JOHN WICK is the feature film debut of longtime stuntmen Chad Stahelski and David Leitch, who have been the premiere stunt coordinators in Hollywood for many years via their company 87eleven Action Design (they’re also among the top 2nd Unit directors in the game as well). You get the feeling this film has been a long time coming, considering how they’ve paid their dues on well over 80 movies each. The project, a rip-roaring action-revenge thriller with a very high body count, also reunites them with a star they’ve been working with for quite a while: Keanu Reeves, whom Stahelski has been a stunt double for many times since THE MATRIX.
Here I speak with Chad and David about their history with Keanu, their inspirations for the look and feel of the picture, and whether or not JOHN WICK is the start of a franchise.