‘John Wick’ will celebrate its 10-year in 2024.
Before Keanu Reeves, the developers of John Wick planned to put Bruce Willis in the lead role.
David Leitch, the franchise’s producer and co-director, spoke exclusively to The Hollywood Reporter as the first film approaches its 10th year in 2024.
David revealed that he and director Chad Stahelski got the script for the 2014 film from the former’s wife, Kelly McCormick, who was their manager at the time.
During the chat, the producer revealed: “That was the first time we read it, and I think Bruce Willis might’ve been attached at that time.”
The Bullet Train director explained that they were unable to get Willis on board, so they turned to their Matrix colleague, Reeves, for John Wick.
His memory was this: “We went back to Keanu and said, Hey, man, it’s a little small for us, but what do you think about us doing the whole thing?”
“And he was like, ‘Yes, please. Let’s do it. How do we make that happen?”
John Wick, starring Keanu Reeves, was released in 2014. The film also starred Ian McShane, Lance Reddick, Laurence Fishburne, and others.
The plot revolves around a retired hitman who is compelled to return to his old ways after a Russian mobster group takes his car and kills the dog given to him by his late wife.