Keanu Reeves Reflects on a Decade of ‘John Wick’ With ‘Wick Is Pain’ Doc, Insisting “I Don’t Do Stunts, I Do Action”

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“Wick Is Pain” Documentary, helmed by director Jeffrey Doe, takes viewers behind the scenes, delving into the initial trials of creating the first “John Wick.” This compelling chronicle follows Keanu Reeves and director Chad Stahelski over a decade, as it transforms from an independent film to a billion-dollar franchise.>

At a unique showing of the documentary in Santa Monica on Thursday, Reeves, Stahelski, Doe, producer Erica Lee, scriptwriter Derek Kolstad, and producer Josh Oreck participated in a question-and-answer session discussing the depicted ups and downs in the film.

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On Thursday at a special screening in Santa Monica, Reeves, Stahelski, Doe, producers Erica Lee and Josh Oreck, along with writer Derek Kolstad, held a Q&A about the highs and lows portrayed in the documentary.

OR

Last Thursday in Santa Monica, during a special screening of the doc, Reeves, Stahelski, Doe, producer Erica Lee, scriptwriter Derek Kolstad, and producer Josh Oreck had a Q&A where they discussed the highs and lows shown in the film.

Stahlenski commented on the movie’s title and its associated mindset, saying, “I believe anything difficult should cause a little discomfort… great things require effort, and sometimes that effort brings a bit of pain.” Reeves mirrored this sentiment when discussing the intense fight training he underwent for each film. He reveled in the times when Stahlenski challenged him during workouts, saying, “I’m ready to push harder because Wick embodies pain, and we truly enjoy it.

He additionally mentioned that he practices alongside the movie’s stunt professionals, which means that when we reach the stage of choreography, everyone is accustomed to being tossed by me. If I perform 100 throws, there are six individuals who are also getting thrown and participating. Consequently, I’m not doing it alone, and the cinematic aspect of it involves all the operators joining us to record everything.

During a screening, several stunt professionals associated with the franchise were present in the audience. As Keanu Reeves reminisced about his fondness for collaborating with directors who focused on developing characters amidst action sequences in movies like Matrix, Point Break, and Speed, prior to the John Wick series, he expressed a great deal of appreciation towards these stunt performers for their contributions.

He enjoys accomplishing as many tasks as possible, yet he’s not one for performing daring feats. Instead, it’s the stunt people who handle such actions. They often comment on his seemingly daring deeds, but he quickly correct them, pointing out that it was his stunt double, Jackson Spidell, who took those risks, even going as far as being struck by a car not once, but twice. The director, Stahelski, joked about increasing the danger by suggesting they could hit him with two cars instead of three, but he clarified that it was more due to budget constraints than any desire for added risk on his part.

Instead of performing daring feats, Reeves clarified that he focuses on action scenes. In our chat, he even playfully hinted at his role in the upcoming John Wick spinoff, Ballerina, where he’ll share the screen with Ana de Armas.

It was truly exciting to don the suit, as I’ve collaborated with Ana a few times before, and she’s an exceptional artist. She took on the task enthusiastically,” the celebrity shared with the audience. “I only had around eight days for the project, but reprising the role was enjoyable, and I can’t wait for everyone to watch the movie. It follows in the footsteps of John Wick, introduces fresh characters, and expands some aspects, so let’s hope everyone enjoys it.

Reflecting on his ten-year career as a hitman, Reeves remarked that having such an experience chronicled in a documentary was “an extraordinary privilege.” He went on to say, “It’s like flipping through a personal photo album. It’s like a decade of our lives, and it’s had a profound impact on us, both personally and creatively.

In response to the franchise, following initial resistance to the plot of the first movie, Stahelski hinted with a wry smile, “Always end with a shocking death, like killing the beloved pet.

Wick Is Pain is now available on digital.

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2025-05-09 18:24