The sequel to action thriller cult favorite 'John Wick' is set to return to the big screens. The film is currently underway with actor Keanu Reeves set to return for the title role of John Wick, the vengeful ex-assassin who returned to a life he fought hard to leave. There are also several talks involving turning the film into an action franchise.
Stuntmen turned co-directors Chad Stahelski and David Leitch revealed that they are currently working on the much-awaited follow-up. According to Movies.com, both directors sat down to talk about their sequel but stayed mum on specifics. Stahelski said, "We're in development right now... We have ideas for days and without blinking twice we know we can outdo the action from the original... It's the matter of story and how much you like the character. That's always the most important." They then went on about how much value a relatable character can give to a potentially good story dressed in action.
The first film centered on John Wick, a retired ex-assassin who was forced out of retirement to seek revenge against a group of gangsters after one of them mistakenly assaults him by slaying his beloved pet dog.
The sequel isn't the only big news. Months back, Lionsgate revealed that it is exploring an action franchise around the films. According to Variety, CEO Jon Feltheimer announced this during a conference call with analysts. He said, "We see 'John Wick' as a multiple-title action franchise." His statement came after noting that the first film performed well in domestic and international markets. This could prove very exciting for dedicated fans of the films.
In another report by Cross Map, Lionsgate President of Acquisitions and Co-Productions, Jason Constantine, echoed Feltheimer's statement. He said, "With such tremendous fan and critical support for 'John Wick,' we knew that there was still so much more of this story to tell. We are thrilled that Keanu, David and Chad have re-teamed with us and promise to bring audiences even more excitement the second time around."
'John Wick 2' has yet to have an official release date and sparse news of a possible storyline as well as additional cast members. Its precursor 'John Wick' was received rather well by critics and the general public alike and drew in $78.7 million against a $20 million budget according to Box Office Mojo. The film was produced by Basil Iwanyk, David Leitch, Eva Longoria and Michael Witherill. It was directed by Stahelski and Leitch, who previously worked with Reeves as stunt doubles on the 'Matrix Trilogy'.
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