Today, October 24, marks the 10th anniversary of John Wick, the film that rejuvenated Keanu Reeves' career and is often considered one of the greatest action movies ever made. However, few people are aware of how close the project came to never being realized, thanks to the intervention of actress-turned-filmmaker Eva Longoria.
In an interview with Business Insider, John Wick director Chad Stahelski recounted how Longoria saved the film when funding was in jeopardy just before production began. 'We were less than a week out, and we lost almost $6 million on a gap financing,' Stahelski recalled. 'We were financing independently to get the bond, but one of the investors couldn’t raise the money in time. [Longoria] 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.'
Longoria stepped in after her agency, CAA, approached its performers with the opportunity to invest in the film. She contributed the $6 million needed, earning her first significant credit as a producer. Given the success of the film, which has led to multiple sequels and an upcoming spin-off movie, Ballerina, Longoria's investment has proven to be quite profitable.
Stahelski also shared how he and his uncredited co-director David Leitch learned about Longoria's contribution. 'Producer Basil Iwanyk took us out to dinner, and we were laughing about all the challenges we faced, and he said: 'By the way, funny story, you know who gap financed you? Eva Longoria.' We were like, 'What?!'
Despite the definitive ending of Chapter 4, there may still be a John Wick: Chapter 5. In the meantime, From the World of John Wick: Ballerina is set for release on June 6, 2025. Additionally, another spin-off movie featuring Donnie Yen's character, Caine, is in development.
Source link: https://www.gamespot.com
