From Four Deaths to 439: How John Wick's original script Was TOTALLY Different!
John Wick: A Low-Kill Count Cold War Thriller? Director Reveals Shocking Original Script!
The John Wick franchise? Synonymous with ultra-stylish action, gun-fu, and a ridiculously high body count, right? Well, prepare for a serious shock. Chad Stahelski, co-director (with David Leitch) of the first film (2014) reveals the original John Wick script was drastically different! Instead of that epic 77-person kill count we know and love, it was meant to have a relatively grounded storyline with just four deaths, highlighting just how dramatically the development phase for certain major productions really works and showcases the enormous amount of potential changes that could possibly happen if other, unrelated issues didn’t appear.
This original version that Stahelski described to Business Insider (for the tenth anniversary) features Keanu Reeves' Wick as a Cold War vet. This drastically toned-down, very different plot that he and Leitch then took charge of shows the initial conception behind this series: A short, serious (65-75 pages!) thriller – that would change immensely because of Reeves’ input.
Here’s Stahelski’s quote directly from that amazing interview: "I hadn't talked to Keanu in a few months and then got a call from him. He said, 'I came across this script, it's not quite there yet, but I'd love for you to take a read. It's something I'm thinking about doing.' So he sends it over. I read it. It was originally called 'Scorn,' but the script I got was after Keanu did one pass on it. It was a very short script. It was only 65-75 pages. I think at that point only four people die in the whole story. It did have the dog. It had a version of The Continental. But Derek Kolstad, who wrote it, gave it a feel of the Cold War. The guy was a retired vet from the Cold War. It was very, very grounded. Very serious."
John Wick’s Style: Why the Stylized Action Worked (So Well!)
That more gritty, realistic John Wick might have been a great thriller! However, there’s no denying why the ultra-stylish action, the way this whole movie was developed in later years and after many considerations truly transformed it: That intense approach is a massive reason behind the franchise's massive success! The first movie set this unique high bar; creating those kinds of memorable moments that still lingers and those incredibly innovative concepts only explored in that initial storyline which would later inform the way many different action Movies have since been developed; it created many different avenues for exploration!
That ultra-violent action was legendary! And this is also an aspect only added after many other creative discussions happened and the decision to completely change it from this grounded approach happened. All four John Wick movies have rave reviews and became massive hits! That fourth film alone? The most epic John Wick yet (94% Rotten Tomatoes, over $440 million globally), showing the sheer brilliance behind the decisions taken! These unique high points made an already-amazing story something completely different.
A Low-Kill Count John Wick: What Could Have Been?
That super-violent, almost cartoonish approach is what people think of. It is known as gun-fu (a blend of martial arts with weapons; and this is actually deeply impactful; It transformed the entire way these concepts appeared!), and this has entirely reshaped what is possible! This extremely unique visual approach, coupled with some very creative decision-making in production; are those kinds of memorable elements from earlier, deeply influential production phases of this entire series.
A toned-down version lacks that essential style! That makes you question everything: How did this intense visual approach totally changed the direction of the entire story? Could a completely different plot involving this new, extremely limited-violence Cold War vet still have achieved immense success despite those earlier flaws or even if other approaches involving this grounded storyline might have simply failed to appeal as much to those who became major fans due to those early unique styles only available for those earlier releases?
Conclusion: A Grounded John Wick Might Have Missed Its Mark, and that’s Fine
This change; that original script might seem rather uninteresting, especially if compared to what the whole series later evolved into. A darker, grittier style however completely removed what later became an incredible masterpiece; yet these differences also demonstrate the immense uncertainty inherent in development; those unexpected successes that were ultimately caused by decisions and events surrounding production that could’ve never happened initially; these unexpected turns could've ultimately resulted in this production missing the mark, demonstrating the necessity and value for creative innovation! Those chances taken to shift away from that initial concept show the willingness to push creative limits! We need that creative push; the willingness to risk those established, previously perceived secure plots.
