John Wickhas proven to be one of the most impactful and influential action franchises of the past few years, following a retired hitman in New York as he navigates the corrupt underbelly of the city. With Keanu Reeves in the lead role, the series has undergone some major changes and stylistic switch-ups since the original’s release in 2014. With each passing sequel, the franchise has become more and more ambitious, drifting away from the grounded storytelling of the first and proving that thebestJohn Wickmoviesare those willing to try bold new things.
However, the character of John Wick has also changed massively since his introduction in the first movie. Through conversations with the Tarasov crime family, and flashbacks from earlier inJohn Wick’s timeline, it’s revealed that the assassin used to be a deadly gun-for-hire. But later sequels ignore this part of Wick’s history, with only one instance in the entire saga of the protagonist actually killing somebody on another’s orders.
Chapter 2 Is The Only John Wick Movie To Show John Working As A Hired Gun
John Is “Hired” To Kill Santino’s Sister
Just like any good sequel,John Wick: Chapter 2remains familiar to the story that came before it, while expanding this fictional world in bold and unpredictable ways. One of these methods is the introduction of Santino D’Antonio, another assassin who previously worked alongsideJohn Wick on his final mission. In this sequel,D’Antonio cashes in a debt that Wick owes, using a “marker” to bring the protagonist back into the killing business and take out the former’s sister. It’s the only instance in the entire saga where Wick is seen working as a mercenary hired to perform a task.
“Let’s Get On That:” John Wick 5 Needs To Happen So We Can Finally Have This Keanu Reeves Team-Up In The Franchise
After this exciting tease in 2021, it would be amazing to see Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss star in a future John Wick movie together.
The decision to introduce Santino D’Antonio inJohn Wick: Chapter 2is a very intelligent one that indirectly reveals some important details about the protagonist’s past. Wherethe first movie shied away from these morally ambiguous aspects of Wick’s backstory, the sequel embraces them and cements the idea that Wick is a flawed character. He’s not just fighting for survival in this film, but rather as a consequence of his old crimes coming back to haunt him. It’s an interesting angle for the film, and it offers enough narrative substance to prevent the film from seeming repetitive.
Most Of The John Wick Franchise Has Been About John Dealing With Personal Matters
This Personal Aspect Elevates John Wick Beyond An Average Action Franchise
For the remainder of theJohn Wickfranchise,personal vendettas triggered much of the protagonist’s killing. In the first film, it’s revenge for the murder of his dog and the disruption of his retirement - and fromthe ending ofJohn Wick: Chapter 2onwards, it’s a fight for survival as the entire city is turned against him. This is undeniably more compelling than giving Wick a meaningless contract and watching him carry it out, but it works in the second movie because it’s such a contrast to the Wick we’ve seen prior.
Even inJohn Wick: Chapter 2, the hired contract ultimately becomes personal when he’s betrayed by D’Antonio and forced to take matters into his own hands.
Even inJohn Wick: Chapter 2, the hired contract ultimately becomes personal when he’s betrayed by D’Antonio and forced to take matters into his own hands. This is what causes him to break the Continental’s rule and murder D’Antonio on the hotel’s grounds; it was never just a professional contract, butChapter 2does an excellent job of making it seem that way for the majority of the runtime.
John Wick Not Showing John At His “Prime” Makes The Character Even Better
There’s An Element Of Secrecy To Wick’s Past
The decision to kick offJohn Wickwith the character securely in retirement is a bold one that easily could’ve backfired, but it ultimately gave this franchise its niche and worked excellently.Director Chad Stahelski gradually reveals details about Wick’s backstorythat slowly change the way audiences view this character as the narrative progresses, which is something that wouldn’t have been possible if he’d merely opened the film with him in his “prime.” Everything we know about the assassin is through stories, which gives him an element of mystery.
There’s a danger thatJohn Wickwould’ve felt too familiar and predictable if the story had merely focused on his days as a contract killer, which is why Stahelski avoids it at all costs. The decision to weave this backstory into the present day throughJohn Wick: Chapter 2gives the audience all the details they wanted without actually showing them, using the character of Santino D’Antonio to give the exposition thatJohn Wickintentionally held back.
John Wick: Chapter 2
Cast
Following up on the hugely successful John Wick, John Wick Chapter 2 is an action thriller film that sees Keanu Reeves return to the role of a retired assassin forced back into the game to uphold an oath. When crime boss Santino D’Antonio comes to collect a promised favor from John, his reluctance gives way to honoring the agreement. Now tasked with helping Santio rise to a top position at the “High Table” crime organization, John will face off against some of the underworld’s deadliest hitmen and bodyguards.
