Bruce Willis was originally set to be cast as John Wick, a producer reveals.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, John Wick co-director and producer David Leitch (The Fall Guy, Bullet Train) reflected on its development as the film turns 10 this year.
John Wick was released on October 24, 2014 with Keanu Reeves in the starring role – the film enjoyed modest box office success and critical acclaim, spawning three sequels, prequel television series The Continental, and upcoming spin-off film Ballerina.
Leitch and co-director Chad Stahelski – the latter would go on to helm the John Wick sequels as sole director – previously worked as action choreographers for The Matrix films, meeting and working with Reeves along the way.
The duo received the script for John Wick from Leitch’s wife Kelly McCormick (their manager at the time). It was written by Derek Kolstad, and the duo read it under the pretense of working on it as second-unit directors.
“That was the first time we read it, and I think Bruce Willis might’ve been attached at that time,” Leitch told The Hollywood Reporter.
Obviously, Willis did not go through with the project, and once Reeves signed on, Leitch and Stahelski reached out to their former Matrix colleague for a big ask.
“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?’,” Leitch remembered. “And he was like, ‘Yes, please. Let’s do it. How do we make that happen?'”
Elsewhere in the interview, Leitch talked about the struggles behind completing the film – from salary cuts to squabbles over the look of Reeves’ character. It’s also revealed that Eva Longoria helped the directors complete the film by filling its final US$6million gap in financing.
A John Wick prequel is in the works as an anime film, Stahelski confirmed in October. “Right now, we’re knee-deep in development on a feature anime about John Wick,” he said. “It’s a prequel to the movies, which is awesome. It’s fun that it’s in a different medium.”
Last month, Stahelski and Leitch also revealed that an alternate ending of John Wick – one in which his puppy survives – was almost made.
In late-2023, Willis’ loved ones – wife Emma Heming Willis, daughter Tallulah Willis and ex-wife Demi Moore – all opened up about the actor’s struggles with frontotemporal dementia. On being open about his condition, Tallulah said: “On one hand, it’s who we are as a family, but also, it’s really important for us to spread awareness about FTD.”
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