Keanu Reeves’ bold move changed the course of “John Wick”

In the development of John Wick In the franchise, Keanu Reeves played a crucial role in a key decision that shaped the storyline and emotional depth of the films.

On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the franchise, producers David Leitch and Chad Stahelski opened the front Deadline about Reeve’s contribution to the storyline, advocating specifically for the death of the title character’s puppy in the first film.

The producers recalled facing significant pushback from investors and studio executives when they proposed killing Wick’s dog, a gift from his late wife, which catalyzed John Wick’s relentless quest for revenge.

They were warned that it would be “bad luck” and “bad buzz”. The concern was that such a scene would alienate viewers, especially if the film also featured graphic human violence.

Despite these concerns, Leitch and Stahelski felt that this moment was important in establishing the character’s motivations and the emotional stakes of the story.

They argued that if audiences could accept brutal violence against human characters, the death of a dog would be just another part of the genre.

During production, there were suggestions to change the ending to imply that the puppy was still alive, but Reeves stood by the original vision.

His defense, as well as the composer Vasyl Ivanyk, eventually convinced the investors to leave the stage as it was intended.

This set the stage for John Wick’s transformation from retired assassin to vengeful force and established a powerful emotional anchor for the audience.