Motion followers can thank Eva Longoria for one of many highest-grossing film franchises of the final decade.
In a latest interview for the film’s tenth anniversary, the producers of John Wick revealed how the Golden Globe nominee got here by way of after they misplaced almost $6 million in financing for the primary within the four-film franchise.
“We have been lower than every week out, and we misplaced nearly $6 million on a niche financing,” defined Chad Stahelski to Enterprise Insider. “We have been financing independently to get the bond, however one of many traders couldn’t increase the cash in time.”
As CAA was pulling collectively the funding, they supplied a few of their very own actors the chance to take a position. In return, they might be the primary to receives a commission again. The deal finally resulted in Longoria’s first main producer credit score.
“She got here to the rescue, and he or she supplied the hole financing, actually lower than 24 hours earlier than we needed to lock the doorways on the film and stroll away,” added Stahelski.
Keanu Reeves, Donnie Yen and Scott Adkins in John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023). (Murray Shut/Lionsgate/Courtesy Everett Assortment)
Lionsgate / Courtesy Everett Assortment
Producer Basil Iwanyk solely instructed Stahelski and fellow producer David Leitch who their large investor was. “Basil took us out to dinner, and we have been laughing about all of the bullshit that occurred, and he mentioned: ‘By the way in which, joke, you already know who hole financed you? Eva Longoria.’ We have been like, ‘What!’” recalled Stahelski. “She was laughing, going, ‘I didn’t suppose it was going to work.’”
Having by no means met the Determined Housewives alum, Leitch and Stahelski then took Longoria to lunch on the Chateau Marmont. “We have been reminiscing. She was like, ‘Wow, that was one of the best cash I’ve ever spent.’ It paid again considerably for her,” mentioned Leitch.
John Wick (2014) grossed greater than $86 million worldwide, with the franchise crossing the $1 billion mark final 12 months with John Wick: Chapter 4.
The franchise will proceed with From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, starring Ana de Armas and premiering June 6, 2025 in theaters. In the meantime, Donnie Yen is about to reprise his position because the extremely expert, blind murderer Caine in an upcoming Lionsgate movie. A prequel anime movie can also be in growth.
Along with final 12 months’s Peacock prequel restricted sequence The Continental, the sequel sequence John Wick: Underneath the Excessive Desk is within the works.