The John Wick franchise has become one of the most popular action movie series in recent years. The fourth installment of the franchise, John Wick: Chapter 4, has been released to critical acclaim, with many praising its ability to conclude the story satisfyingly. Despite the success of the film, director Chad Stahelski has expressed his desire to move on from the franchise and work on other projects. Stahelski has been the driving force behind the John Wick movies, and his unique vision has helped to establish the franchise's signature style. While it's uncertain what his next project will be, Stahelski is hesitant to direct a movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
In a recent interview with The Direct, Stahelski mentioned that while he is a big fan of the superhero genre and has always been fascinated by properties like Blade, he believes that there are other filmmakers who are better suited to direct Marvel movies. Stahelski also noted that his creative sweet spot lies in projects where he has more control and can push the boundaries of what is expected from a movie. He likes to be subversive and experiment with the rules, and he feels that this is best achieved when there are no limits to what he can do.
"I was one of many that brought in takes of it, sure. That's the one property I always thought was fascinating. I'm always fascinated by vampire and martial arts. So it seemed like a good mix.," Stahelski revealed. "Honestly, Blade was probably my favorite kick out of that. But like, look, I'm a big fan of that genre. I love Batman. I love the Marvel world. I love the first 'Iron Man' to death. I love James Gunn's first 'Guardians' to death. These are all milestones, I think, in cinema. I just also think that there are people that get that IP better than me. I know my sweet spot. I do better when there are no limits. I do better when I can kind of bend the rules. I like to be a little bit more subversive. So it's kind of weird."
Chad Stahelski Reveals His A-List Actor Wishlist for Future Franchise Installments
John Wick has become a massively successful action franchise, with its stylish fight scenes, intriguing world-building, and charismatic lead actor, Keanu Reeves. It's not surprising that director Chad Stahelski is already thinking about the future of the franchise and potential additions to the cast. In an interview with The Direct, Stahelski revealed his wish list of actors that he would love to see in the John Wick universe, including recent Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh, Cillian Murphy (Peaky Blinders), and Colin Farrell (The Batman).
"There's a huge list, but just the first thing that came to mindset was Cillian Murphy. I'm a big 'Peaky Blinders' fan. So, you know, I just think Cillian would fit right in. Colin Farrell is fantastic. Charlize Theron when she did 'Atomic Blonde,' I saw that went, ‘Oh my God, I gotta work with this woman. She's awesome. I worked with Michelle Yeoh way back on a commercial years ago, and I've been dying to work with her ever since. I'm such a huge fan.”
Stahelski also expressed his interest in working with other acclaimed actors such as Robert Downey Jr., Peter Dinklage, and Sean Bean, stating that he would "die for a chance" to work with any of them. If Stahelski is able to attract some of these actors to the franchise, it could take John Wick to even greater heights. The series has already proven its ability to blend heart-pumping action with intriguing world-building and character development, and adding even more talent to the mix could make for some truly unforgettable films. Of course, it remains to be seen whether any of these actors will sign on, but the possibility alone is enough to generate excitement among fans of the franchise.