initial resistance he faced, revealing, “We were told, this is bad luck. This is bad juju. This is Old Yeller; you can’t do that! No one would want to see that on-screen; You are leaving.” “Alienate the audience.”
He argued, “We’re going to kill people at close range; killing a dog is one thing, but what about a brutal massacre of all these human beings? Will they be able to accept that?” According to the publication, his commitment to creating a true genre film guided his decision-making.
In the film, Keanu plays John Wick, a retired assassin whose life takes a tragic turn when thugs steal his beloved car and kill the puppy gifted to him by his late wife. This brutal act sets him on a constant quest for vengeance against the same criminal world he once left behind.
‘Okay, this is the worst idea’
Chad continued, “Dave and I were very much in agreement on how we would shoot this scene. We were going to use a baby lens; John got hit hard in the head, so this is going to be like a dream; The dog dies off-camera, and all you see after that is a trail of blood that makes it look like the puppy is trying to crawl to him.’
Recalling the day of shooting, Chad described a sensitive moment where Keanu acted with a stuffed dog, reflecting his character’s grief. Chad said, “He’s completely beat up. He looks terrible in his pajamas. Everyone behind the monitor must have thought, Well, this is the worst idea; these are first-time directors.”
Despite calls for an alternate ending where the pups survive, Keanu strongly supported the original point of view. “Keanu stood up for us,” Chad said, “and eventually, he thought, let’s see what these guys can do.”
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The emotional weight of that moment paid off; John Wick (2014) grossed over US$86 million globally, as of publication, with the franchise crossing the US$1 billion mark with John Wick: Chapter 4.
The upcoming film ‘From the World of John Wick: Ballerina’, starring Ana de Armas in the lead role, will be released in theaters on June 6, 2025. The saga is not over yet. Additionally, Donnie Yen will reprise his role as Kane, a skilled assassin. new Lionsgate film, while a prequel anime project is also underway.
Fans can also look forward to the development of the limited series The Continental and the sequel John Wick: Under the High Table.
