Keanu Reeves’ John Wick had the role of a furry companion in the franchise’s first installment, but fans were left heartbroken and disappointed that the pup didn’t make it out alive, leading to fans’ long battle for revenge. Celebrating the franchise’s 10th anniversary, producers David Leitch and Chad Stahelski spoke with Business Insider and shared insider details from the film set.
He also reflected on the scene of the dog’s tragic death. “We were told, ‘It’s bad luck.’ ‘It’s bad JuJu,’ Leach explained. People kept telling him that this would be another Old Yeller that no one would want to see because of the tragedy that would ultimately alienate viewers.
“And I’m like, ‘We’re going to kill people at close range; Killing a dog is one thing, but what about the brutal massacre of all these humans? Will they be able to accept it?” he explained. Being fans of genre-focused films themselves, the producers aimed simply to create an authentic genre film and knew that these “difficult moments” would become memorable for the franchise.
John Wick stars Reeves as the legendary assassin who came out of retirement to marry the love of his life. However, when thugs steal his prized car and his late wife’s puppy, it inspires Vic (Reeves) to commit murder and quench his thirst for vengeance. So the dog’s death scene was a turning point for the franchise.
Reeves, being a method actor, rehearsed the death scene with a stuffed dog, “crying” and appearing completely “beaten up”, causing the producers to reconsider their decision to kill the dog and shoot an alternate ending. Had to reconsider. “Everyone behind the monitor must have thought, ‘Well, this is the worst idea; ”These first-time directors are overworked,” the producer recalled.
It was The Matrix actor who “stood up” for him and his vision. But Keanu stood up for us. And Basil stood up for the investors, and eventually, they thought, ‘F— it, let’s see what these guys can do,'” Leach said. The intuition proved correct and the franchise was worth $1 billion.
The legacy of the three blockbuster films, The World of John Wick: Ballerina, to be released in 2025, will continue with projects like Peacock’s prequel limited series The Continental and the sequel John Wick: Under the High Table.
