Motorcycles. Swords. Assassins. And John Wick (Keanu Reeves). Sounds like the most lethal of combinations, and it’s one that audiences will see play out when John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum opens around the globe. We know that John Wick will face off against an army of killers when his story continues in Chad Stahelski’s Chapter 3, and now, thanks to an exclusive clip shared by Lionsgate with CinemaBlend, we’re figuring out HOW Wick will fight back. Dig into this clip. We’ll see you on the other side.
This featurette, titled “The Art of Action,” shows some of the preparation that goes into the staging of the over-the-top fight sequences that have become the signature banner of the John Wick franchise. These movies are incredibly fluid, stylish and expertly choreographed, so it’s almost easy to forget how much work goes into the staging of the sequences.
Whether John (Keanu Reeves) is racing around in a car, fist-fighting with a crowd of killers, or riding horses through New York City – as reportedly happens in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum – so much work has to go into the blocking and creating of the moments.
Now, how many of you are going to go out of your way to rent or stream Villainess, the Korean action film from 2017 that Keanu Reeves and Chad Stahleski say inspired the motorcycle chase scene that’s included in John Wick: Chapter 3? We went ahead and tracked down this clip, which was making the rounds after Villainess first screened, because the action choreography in this sequence is just so mind-blowing:
How the hell did they film that? I absolutely could see a genius director like Chad Stahleski seeing that footage and thinking, “Yeah, we have to try and top that.” But how?! That’s the challenge, and we will see soon enough how John Wick: Chapter 3 manages to trump it.
It also reminds me of this jaw-dropping fight from The Raid 2, which I’m sure has influence over the action that appears in the John Wick movies.
Basically, these types of movies all build on, borrow from, and pay homage to one another, so it’s no surprise that they have been so popular in their own right with action audiences. John Wick (Keanu Reeves) certainly has carved out his own niche with his distinct mythology. And we can’t wait to see where his story goes in the next chapter.
Chad Stahleski opens John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum on May 17. Are you planning on checking it out?
