The two great cinema classics that inspired the story of “John Wick 4”

Delays caused by the health crisis meant that ‘John Wick 4’ was not released at the same time as ‘The Matrix: Resurrections’. However, that served Chad Stahelski to clean up some story details with Keanu Reeves, and he now reveals that there were two classic movie names that helped shape the next installment in the franchise.

In an interview for Empire magazine, the director Chad Stahelski has revealed the influences for ‘John Wick 4’: “If you took ‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly’, crossed it with Zatoichi, and added a Greek myth, you’d probably get something like this. And who else says this kind of prayers? Now you know why I love doing John Wicks,” says the director.

The first wasthe good the bad and the ugly’ influenced ‘John Wick 4’, because it is a classic film of the old west, released in 1966 and starring Clint Eastwood. It can be seen that the story has influenced the desert settings, but not only, as it is an adventure of outlaws trying to achieve a common goal, as in the next episode of Keanu Reeves.

On the other hand, Zatoichi also had an influence on ‘John Wick 4’, as well as other directors who were inspired by this samurai film by Kan Shimozawa, released in 1948. In this sense, it is easy to recognize the integration of Donnie Yen, who will give life to Caine, and who is recognized for the protagonist of the ‘Ipman’ saga. This sets up a story between westerns and samurai in a modern world.

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‘John Wick 4’ the most ambitious delivery of the saga

At present, ‘John Wick 4’ already has two trailers where you can see the influences mentioned by Stahelski, a modern world combined with desert settings and outlaw characters. Earlier, Laurence Fishburne confirmed that he will return in his role as the Bowery King and that the script for the fourth episode will be superior to all previous films.

He mentions this because the ambition of ‘John Wick 4’ is bigger than all the previous three films, “the way it opens, there are 3 or 4 really amazing scenes that go, Wow!” Fishburne said. In addition, big stars such as Clancy Brown, Bill Skarsgard, Scott Adkins and Donnie Yen will also appear in the cast.

It will be March 24 when ‘John Wick 4’ and all its artillery will arrive in cinemas around the world, but only the official subtitle of the film remains to be confirmed. And that will be expanded with “Ballerina”, one of the two spin-offs of the franchise that will have Ana de Armas as the protagonist.