Before Keanu: 3 Actors Who Almost Played John Wick!

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I’ve found myself being hailed as the modern action cinema icon, echoing the legendary status of McClane from Die Hard, Riggs from Lethal Weapon, and even the T-800 from The Terminator series. Once upon a time, I was John Wick, a hitman who traded my life of violence for a peaceful existence. However, my retirement was short-lived as I was unwillingly drawn back into the underworld following the senseless killing of my beloved pet. In response, I embarked on a relentless quest for vengeance against the Russian mob that had wronged me, leaving a trail of bloodshed in my wake in the 2014 film, John Wick.

Screenwriter Derek Kolstad developed this concept after spending numerous years trying to get a screenplay sold. His narrative was shaped by several of his favorite movies, such as Die Hard, Predator, and Miller’s Crossing, along with revenge films, westerns, and comedies. He drew inspiration from classic silent film actors like Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton, as well as modern animated TV shows like Rick and Morty and SpongeBob SquarePants.

Kolstad’s script for John Wick received numerous positive responses and attracted potential investors. Among them was producer Basil Iwanky, known for producing action films on a moderate budget. In the end, Kolstad chose Iwanyk’s offer due to his eagerness to start filming immediately. And it turned out to be a wise decision.

2014’s “John Wick” movie turned out to be a big surprise hit, earning $86 million globally. This film’s success rejuvenated the action genre and sparked a whole series, including three sequels and a forthcoming spin-off titled “From the World of John Wick: Ballerina“. Throughout the action-packed “John Wick” series, the legendary assassin is often seen dishing out justice and collecting debts. Notably, Keanu Reeves portrays this character. Reeves was attracted to the storyline and collaborated with Kolstad on script revisions after being cast, tailoring the script to suit his acting methods. Reeves’ portrayal of John Wick has been widely praised.

Initially, it seemed unthinkable that any other actor could pull off the iconic hitman character. However, surprisingly, this is nearly what transpired. Here’s a list of three contenders who were in the running for the role of John Wick prior to Keanu Reeves landing it.

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Clint Eastwood

In the initial stages of production, both Kolstad and Iwanyk envisioned John Wick to follow a different path. Originally, they conceptualized the character as being in his late 60s to early 70s, given that he’s depicted as a long-retired assassin. The character was inspired by two legendary actors, Paul Newman and Clint Eastwood, with Eastwood being one of the top contenders for the role. Unfortunately, Paul Newman passed away in 2008, but Clint Eastwood is still active in Hollywood.

It’s not surprising at all that Kolstad modeled his renowned assassin character after Clint Eastwood or that he aspired to cast him for the role. Eastwood is known far and wide as a timeless symbol of masculinity. He kick-started his successful Hollywood journey as an actor, often taking on leading roles in westerns and action films.

In a short span of time, he established himself as an actor famous for portraying robust characters with unyielding demeanors and uncompromising attitudes, such as his anti-hero cop Dirty Harry in the Dirty Harry series or his enigmatic, softly spoken cowboy The Man with No Name in Sergio Leone’s Dollars Trilogy. Other significant films showcasing Eastwood’s hardened persona include the action-packed In the Line of Fire and the drama Gran Torino.

Transitioning to Director

In 1971, Clint Eastwood ventured into film directing with the psychological thriller “Play Misty for Me.” For the subsequent two decades, he directed numerous films. However, it wasn’t until his 1992 western movie, “Unforgiven,” that Clint Eastwood truly established himself as a renowned director. This film garnered four Academy Awards, among which were Best Picture and Best Director awards. His directorial portfolio boasts several critically acclaimed films like “Mystic River,” “American Sniper,” and “Million Dollar Baby.” The latter earned him another pair of Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director.

In the end, John Wick’s crew decided to take a new path with their primary character. Despite being 83 during the movie’s creation, Clint Eastwood showed that age is merely a number. He continues to be quite active in the film industry and even co-produced and directed another film last year at the age of 93, titled “Juror #2.”

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Harrison Ford

Besides Kolstad and Iwanyk, Harrison Ford was also a highly experienced actor they contemplated for the part of John Wick. Ford is extremely well-known in the realm of action films. He gained worldwide fame as Han Solo, the beloved rogue character from the space saga, Star Wars. This role catapulted him to stardom. Later on, he took up the role of Indiana Jones in the Indiana Jones series, a cinematic icon known for his adventurous exploits.

Some other notable films where Harrison Ford took action roles include the 1982 science fiction masterpiece “Blade Runner” and the edge-of-your-seat thriller from 1993, “The Fugitive”. Not to mention his portrayal of one of our most iconic on-screen U.S. presidents in the 1997 film, “Air Force One”.

At the time when John Wick was being made, Ford was already 71 years old. Similar to Eastwood, age hasn’t dampened Ford’s acting pace. Recently, Ford has revisited his roles as Han Solo and Indiana Jones in new movies, playing mature (yet still kick-ass) versions of both characters. His upcoming project is Marvel’s film, Captain America: Brave New World, where he will take on the role of the Red Hulk.

Currently, Harrison Ford is appearing in not one but two television shows: the western drama on Paramount+ titled “1923” and the comedy series “Shrinking” on Apple TV+. It’s intriguing to ponder how impressive it would have been to see him in the role of John Wick, given his knack for playing strong characters. However, one might speculate that he could have benefited from stunt doubles during the action-packed fight sequences.

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Bruce Willis

Bruce Willis is undeniably one of the top-tier stars in Hollywood, all thanks to his breakthrough role on the TV series “Moonlighting”. Over a hundred films have showcased his talent, spanning genres like comedies, family flicks, science fiction, suspense thrillers, and not forgetting action movies. However, it was his portrayal of the witty cop John McClane in the 1988 blockbuster “Die Hard” that truly catapulted him to stardom as an action hero. In fact, he took on most of the film’s daring stunts himself.

Just like John Wick, the first movie’s popularity led to a series of four follow-ups, with Bruce Willis reprising his role as an aging McClane in all of them. Notably, he has also starred in action films such as The Fifth Element, Lucky Number Slevin, The Expendables, and Looper.

In a different phrasing, it can be said that Bruce Willis was more than just a contender for John Wick; he essentially embodied John Wick. During pre-production, David Leitch, one of the directors, announced that Willis was initially selected to portray the retired assassin. However, circumstances led to his departure from the project, with Keanu Reeves taking over instead. Since then, the story unfolded as we know it. Regrettably, Willis is now dealing with dementia, leading him into an early retirement. Although his memory may deteriorate, his timeless films and unforgettable characters will persist, forever etched in the minds of his viewers.

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2025-02-02 05:04