‘John Wick’ Director on That $6 Million Lifeline From Eva Longoria: “I Hope She Made Millions”

As a seasoned gamer with a soft spot for action-packed films like John Wick, I can’t help but feel a profound sense of admiration for Eva Longoria. The story of her investment in the first John Wick film is nothing short of remarkable. Here’s a woman who, much like Keanu Reeves’ character, took a gamble and turned it into a massive victory.


In an interview, the director of the John Wick series, Chad Stahelski, shared his thoughts on the crucial support provided to the initial film by actress Eva Longoria.

For the first time, Longoria has confirmed a $6 million initial investment. She shared this information with Business Insider, expressing that she continues to receive payments from the 2014 movie. However, she laments her decision not to invest in the entire series, which has amassed an impressive $1 billion in gross earnings.

On “The Hollywood Reporter’s” It Happened in Hollywood podcast, Stahelski revealed that he was unaware his financial backer was the actress from Desperate Housewives until after the production and release of John Wick.

It turns out that both Dave Leitch and I were unaware of the predicament until after the movie’s release. Just a week before we started production, we encountered a funding gap. One of our investors pulled out, leaving us short by around $6 million. For an $18 million film, that’s a significant blow. We had no funds left, so many crew members decided to leave. We were losing locations, and we were on the brink of failure, with only 24 hours to go. Basil Iwanyk, the producer, myself, Dave, and Keanu all pitched in, writing checks, deferring payments, and using whatever resources we had to keep the project afloat. However, even with everyone’s efforts, it still wasn’t enough to cover the costs.

Later on, Basil joined us 48 hours prior to our planned filming, saying, “I’ve found an investor who will fill the funding gap.” Without hesitation, we proceeded with the movie production, unaware that it was Eva Longoria who had stepped in. It wasn’t until almost a year later that Dave and I discovered the truth. We were astounded! So, the very next day, we reached out to her for lunch at Chateau Mamont to express our gratitude. We couldn’t thank her enough, he explained.

Longoria and Stahelski have laughed about her good instincts over the years.

As a gamer, I’d say, “I admitted, ‘It was a gamble, and I wasn’t in the know about its details. I didn’t grasp what it was exactly. But it seemed oddly intriguing.’ So I truly wish she recouped every cent she put in. I secretly hope she raked in millions.

To learn behind-the-scenes stories about the creation of “John Wick”, don’t forget to tune into the entire episode of “It Happened in Hollywood” and subscribe for additional insights into film history – directly from those involved in its production.

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2024-11-22 01:27