In many instances, there is a pragmatic and calculated schedule when it comes to forecasting successful franchises for a studio. Then there are instances like John Wick, where an action blockbuster grabs the audience's attention and pulls them in for more.
Lionsgate are now looking ahead to bigger and better things as 2017's John Wick: Chapter 2 scored $166.8m at the box office from a modest $40m investment. As rumors circle around Samuel L. Jackson's inclusion for the third in the trilogy, director Chad Stahelski sat down with Collider to explain where the next installment is at in the pre-production phase.
Subtle Intricacies To Trump Set Pieces In JW3
Questioned where Chapter 3 is positioned with him and the studio, Stahelski said that pen is being put to paper to develop the screenplay.
"Yeah we're currently in the middle of writing it right now," he replied. "It's more of a how fast can we get our s*** together. But I would assume that if not by the end of this year, (shooting may start at) the beginning of next year."
Having switched from co-director roles with David Leitch in the original to taking charge by himself, will he have the same duties in number three? At this point, Stahelski does not have a straight answer.
"Currently I'm acting as prep director. Hopefully everything will work out time wise. Of course, I would love to."
Known for extravagant action sequences that utilize all types of New York nightlife scenery, from the streets to dark nightclubs, where can the series go next?
"We want, not so much to go bigger on the third one, but to show you more of the intricacies of the world," the director intimated. "I feel like there are all these different subtleties that I skipped over in Number Two, that I'd like to go back to on (Chapter 3) and show you the inner workings of different parts of New York. So rather than massive set pieces, I'd like to show you cooler and more intricate ones... I think it would be a mistake budget wise and creatively to just go big and blow up a freeway. That's not our gig. That's a comic book or a Bond gig. We want to show you cool and intricate details. What are those little details in everyday life? Hopefully, we make people look at garbage collectors and cleaner vans and homeless people a little differently now."
People Can Put Pieces Together: Chad
While the cold-blooded killer we see on screen is as uncomplicated as leading characters come, Stahelski says that the plot holes in his history offers a sense of mystery. But rather than showcasing this through flashbacks or prequels, the filmmaker will leave that up to the audience.
"We're very comfortable with where we want (John Wick) to go in the third one and what Keanu (Reeves) wants to do. If you really watch the first and second one, there's only one place it can go, so I'll let you sort that out. It's not about you finding a hidden book or a secret map about who John Wick is. Anyone watching can start piecing it together. You know he's had some serious training. Was it military? He kind of looks military. Where's he from? Well, he speaks all these languages. We're giving you the pieces and I think it's always good... Hopefully in five years, you and your buddies will talk about how 'he's this or he's that.' We'll give you a couple more pieces and let you stitch it together."
Trailer Addict will keep you informed of any official release date for John Wick: Chapter 3.
Source: Collider
Comments