Keanu Reeves' portrayal of John Wick is known for its minimalistic dialogue, particularly showcased in the latest installment, John Wick: Chapter 4. Running nearly three hours, the film's titular character spoke only 380 words throughout its 169-minute runtime. To put this stark verbal economy in perspective, Reeves conveyed more dialogue in the trailer than he did within the first 25 minutes of the film. Notably, the original John Wick, which had only 101 minutes of runtime, featured Wick uttering 484 words.
Director Chad Stahelski and Reeves made specific decisions to significantly reduce the character's lines; half were cut from the original script, creating what they describe as a more potent representation of Wick's “man of few words” persona. One standout moment illustrating this approach is the intense interaction between Wick and villain Marquis de Gramont, played by Bill Skarsgård, where Wick's dialogue became one-word responses like "pistol" and "no quarter." Stahelski believes this dialogue-less style reflects the dedication to showcasing actions over words.
Interestingly, co-screenwriter Michael Finch pointed out the irony of Wick’s character, saying, "It’s a shock when you work with him how dedicated he is to not speaking.” Wick's longest line delivered occurred when addressing Shimazu Koji, the leader of Osaka’s Continental: “You and I left a good life behind a long time ago, my friend.” This restraint enhances the impact of his character's actions, which resonate deeply with audiences.
On the action front, Reeves devoted three months to intense training, honing his skills for the film’s demanding stunt sequences. Among the highlights was a breathtaking car chase around Paris' iconic Arc de Triomphe, where Reeves performed several jaw-dropping maneuvers, including executing a reverse 180 turn, reloading his prop gun, and shooting—all simultaneously. Commenting on the experience, Reeves dubbed Chapter 4 the most brutal action movie he has ever made, which attests to the dedication behind crafting compelling action.
While John Wick remains the franchise's central character, the upcoming film Ballerina marks the first entry led by another protagonist outside of Reeves’ role. Set to premiere next June, the film introduces Ana de Armas as Eve Macarro. The character is described as complex and nuanced, moving beyond simply being a female version of John Wick.
The creative team, including director Len Wiseman and the cast, recently emphasized at the CCXP panel held in São Paulo, Brazil, how they strive to expand the franchise’s universe through Eve's narrative perspective. Wiseman explicitly asserted, "I was not setting out to do a female John Wick; John Wick is John Wick." This statement firmly establishes Eve as her own character, whose story will explore different motivations and experiences compared to Wick's tale.
Returning actors, including Ian McShane and Anjelica Houston, add depth to the film, along with newcomers Norman Reedus and Gabriel Byrne. During discussions, McShane expressed excitement about the fresh take, stating, "It’s new but natural," as it continues the story of Eve, who has existed within the franchise since childhood.
De Armas herself commented on the intense training she underwent for the film, citing her preparation time of four to five months compared to previous roles. This solid foundation allowed her to invest heavily, developing new skills to execute the film's elaborate fight scenes authentically. Instead of humorous scenes, which were present to some extent in her previous role as Paloma from No Time To Die, Eve’s storyline centers on trauma and pain, bringing about darker tones and serious stakes to the action sequences.
The narrative intertwines with Wick’s storyline, showcasing how Eve aims to become an assassin with connections to the existing franchise myths. Through her experiences, viewers will gain fresh insights about the assassin world and the consequences of renegade choices. "What does it mean to be protected by them or be an outsider?" De Armas questioned, highlighting the ethical dilemmas characters will face.
McShane reminisced on the franchise's evolution, mentioning how each film builds upon past installments and satisfies the audience's burning questions about the world of assassins. He added, "The mythology behind it has always been steeped in some kind of movie reality. That's why people love them." The interplay of established and new characters is poised to revitalize interest in the series, enhancing connections with long-standing fans.
One interesting debate among the cast and crew revolved around the physicality of the characters. Reedus acknowledged the unique challenge presented by action scenes compared to different projects, alluding to the necessary choreography to safely produce impactful moments. He shared enthusiasm for joining the franchise, noting his admiration for both Reeves and de Armas.
Despite the anticipation surrounding the introduction of Eve and her story, Reeves’ John Wick character continues to play a pivotal role, appearing “in human form” within Ballerina. It will be interesting to see how his character intertwines with Eve's development as she embarks on her own path of violent retribution.
With Ballerina on the horizon, fans and newcomers alike have much to speculate about, making the future of the franchise as thrilling as the action sequences within it. Here’s to what the next chapter holds for this immensely popular and intricately woven universe.