As John Wick, the actor Keanu Reeves repeatedly thrilled action fans. The role was actually meant for a 75-year-old actor.
In 2014, the first “John Wick” film was released. The story revolves around a former hitman who wants to enjoy his retirement and live a normal life with his dog.
However, the ruthless son of a crime boss disrupts his plans when he breaks into his house and takes the last gift from his deceased wife. John Wick cannot let that go and embarks on a bloody quest for revenge.
The lead role is played by Matrix star Keanu Reeves. However, the producers had completely different actors in mind when they started the film project.
Here you can see a trailer for the latest John Wick film:
“Obviously, you are not 75”
The original script for the first John Wick film was titled “Scorn“. As the main character, screenwriter Derek Kolstadt chose a 75-year-old hitman who had been retired for 25 years.
In the role, Basil Iwanyk, the producer of the film series, sees Hollywood stars like Clint Eastwood (Million Dollar Baby, 2004) or Indiana Jones actor Harrison Ford.
At that time, Keanu Reeves was experiencing a lull in his career. Through his acting agent, he got his hands on the script. He was handed the script with the words: “Obviously, you are not 75 [years old].”
Reeves quickly liked the main character and the world in which the story takes place:
We all agreed on the project’s potential. It has the character of John Wick, but it also has the real world and at the same time this kind of underworld. This gang of thieves that has this honor and a code. There is this emotional connection to John Wick, who is grieving, who has lost the love of his life and has this mythical, dark past. And I liked the quest he embarks on to regain his life. And the world he moves through.
Keanu Reeves via ew.com
However, everyone agrees on one aspect: Keanu Reeves would not play a 75-year-old. So, Derek Kolstadt spends 2 months on weekends at Keanu Reeves’ home to go through and revise the script together.
Right when they start revising the script, Keanu Reeves says to the screenwriter: “Okay, Derek, I will play him as a 35-year-old.” Derek Kolstadt simply replies: “Sounds good”.
Thus, Keanu Reeves rejuvenated the character John Wick by a full 40 years compared to the first draft of the script. However, you can still somewhat tell in the film that John Wick was actually meant to be older.
For instance, when the underground contacts speak as if the killer has many years of experience under his belt before he also retires for a long time to enjoy the rest of his life with his wife.
Another well-known action star would also have had the chance for a tough lead role but declined it:
