Keanu Reeves Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for Lionsgate
Keanu Reeves laid it all out on the line while filming John Wick.
During a 10th-anniversary screening of the film on Sunday, November 3, in Los Angeles, Reeves, 60, was asked how far he went in his role as the titular character.
“I had so many wonderful teachers and guidance and worked with so many talented actors, actresses and stunt people in the sense of it’s such a dance and collaboration and cooperation,” he said during a panel discussion with costar Ian McShane, co-director Chad Stahelski and producer Erica Lee, per People. “So there’s a couple of times where you throw up or puke or whatever, but that’s what makes it good!”
McShane, for his part, had nothing but praise for Reeves. “He pushes the envelope all the time. So when your leading actors says, ‘We’d like do another one,’ and it’s raining for the seventh day in a row outside … and you’re standing there, whatever. And you go, ‘Well, Keanu’s doing it. Here we are. Here we go,’” McShane, 82, said.
The John Wick franchise dropped its first movie in 2014, following a former hitman who returns to the criminal world. Since the initial film’s release, there have been four total installments. The most recent film debuted in March 2023.
Shortly before John Wick: Chapter 4 hit theaters, a source exclusively told Us Weekly that Reeves “loves” that the franchise keeps him in “top physical shape.”
“He says if it weren’t for these movies, he would be so much less active, but the fighting sequences and stunts keep him on his toes,” the insider said.
The source added that the genre has a big part of Reeves’ heart, telling Us, “He’s always been a fan of action movies since he was younger. Kung Fu and action movies are what he really enjoys creating and that’s why this franchise has been so great for him.”
Reeves opened up about his workout regime during an interview with Good Morning America in March 2023, sharing that there was an onscreen mix of judo, jiu-jitsu and weapons manipulation.
“[It] starts with training before the training,” he said at the time. “I’m not quite [in the aging out stage] yet. [But this franchise] got me closer.”
Reeves continued, “I’m definitely feeling the age. … I mean, I think the film is really epic, and I love playing the role. I love the John Wick world.”
