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With John Wick: Chapter 2 now in theaters, I recently got to sit down with producer Basil Iwanyk for an exclusive video interview. He explained how the sequel came together, how they never expected they’d ever make a sequel when filming the first one, how they had a lot of big name actors that wanted to be in John Wick 2, if they’re already thinking about John Wick 3, the amazing stair sequence which was done without CGI, and a lot more.

For fans of the first John Wick that are wondering if the sequel is any good, I’m happy to report that it is fantastic. It opens with an insane action set piece and never stops. I don’t know how any person that paid for a full-price ticket could walk out and say they didn’t get their money’s worth. I’ve seen it three times already — trust me, it’s awesome. You can read Matt Goldberg’s review here.

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Image via Lionsgate

For those unfamiliar with the sequel, Keanu Reeves face-off against a whole new host of friends, villains, and colleagues, played by the likes of CommonRuby Rose, Laurence Fishburne and Riccardo Scamarcio, amongst others. The movie also sees the return of Ian McShaneJohn Leguizamo, Bridget Moynihan, and Lance Reddick.

Check out what Basil Iwanyk had to say in the video above and below is the official synopsis and recent trailer.

Basil Iwanyk:

  • How the first John Wick was this small little indie that exploded into something else.
  • How they never thought they’d make a sequel when making the first one.
  • When did Lionsgate say we want a sequel?
  • How did the financing change as a result of making the sequel?
  • The pressure to come up with the story of John Wick Chapter 2.
  • Casting the sequel. How they had a ton of big name actors that wanted to be in the sequel.
  • How whoever is in a John Wick movie has to do a lot of training before filming begins and Common was willing to do it.
  • Are they already thinking about a John Wick 3?
  • How it’s tough to recreate the emotional arc of the first film.
  • Do they really destroy vintage cars when shooting the movie?
  • How the stunt team on the John Wick films are literally willing to do anything.
  • The stair sequence in John Wick 2. Was it CGI?
  • Will they go to China in the 3rd film?

Here’s the official synopsis for John Wick: Chapter 2:

In this next chapter following the 2014 hit, legendary hitman John Wick [Keanu Reeves] is forced back out of retirement by a former associate plotting to seize control of a shadowy international assassins’ guild. Bound by a blood oath to help him, John travels to Rome where he squares off against some of the world’s deadliest killers.

 

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Image via Lionsgate

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