Entertainment
9 Years Before ‘John Wick,’ its Creators Adapted One of the Greatest Sci-Fi Thriller Graphic Novels
John Wick radically reshaped the action movie landscape,thanks to the expert direction of Chad Stahelski and David Leitch. The duo crafted a compelling tale in which Keanu Reeves‘ titular henchman is drawn back into the life of violence he left behind; they also expertly balance bloody battles and emotional catharsis in a way that made John Wick a smash hit and led to a franchise that attempts to top itself with each installment. Before Stahelski and Leitch brought John Wick to life, they would take part in an iconic comic book adaptation when they worked on V for Vendetta.
Based on the DC Comics/Vertigo graphic novel by Alan Moore, David Lloyd, and Tony Weare, V for Vendetta is set in a future where Britain is under a totalitarian regime. This regime is opposed by V (Hugo Weaving), a mysterious figure clad in a black cloak and mask who seeks to ignite a revolution with the help of Evey Hammond (Natalie Portman). The combination of bloody violence and a stylized world feels perfect for Stalheski and Leitch’s sensibilities, and director James McTeigue recently revealed during a conversation for Collider Rewind, that the duo stood in for Weaving at key action moments.
“There are a few other people underneath the mask, too, actually, like Dave Leitch, who has great success with Bullet Train and Hobbs & Shaw. Right? He’s under the mask at one point, he and Chad Stahelski, who’s the John Wick director. They were the stunt coordinators on that movie, so Dave was under the mask for a bit of it.”
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Chad Stahelski & David Leitch Brought Their Stunt Expertise to ‘V for Vendetta’
Before they were two of the most sought-after directors in the action realm, Chad Stahelski and David Leitch were stunt actors and second unit directors who worked on some of Hollywood’s biggest franchises. Chief among them was The Matrix, where Stahelski served as Keanu Reeves’ stunt double while Leitch offered his services to The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions. This forged a bond between the duo and the Wachowski siblings, and with the Wachowskis penning the script for V for Vendetta, they opted to bring Stahelski and Leitch on board alongside James McTeigue. The end result features some of the best action sequences for any comic book adaptation.
The standout scene in V for Vendetta comes toward the end, where V is cornered by the secret police known as the “Finger” and their leader, Peter Creedy (Tim Pigott-Smith). Rather than surrender, V proclaims that he’ll kill all of his opponents before they reload, and die with his hands closed around Creedy’s throat. What follows is a beautiful, yet brutal action sequence that makes use of the slow motion that populated the Matrix films, and the swift violence that would come to define John Wick. While you’d never know that they were in the suit, Stahelski and Leitch’s fingerprints are all over this final fight.
Members of the ‘John Wick’ Crew Have Worked on Other Comic Book Adaptations
V for Vendetta wouldn’t be the last time that a member of the John Wick filmmaking team helped bring a comic book to life. David Leitch’s Atomic Blonde adapts the graphic novel The Coldest City, and Deadpool 2 brought his action sensibilities to the Merc with a Mouth. Surprisingly, it’s screenwriter Derek Kolstad who’s become the most involved with the world of comics. In addition to penning episodes of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Kolstad is set to adapt the Bad Idea comic book Ordained, featuring a former soldier turned priest who stands against a legion of mobsters. Ordained will also team Kolstad with Colin Farrell (The Penguin), who’s set to play the priest, and Joe & Anthony Russo (Avengers: Doomsday) as executive producers.
Chad Stahelski and David Leitch helped elevate the comic book movie with their work on V for Vendetta. The duo proved that violence, when filmed the right way, can be as gripping as any well-written piece of dialogue, and it’s an aesthetic they embraced with gusto on John Wick.
- Release Date
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February 23, 2006
- Runtime
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132 minutes
- Director
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James McTeigue
- Producers
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Grant Hill, Joel Silver, Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski, Lorne Orleans
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