Keanu Reeves has donned his slick, all-black three-piece suit once again to play the titular hitman in "John Wick: Chapter 4," and the odds against him are stacked higher than ever.
After the cliffhanger ending of "Chapter 3 – Parabellum," Wick decides to free himself from the criminal organization the High Table once and for all. Cue a horseback gun battle in Morocco, fast-paced nightclub gun battles in Germany, and a grueling beatdown on the steps of the Rue Foyatier in Paris.
Needless to say, John Wick is really put through the wringer in the latest movie, as is Reeves, who is at the heart of most of these stunts.
So, that begs the question, does director Chad Stahelski have a secret grudge to bear against Reeves?
Thankfully not.
—Insider Entertainment (@insiderent) March 23, 2023
Speaking to Insider ahead of the film's release, Stahelski said with a laugh: "No, it's done out of love, I assure you."
The director explained that both he and Reeves like pushing themselves when it comes to the action franchise.
Stahelski said: "I think we both enjoy the challenges and we're very stoked about 'the obstacle is the way.' Like, a little Marcus Aurelius."
The director said that throwing Wick in the middle of the most violent fights is what makes the character so enjoyable for fans.
"And that's what's fun about the character, right? You know, you knock him down 10 times, he stands up 11. I think that's why people can empathize with him so much," Stahelski said.
"The real trick with action is creating characters and situations that you love and then putting them, literally, through the wringer."
It's not surprising that Stahelski and Reeves work so well together because the director previously worked as a stunt coordinator on the original "Matrix" trilogy, and was the actor's stunt double on the 2005 "Constantine" movie.
"John Wick: Chapter 4" is in theaters on Friday.
