The hype train forJohn Wick: Chapter 2is picking up steam after the weekend brought the arrival of thefirst official trailerfor the upcoming action sequel. SettingKeanu Reeves' cutthroat assassin against newcomers likeCommon(who will play another expert killer-for-hire),Ruby RoseandLaurence Fishburnealong with returning cast likeIan McShane, so far,John Wick 2looks to be shaping up rather swimmingly. DirectorChad Stahelski, who previously worked with Fishburne and Reeves on theMatrixtrilogy as a stunt coordinator, is no stranger to sequels, but with naturally high expectations and an intense connection to the original film, he no doubt is committed to making the sequel as high-octane as the first.
I recently spoke with Stahelski in anticipation ofJohn Wick 2at New York Comic-Con, and during course of our conversation, the discussion turned to Stahelski’s plans for a possible third film—which is already in the works:
“The studio has asked us to put our heads together and see if we can come up with something. Winston’s [McShane] is a big part of the next one, so isLance Reddick. We’ve got some ideas.”
Reddick and McShane, both stylish, composed men of the Continental, have yet to get in on any serious action in the franchise, as they’ve stayed largely on the sidelines. “Winston is busy running the hotel!” McShane explained with a laugh during this weekend’s New York Comic-Con panel.
But beforeJohn Wick3takes off, we’ve gotJohn Wick 2on the horizon. So what can we expect from the upcoming sequel? Just because it’s been a while since we’ve seen John Wick doesn’t mean much time has passed in the world of the assassin with a heart of gold.
“When it came to coming up with a story idea, we had like ten bad ideas, and they we were like, ‘fuck it,’ what would have just happened the next day. Once we stopped worrying about ourselves, it was fun. Is it as good as the first one? I don’t know, that’s personal opinion. Did we go better in some ways? Yes. Did we explore the character more? Yes. It’s better, I think, technically. Is the enjoyment better? Yes, it’s there, but it’s completely different.”
Ruby Rose, who had the Internet buzzing after her arrival onOrange is the New Blacklast year, has quickly turned to action, set to appear inxXx: The Return of Xander Cage,Resident Evil: The Final ChapterandJohn Wick: Chapter 2all in the coming year. Speaking on her character, Stahelski revealed:
“I don’t know if she was expectingWickto be as kooky as it really is, but she’s mute in the movie, she does the whole thing in sign language. She was nervous for the first couple days, and then she just went for it.”
John Wick: Chapter 2will hit theaters July 17, 2025.
