"John Wick: Consequence" Director Chad Stahelski wanted the audience to experience the trials of the main character [Director's Interview Vol.355]

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2023.09.21Hiroaki Saito

" John Wick ", which became a hit role for Keanu Reeves, is also the fourth work in the series. Will the legendary assassin, who has been chased by the organization after his tragic fate in the previous three films, finally reach a conclusion? This latest work, which can be said to be the culmination of the series, is full of buzz, with co-stars such as Hiroyuki Sanada and Donnie Yen, and one of the main settings is Osaka.

Chad Stahelski has formed a strong bond with Keanu by serving as action coordinator and stuntman for Keanu in 1999's `` The matrix ,'' and has directed all of the `` John Wick '' films. How did you approach this latest work, which has more highlights than the previous three works? We asked him about his collaborative relationship with Keanu and the works that influenced him.

“John Wick: Consequence” synopsis

John Wick is a legendary assassin who broke the rules of the underworld and survived the siege of purges. An organization that hides underground and controls everything: It stands up in order to break free from the President's Alliance. Grammont, a young high-ranking official who has gained power within the organization, blows up the Continental Hotel in New York, which has been protecting John as a sanctuary, and forcibly brings in John's old friend, the blind master Cain, to hunt John Wick. Meanwhile, John shows up at the Continental Hotel in Osaka, seeking the help of his Japanese friend Shimazu... Will John be able to make a deal with the world he once swore allegiance to and gain true freedom? ?

Index

The dialogue has been cut down to create a silent movie feel.

Q: Once again, John Wick, played by Keanu Reeves, had very limited lines of dialogue. Was this what you had in mind from the scripting stage?

Stahelski: For the John Wick series, we don't use a traditional screenwriting process. We all come up with ideas, including Keanu, and I create the general story, and then I ask the screenwriter to join in. Even when the script is complete, the dialogue is basically simple. The emotion of the scene is written down, such as ``I'm angry right now,'' and can be changed freely. The purpose is to show the studio that Keanu has lines, and to convey John Wick's emotions to the co-stars. Then, in the actual performance, lines that express emotions such as "I'm angry!" are gradually cut out.

Q: So you try to avoid expository lines as much as possible.

Stahelski: One of the things I don't like about American movies is that they try to explain everything with dialogue. I hate lines like ``You killed my comrades, so now I'm going to kill you,'' or lines that make me want to say ``If you watch it, you'll understand!'' (lol). For me, `` John Wick '' is a silent movie. I am trying to express as much as possible with the minimum amount of dialogue. Keanu is also an actor who is good at this style, and we believe that a character's actions and choices can express more than three pages of dialogue. Since there are few lines, the audience can imagine the hidden emotions, and I think they can get closer to the character.

Q: Is Keanu's decision to have fewer lines?

Stahelski: Keanu uses his own words and choices to decide what lines to say. Sometimes I say, ``You cut out a little too much dialogue. Please leave at least one line in.'' (laughs)

Q: In that case, a sense of "Aun" is built between you and your co-stars.

Stahelski: Keanu also has a great approach to other actors and is able to grasp the rhythm of the scene and express it well. This time too, Ian McShane performed a Shakespeare-like play, and Donnie Yen approached with great energy, and Keanu didn't have to respond to each with his lines, but instead stood firm and communicated with his eyes. I was impressed once again.

There are 50 stunt drivers. 5,000 pylons used

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