EW has proven to be the gift that keeps on giving this holiday season. The magazine has debuted several new photos over the past few days, giving us great looks at some of 2017’s hottest films. There was Captain Underpants, Dunkirk, It and Baby Driver among others. Now, it’s time for John Wick: Chapter 2 to step up to the plate.
The Keanu Reeves-led action sequel is, without a doubt, one of the more exciting films coming down the pipeline next year, and with good reason. The first outing was a stylish, thrilling and action packed ride featuring one of the actor’s best performances in some time. As such, it’s become something of a cult hit and now, we’re getting another instalment.
This time around, we’ll be travelling overseas to Europe, where Reeves’ titular hitman is out for blood once more. Joining him will be a strong supporting cast including Ruby Rose, John Leguizamo, Ian McShane and Laurence Fishburne. It’s that last name which has us most excited, as John Wick: Chapter 2 will signal a Matrix reunion for the actors, after they shared the screen back in 1999’s iconic action film.
Speaking about working with Fishburne again, Reeves told EW the following:
It was so cool to have a chance to work with Laurence Fishburne again, with the history that we have professionally and personally. I ran into him, and he was saying that he was a fan of the first film, and was there anything in the second film. I said, ‘As a matter of fact there is!’ So, we sent him the project and he responded to the role. Lawrence is playing a character called the Bowery King. He is a leader of this underworld in New York City. He knows everything about everything and he helps John in his mission. It was cool to act with him again and hopefully people will enjoying seeing us reunited.
We’re unsure of how large a role Fishburne will play in John Wick: Chapter 2, but it’ll no doubt be a lot of fun to see him back on screen with Reeves again. Hopefully his character will have more than just a minor part. If we’re lucky, we may even get to see him joining in on some of the action. Time will tell, but we’re definitely excited to see the actor involved here.
Due to pick up right where we left off in 2014, early plot details for John Wick: Chapter 2 tease a more international outing, with Keanu Reeves’ one man army plotting course for Rome. He’s on a “social affair,” but it isn’t long before bullets fly and baddies fall. There’s also the promise of a new canine companion for Reeves’ lone wolf, and let’s all collectively hold out hope that it doesn’t suffer a similar fate as the adorable little puppy from the original.
John Wick: Chapter 2 will offer a welcome tonic to Fifty Shades Darker when Chad Stahelski’s action sequel opens on February 10, 2017. The fun doesn’t stop there, either, as Lionsgate is working closely with the filmmaker to flesh out ideas for a third entry into the cult series.