While fans found John Wick: Chapter 4 enjoyable, the cast and crew involved in the neo-noir action flick endured a grueling process to bring it to life, enduring 13 straight weeks of night shoots to put together the final product.
Per the CG Garage Podcast, Chapter 4's visual effects supervisor Jonathan Rothbart delved into the extended night shooting schedule for the acclaimed blockbuster and how "miserable" the experience was for those involved. However, Rothbart admitted he and director Chad Stahelski weren't too bothered by all the night shoots because their bodies were programmed well enough to do them. "I think we ended up shooting 97 days of nights, and at one point, it was 13 straight weeks of nights. [sic] Oddly enough, I loved it. I think everybody was miserable except Chad [Stahelski] and I on set, 'cause we both are kind of built that way," he said.
Most of Chapter 4 features elaborate night sequences, ranging from the key Osaka Continental showdown involving Wick to the film's entire third act. Considering Chapter 4 is easily the longest movie in the John Wick franchise, clocking in at 2 hours and 49 minutes, the shooting schedule for the latest sequel required a disproportionately long night shooting schedule, which frustrated all involved.
The Future of the John Wick Franchise
While Stahelski seemingly didn't mind all the night shoots, he has admitted how taxing the shooting and editing processes for Chapter 4 were. Initially, Stahelski considered shooting Chapter 4, and Chapter 5 back-to-back before thinking better of it due to the countless physical and mental demands doing so would have on the cast and crew, among other reasons. However, Chapter 5 still appears to be on the way, as Lionsgate recently confirmed a new John Wick sequel during their most recent earnings call.
Chapter 4 turned out to be a hit for Lionsgate as the hard-hitting action film became the highest-earning title in the John Wick series, earning $432.4 million on a $100 million budget. Starring Keanu Reeves as the titular assassin, Chapter 4 sees Wick fight to the death for his freedom from the High Table, with the movie also featuring Donnie Yen, Laurence Fishburne, Bill Skarsgård, and the late Lance Reddick. The movie was widely lauded for its action sequences and performances, with a 94% average critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Stahelski is currently developing a soon-to-be-released director's cut of Chapter 4.
Until Chapter 5 eventually gets made, a pair of John Wick spinoffs are set to premiere to keep fans engaged in the franchise. First, there's the upcoming Peacock crime drama, The Continental, starring Colin Woodell, Mel Gibson, and Jessica Allain, which premieres via NBC's streaming service on Sept. 22. Additionally, there's the Ana de Armas-led spinoff film, Ballerina, which is set between the events of Chapter 3 - Parabellum and Chapter 4. Ballerina is set to open in theaters on Jun. 7, 2024.
Chapter 4 will be available for streaming on Sept. 26 via Starz.
Source: CG Garage Podcast via Slash Film