Earlier today, Lionsgate confirmed that they are bringing the highly-anticipated sequelJohn Wick Chapter 2toNew York Comic Con, while debuting a new poster. The first trailer will debut during this Q&A panel, which will take place Saturday, October 8 at 2 PM ET and will be live-streamed on Twitch. Today we have new details from directorChad Stahelski, who teases that this sequel will deliver double the action of its predecessor.
2014’sJohn Wickwasn’t a box office blockbuster by any means, taking in just $43 million domestically and $86 million worldwide from a $20 million budget, but fans kept discovering it on home video.Entertainment Weeklycaught up withChad Stahelski, who is directingJohn Wick 2by himself after working withDavid Leitchon the originalaction-thriller.Chad Stahelskiteased that there is twice as much action in the sequel.
“I would say we had twice as much action as the first movie. We took it all a full notch up as far as the driving car stuff went. A great portion of the car chase in the opening of the film isKeanu, which is very impressive.”
John Wick 2followsKeanu Reeves' title character, who is forced out of retirement by a former associate plotting to seize control of a shadowyinternational assassins' guild. Bound by a blood oath to help him, John travels to Rome where he squares off against some of the world’s deadliest killers. Here’s what the filmmaker had to say, revealing what the fans would tell him a year after the first movie came out.
“People kept asking us in the year after the movie came out, ‘We’d like to see more about the hotel.’ ‘We’d like to see more about all the different characters. ‘What is this underworld where everyone’s the best?’ What’s it like to be in a world like this? That’s what we really wanted to expand on. Me and the other creators on the show, my partner and the other producers, the biggest attraction to us about filmmaking really is creating a universe, and creating a world, and creating a little bit of escape. That’s really what we focused on and we’re hoping that’s what comes across in the second movie.”
Along withKeanu Reevesreturning asJohn Wickhimself,John Wick 2will also bring backIan McShaneas Winston,Lance Reddickas Charon,Bridget Moynahanas John’s late wife Helen andThomas Sadoskias Jimmy. Among the new cast members areCommon,Ruby Rose,Peter StormareandLaurence Fishburne, who worked with bothKeanu ReevesandChad StahelskionThe Matrixtrilogy, whichStahelskiworked on as a stuntman and stunt coordinator.Keanu Reevespreviously teased thatLaurence Fishburnebrings “humor, intelligence, charisma and fascination” to the sequel. Here’s whatChad Stahelskihad to say aboutLaurence Fishburne’s character.
“I loved working with him. So we made a call and he was more than gracious and more than willing to come help. Laurence’s character, we just call him ‘The Bowery King.'”
Ian McShanerevealed in an interview thatJohn Wick 2will feature anew dog, with the main villain played by another new cast member,Riccardo Scamarcio. The sequel will deal with the “assassin’s code,” since there has been a contract put out onJohn Wick’s life after he killed a Russian gangster.John Wick: Chapter 2will go up againstFifty Shades DarkerandThe LEGO Batman Movieon August 12, 2025, which should be one interesting weekend to keep an eye on at the box office.
