John Wick director reveals the hit action franchise was saved at the eleventh hour by a $6 million investment from one unlikely A-lister. The first movie in the franchise, 2014’s John Wick, starred Keanu Reeves in the titular role as a retired hitman who takes revenge against the gangsters who kill his puppy. The movie was a box office success, grossing a little under $90 million against a production budget of less than $20 million, and spawned three sequels and a spinoff, but the movie almost didn’t happen.

In an interview with Business Insider to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the first movie, director Chad Stahelski and co-producer David Leitch reminisce on how John Wick was saved less than 24 hours before the project would have been dropped. According to Stahelski, the movie lost financing within a week as production was working on the final touches, only to be saved by Desperate Housewives alum Eva Longoria, who invested the $6 million needed. He also claims he was unaware of her identity until much later, while Leitch claims she told him it was the best money she ever spent. Check out their comments below:

Stahelski
: We were less than a week out, and we lost almost $6 million on a gap financing. We were financing independently to get the bond, but one of the investors couldn’t raise the money in time. She came to the rescue, and she provided the gap financing, literally less than 24 hours before we had to lock the doors on the movie and walk away.”

“Basil took us out to dinner, and we were laughing about all the bullshit that happened, and he said: ‘By the way, funny story, you know who gap financed you? Eva Longoria.’ We were like, ‘What!’ She was laughing, going, ‘I didn’t think it was going to work.'”

Leitch
: “We were reminiscing. She was like, ‘Wow, that was the best money I’ve ever spent.’ It paid back significantly for her.”

What Longoria’s Involvement Might Mean For The Future Of The Franchise

The Actor Earned A Producer Credit On John Wick

Longoria’s role in the success of the John Wick franchise, which to date has grossed over $1 billion, should not be underestimated, and it is fair to say the franchise would not exist without her investment. This is the reason she is credited as a producer on the first movie, though how much of an active role she took in the creative side of things is unclear. The fact the movie grossed 15x the investment that Longoria put in means she would have made a healthy return, and the franchise was allowed to grow as a result.

Though the Desperate Housewives star is not credited as a producer on any of the franchise’s subsequent installments, her John Wick legacy has already been cemented, and the movie’s success likely influenced her future career. Leitch also revealed that Longoria is keen to branch out into the action genre on-screen and that the pair are trying to find a project that would work for her. There could even be the potential for an acting role in a future John Wick movie, or one of its spinoffs, in the future.

Can Longoria Reinvent Herself As An Action Star?

The Recent Rise In Female Action Icons Could See The Actor Channel Her Inner John Wick

Though Longoria might seem an unlikely action star, the rise of female-driven action movies means there is every chance this could happen. I think the recent success of actors like Jennifer Lopez and Halle Berry in action movies bodes well for any other women looking to transition to this genre. With streaming content more diverse than ever, there is every chance Longoria could be heading up her own action franchise in the near future. However, an appearance in the John Wick franchise should not be ruled out either.

The John Wickspinoff movie Ballerina is set to release on June 6, 2025.

Source: Business Insider

John Wick

“John Wick” is a neo-noir action-thriller franchise centered around a retired hitman who returns to the criminal underworld to seek vengeance. Known for its intense and stylistic action sequences, the franchise has redefined modern action cinema with its choreographed gunfights, hand-to-hand combat, and intricate world-building. The series explores themes of loyalty, honor, and survival in a secret society of assassins.

Created by

Derek Kolstad

First Episode Air Date

September 22, 2023

Cast

Keanu Reeves , Ian McShane , Lance Reddick , Willem Dafoe , Michael Nyqvist , Alfie Allen , Laurence Fishburne , Anjelica Huston , Bill Skarsgard , Mel Gibson , Donnie Yen

Character(s)

John Wick , Winston , Charon , The Bowery King , Sofia Al-Azwar , Caine , Marquis Vincent de Gramont , Ares

Video Game(s)

John Wick Hex

Summary

“John Wick” is a neo-noir action-thriller franchise centered around a retired hitman who returns to the criminal underworld to seek vengeance. Known for its intense and stylistic action sequences, the franchise has redefined modern action cinema with its choreographed gunfights, hand-to-hand combat, and intricate world-building. The series explores themes of loyalty, honor, and survival in a secret society of assassins.

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