John Wick: Chapter 4 star Keanureeves, and Chad Stahelski, director of Chapter 4, discuss whether the title movie series owes any debts to The Matrix.
Keanu Reeves plays a variety of roles, from the underground hacker to the menacing assassin. The Matrix features and Johnwick franchises continue drawing comparisons. Reeves with Chad Stahelski, the director, don’t dispute the connections between the movie series.
Reeves spoke with Stahelski in an interview for Wired. He discussed comparing The Matrix to John Wick and whether John Wick owes anything to the science fiction movie franchise for its existence. Reeves answered with a coy response: “If you’re gonna comparison them, both were original ideas and visionary filmmakers.” Stahelski however admitted that the John Wick franchise couldn’t exist without The Matrix. “No one could believe that Matrix would not be a great film. David Leitch [co-director of the first Wick films] and me stayed on for Vforvendettaand Speed Racer. So we got almost a decade in Wachowski film school. The John Wicks are children of The Matrix,” Stahelski claimed.
Reeves’ role in The Matrix was pivotal. He played Thomas Anderson (a computer programmer) who secretly acted as Neo, a hacker. The Matrix, which also stars Laurence Fishburne (Carrie-Ann Moss) and Joe Pantoliano (Joe Pantoliano), was a sensation after its 1999 release. It won four Academy Awards and grossed over $467m at the global box office. Stahelski was the director of all four movies in John Wick. He also played Reeves’ stunt double. He also coordinated martial arts stunts in Reloaded as well as Revivals. Stahelski played the role of Tiffany’s husband in The Matrix.
John Wick’s Matrix Reference
The John Wick movie franchise has used The Matrix as a reference before. This was especially evident in chapter 3: Parabellum which featured an Easter egg that referred to the sci-fi movie. John and Winston, owners of the Continental Hotel, are asked what John needs to defeat the High Table. John responds with “guns, lots, guns,” a reference to Neo because that is the same line Neo used when Trinity and he prepared for a lobby shootout sequence.
Chapter 4 John Wick is back in battle with the High Table while trying to secure his freedom. Marquis da Gramont ( Bill Skarsgard), a professional hitman, is facing off against John Wick’s new enemy. This man has strong alliances all over the world, including John’s former enemies-turned-foes. The movie stars Fishburne, Donnie Yen, Lance Reddick, and Charon. Filmed in Paris, Berlin, Osaka, and New York City. It was originally planned for a 2021 release, but Reeves’ Resurrections commitments as well as the COVID-19 pandemic forced it back.
Chap 4 has the longest installment. It is 2 hours and 49 mins. longer than the Ch 3 – Parabellum record. Reeves claims that the movie has a potential partner for John Wick. It also features more intricate action scenes, which is a departure from previous films. Stahelski indicated that a Johnwick 5 may be possible. However, he decided not to shoot the fourth- and fifth installments of his neo-noir crime thriller series backward.
John Wick fans will have the opportunity to see him in action again when Section 4 opens on Mar. 24.