Keanu Reeves and Chad Stahelski break down the shocking ending of JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4

So now that many of you have been able to see John Wick: Chapter 4 over the weekend, let’s talk about that shocking ending! If you haven’t seen the movie yet, you might want to skip this one until you have. This article contains an interview with Keanu Reeves and director Chad Stahelski and in it they discuss the surprise ending and why they chose to end it this way.

If you’re still here, let’s get into it… John Wick dies!? What the hell!? Yeah, I was pretty upset about that, but it was such a good, badass movie! I just didn’t want to see Wick die. In fact, when I first saw it, I thought maybe Wick’s death was faked so that he could find some peace, but maybe the only way Wick can find real peace it is through death.

It’s really hard to imagine that Wick is dead, in fact, I’m still in denial. At the end of the film, Wick sacrifices his life in a duel with his old friend Caine (Donnie Yen), ensuring that Caine wins his freedom and the safety of his daughter Akira, while technically winning the duel himself by killing the Marquis. Wick’s win also means that Winston gets his hotel back and Wick is clear of the high table.

Wick dies of his injuries sustained in the duel and is buried next to his wife. His last word is his wife’s name … Helen.

Discussing why they chose to end the film this way, Reeves explained:

“We had the opportunity [to do another film] why the public [response to] Chapter three, and we were like, ‘What was why?’ And when Chad and I were talking, why? it was death – and it was the death of John Wick. For him to get his peace, or freedom, sort of… that was the reason for making the film. It can’t just be, ‘Let’s do another one.’ He was really about death, or a way of dying. We were really inspired by the Hagakure…”

Stahelski added that the Hagakure is a Japanese code of ethics. The Hagakure is also a book and warrior guide by samurai Yamamoto Tsunetomo. The title translates to “hidden by leaves”. Yamamoto was a servant of Nabeshima Mitsushige, who ruled part of Japan, and the book is based on their conversations in the early 1700s. He is famous for the phrase “the way of the warrior is death.”

Stahelski went on to say, “We sort of took the way we die—or how we live well in order to die well—as a theme.” Wick then shared that his favorite moment from the film was Wick’s death and explained why by saying:

“If you would only watch it from [the perspective of] John – John Wick – maybe him at the bottom of the stairs. When he says “Helen”. This, for me, after eight years of playing the role and filming the [massive fight on the other set of stairs]that part that was [a poignant link] to the past”.

I understand what they’re saying, and it’s a nice ending for the Wick character. But if you watched the post-credits scene, then you know the franchise isn’t over. It will continue, but it looks like it will be without John Wick. It makes me sad because I love this franchise, I love the John Wick character. But I also understand what they were trying to do with the ending.

Stahelski said he and Reeves will give the franchise a break after Chapter 4, and now we have the big reason why. But I still can’t shake what the director previously said about him and Reeves John Wick movie ideas for days and that he could make these movies for the rest of his career:

“I like making these films because there are no limits. We create our own mythology and have a studio that doesn’t hinder us and supports us in extravagant decisions. If people go to see the movie, and it makes money, and they come back to us, Keanu and I have ideas for days. I could live here for the rest of my career.”

I guess we’ll just have to wait and see how the franchise continues without Wick’s involvement. I’m all for Donnie Yen taking the franchise from here!

Via: The Hollywood Reporter