Warner Bros.
Prior to launching their own impressive careers, both Chad Stahelski — the director of the John Wick franchise — and David Leitch — the director of Deadpool 2 and Hobbs & Shaw — were stunt coordinators on the original Matrix trilogy. In fact, it was through this connection that the pair linked up with Keanu Reeves to make the first John Wick.
In a recent interview with Collider, the stuntmen-turned-directors discussed the upcoming fourth film in the iconic sci-fi franchise, with Stahelski — who has John Wick 4 coming up in the next couple of years — and Leitch revealing that they’ve been helping out Matrix 4 director Lana Wachowski with the film’s production.
“It’s definitely, from what I know of it, it’s incredibly fun,” Stahelski said. “I think if you’re a fan of the original trilogy you’re gonna love this. Coming back with a vengeance.”
“It’s more about the creative concept of some of the choreography and backing them up with stuff. Other than the Matrixes, most of their stuff…what makes [Lana] so great is she directs her own action. We’ve had second unit directors on some of the Matrixes just because of the logistics involved.
But of late, and especially on Matrix 4, she’s directing her own action. The second units for them are mostly establishing shots, the B-sides of the some of the compositions for some locations. But Lana, she does her own action. She weaves it into the main unit stuff, which is why their stuff looks so good.” [via Collider]
Prior to our current global situation, production on the fourth Matrix film was already underway as filming had begun in San Fransisco. Based on the clips that made their way onto the internet, the stunts certainly look as though they will be living up to the franchise’s legacy.
The still-untitled fourth film in The Matrix franchise is currently set to hit movie theaters in the United States on May 21st, 2021. Fingers crossed.
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Eric is a New York City-based writer who still isn’t quite sure how he’s allowed to have this much fun for a living and will tell anyone who listens that Gotham City is canonically in New Jersey. Follow him on Twitter @eric_ital for movie and soccer takes or contact him eric@brobible.com