john wick 2

FIVE A DAY: Here Are Some Titles To Look Forward To In 2016

As busy as my schedule is, there are a lot of films that I don’t get to see at least right away – hell, as we speak, I’ve prioritized some titles from this year going into 2016 including Bone Tomahawk and The Hateful Eight. That said, there are definitely a few titles that I will be looking into next year for required viewing, and I will average at least five a day between now and New Year’s Day in no specific order: ⚪ To start, there’s no way I’m missing out on John Wick 2. Period. The first film led the way for a terrific revival of R-rated action with just the kind of story that drives action film fanatics to the theaters, centering actor Keanu Reeves back in the limelight as a genuine action star long since winning sci-fi and kung fu fans everywhere with The Matrix Trilogy. It […]

Is Lawrence Fishburne Joining JOHN WICK 2?

Lee B. Golden III

Warner Bros. The kind folks over at Gothamist found some interesting developments on the set of director Chad Stahelski’s new movie, John Wick 2. Exclusive photos now circulating online can be attributed with returning actor Keanu Reeves and his former Matrix trilogy co-star Lawrence Fishburne, marking this as their latest film since the popular cyberpunk sci-fi action trilogy twelve years ago. The trades sites are mum and there aren’t any details pertaining to just how Fishburne will wedge into the story for the film but will undoubtedly forsee Reeves doing what he does best in the role of the vengeful former underworld hitman. The film is close to finishing things up in New York City with locations set for Rome, Italy early next year while a release date remains pending. The cast is rounded out by John Leguizamo, Bridget Moynahan, Lance Reddick and Ian McShane with Ruby Rose, Common, Peter […]

Keanu Reeves Throws Down In NYC's Chinatown Set For JOHN WICK 2

Lee B. Golden III

Splash News has gone viral with some behind-the-scenes footage for director Chad Stahelski‘s new sequel, John Wick 2. Photos have already begun surfacing which offers a good signal boost for the film’s social media prospects with fans tweeting sightings of its star actor Keanu Reeves from the various sets and locales of New York City. Principal photography continues between now and next year with locations set for Rome, Italy with a release date pending courtesy of Lionsgate’s Summit label. Reeves is joined by returning cast members John Leguizamo, Common, Bridget Moynahan and Ian McShane with newly added Ruby Rose, Riccardo Scamarcio and Peter Stormare among others.

JOHN WICK 2 Fills Out Its Cast Of Old And New Faces

Lee B. Golden III

Deadline reports that director Chad Stahelski‘s John Wick 2 has officially added new actors to the roster. Paul W.S. Anderson’s Resident Evil: The Final Chapter isn’t due for another year and change, but you can now add actress Ruby Rose to the list of titles in your wishlist with her attachment to the forthcoming Keanu Reeves sequel, along with Burnt co-star Riccardo Scamarcio, and much faved character actor Peter Stormare. The three join newly added Common and returning cast members Ian McShane, Bridget Moynahan, Lance Reddick, Tom Sadowski and John Leguizamo with Reeves back on board following the blockbuster first installation in 2014. Sadowski, formerly of The Newsroom, reprises the role of Jimmy, the officer who, in the first film, arrives shortly after the home invasion sequence that ultimately leaves a pile of bodies on Wick’s floor. Leguizamo returns to the supporting role of Aurelio, the chop shop owner who dared to slug the son […]

JOHN WICK 2 Starts Filming In New York City

Lee B. Golden III

Big budget movies tend to garner big attention with big loads of fervor. Such a result may have been unforseen with the small-scale action thriller debut, John Wick, last year, but came nonetheless topped with a renewed appreciation for an original action storytelling. Keanu Reeves led the film and no doubt brings even more light to the cause with a visceral take on an unrelenting assassin who bids a revisit to his former employer and his son to avenge his wife’s legacy. It was a trail of blood, bullets, fisticuffs and sheer spectacle almost perfectly formulating just the kind of action movies many fans pine for, and no less, it was through the good fortune of a low budget and enough box-office support that plans for the sequel lended further promise. Alas, John Wick 2 is finally underway with locations currently set for Italy and in New York City where […]

Common Joins JOHN WICK 2!

Lee B. Golden III

Image via Warner Bros. John Wick 2 kicks off filming this week with actor Keanu Reeves back in the fray as the title character and director Chad Stahelski at the helm. Things have been sizzling for the last few months with the film’s start in New York City in recent months, and now we’re off to an even greater start with some casting news. The plot is currently nil but The Wrap now reports that Run All Night co-star Common will star as the muscle for a female principle villainess who wants our protagonist dead; the actress cast for said villainess currently remains unknown. The first film, directed by Stahelski and David Leitch, both veteran stunt coordinators hailing from 87 Eleven Action Design, was a festival and theatrical favorite in late 2014, focusing on Reeves as a former hitman who avenges his late wife’s legacy by taking on the Russian […]

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Chad Stahelski Will Direct JOHN WICK 2 In NYC This Fall

Lee B. Golden III

With the forthcoming New York City production of John Wick 2 looming, expect more press to come for the remainder of the year. That includes a new report from Collider confirming that Chad Stahelski will helm the film in his first solo debut with actor Keanu Reeves returning to star. Stahelski received solo billing in the end credits for the first film in which he actually shares directorial credits with David Leitch. Both filmmakers have extensive shared credits in premiere film stuntwork and second unit direction, and also lend their services via their stunt training facility, 87 Eleven Action Design, where multitudes of actors have trained for a number of roles in major blockbuster action films, including Reeves. Leitch is serving as executive producer with acclaimed fight choreographer J.J. Perry designing the action. John Wick grew in notoriety upon its late 2014 release following its Fantastic Fest premiere, with Reeves‘s […]

An Evening With JOHN WICK 2 Fight Choreographer J.J. PERRY

Lee B. Golden III

Well, I’m awake after just two hours of sleep and now I have to function like a normal human being. Challenge accepted, of course, and it’s not without a huge sense of worth and gratitude as one of the most unpredictable and last-minute things I’ve experienced as an action film enthusiast. John Wick 2 is currently being prepped for production this Fall in New York City with the team gathering here for the remainder of 2015, including directors Chad Stahelski and David Leitch, and stunt and fight coordinator J.J. Perry. Photos recently began surfacing on Facebook in the last several weeks courtesy of 87 Eleven Action Design, including pictures of returning actor Keanu Reeves alongside folks like Perry and MMA family, the Machado brothers – all very intriguing, and eventually led me to learn that Perry was going to be the one directing the action sequences this time around. Perry […]

Focus’s THE COLDEST CITY Casts Charlize Theron; ‘John Wick’ Helmers To Direct

Lee B. Golden III

Actress Charlize Theron‘s latest big screen role can be found in director George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road this coming Friday. The film just had its premiere in Los Angeles and is certainly poised to be the start of a possibly epic and successful franchise whilst certainly lending some momentum to the award-winning co-star for her attachment as well. Of course, time will tell what the future holds in that regard, but the momentum is high for her this week, and with events beginning at Cannes soon, word from Deadline brings good news for the actress comes by way of Focus Features and their latest North American acquisition for the author Antony Johnston’s 2012 Oni Press graphic novel publication, The Coldest City. Focus reportedly locked an eight-figure deal to produce the $30 million dollar adaptation from a script by Kurt Johnstad which centers its story of espionage and double crossing […]

Keanu Reeves Is Officially Returning To Shoot More People In The Face In JOHN WICK 2!

Lee B. Golden III

If you’re a fan of action and managed to go to the movies at any point between last Fall and now, chances are you’ve seen a little $20 million dollar independent film called John Wick, and you dug lead actor Keanu Reeves with fervor in some capacity. Come to think of it, it really is official as a character now owns on the screen thanks in large part to his action-training cohorts at 87 Eleven Action Design, debut directing duo Chad Stahelski and David Leitch with fight coordinator Jonathan Eusebio designing all sorts of unrelenting brutality in Wick‘s wake. So, now what? Well, a sequel was officially announced to be in development back in February by Lionsgate after Stahleski spoke on it earlier, and now the word from Forbes contributor Scott Mendelson dictated that Reeves is officially returning as well. There are no script or story details as of yet, […]

After Stathelski, Lionsgate Makes JOHN WICK 2 Official

Lee B. Golden III

Not too long after stunt coordinators Chad Stathelski and David Leitch made clear their active development on a sequel to their 2014 directorial debut John Wick, Variety is reporting that Lionsgate has done the same, officially announcing the second installment. However, it was CEO Jon Feltheimer who, during a conference call with analysts to discuss the studio’s year-end 3rd quarter earnings, suggesting a possible “multiple-title franchise”. In lieu of this, its likely that lead actor Keanu Reeves will return to reprise his role after turning in such a stellar performance on top of building a longstanding and cohesive partnership with Stahelski and Leitch over at the stunt training facility, 87Eleven. Of course, this also brings into question of who our main protagonist will go toe-to-toe with this time around, and that will depend on the story our directing duo conjures. Rest assured, let’s hope the next bad guy he meets […]

Chad Stahelski Talks JOHN WICK 2

Lee B. Golden III

The careers of Hollywood second unit directors and stunt coordinators, Chad Stathelski and David Leitch, seem to be getting increasingly better since the theatrical release of their partnering directorial debut, John Wick, last year. The film became a box-office hit a little over four months ago and it has since led to other prospects, including re-teaming with the film’s lead actor, Keanu Reeves, for the live-action assassin series, Rain, in addition to their recently announcement attachment to direct lead actor Chris Pratt in the graphic novel adaptation, Cowboy Ninja Viking. However, John Wick is not without its merits for a sequel considering its caliber as an original property with a riveting story of one man’s vengeful return to his old life following the death of his inherited dog and theft of his car. If you saw the film, you’ll likely understand a bit more about the prospects for a follow-up […]