No one survives four movies of being hunted by the world’s deadliest assassins without a little suffering. Now, the John Wick franchise is lifting the veil on its own battle scars with Wick is Pain, a new behind-the-scenes documentary tracing how a scrappy indie film about a grieving hitman evolved into a billion-dollar cinematic juggernaut. Directed by Jeffrey Doe and produced by longtime collaborators Chad Stahelski and Keanu Reeves, the documentary promises an unfiltered look at what it took to build the world of Wick — stunts, setbacks, and all.
IGN debuted the trailer, offering a glimpse into the documentary’s blend of raw, never-before-seen footage and candid new interviews. Beyond slick suits and brutal choreography, the doc peels back the curtain on just how precarious the original film’s existence really was.
During the production of 2014’s John Wick, money was running out fast, with the project teetering on the edge of collapse. Producer David Leitch recalls being told they needed to find six and a half million dollars by Monday. Basil Iwanyk, another producer, admits he took out a loan against his house. “We were panicked. This is Keanu fuckin’ Reeves. You do not wanna let him down,” Stahelski confesses. The surprise hero of that financial crisis? Eva Longoria, who stepped in with a much-needed US$6 million investment that allowed the team to get back on track.
What followed was more than just a movie comeback. John Wick became a cultural phenomenon, praised for its clean fight choreography, tightly choreographed action, and the stoic yet tortured presence of Reeves’ lead performance. Sequels expanded the world with characters played by Donnie Yen, Hiroyuki Sanada, Halle Berry, and more. While audiences watched Wick fight his way through global safehouses and glass-filled galleries, what they didn’t see were the years of bruises, sweat, and last-minute pivots that went into making it all happen.
Wick is Pain revisits the franchise’s rough beginnings and explores how its creators built a world that could sustain four films, a prequel series (The Continental), and an upcoming spin-off starring Ana de Armas in Ballerina. As the franchise approaches a turning point (Reeves’ future as John Wick remains unconfirmed) the documentary serves as a timely retrospective on the blood, literal and metaphorical, that built the High Table and its underworld.
Wick is Pain releases on digital 9 May.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, and anime — you name it. When she’s not reading or being a dedicated cinephile, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of Caleb from Love and Deepspace.
HSALS
Si Jia
