On ‘John Wick 3’ And Return Of ‘Bill and Ted’

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I don’t know if Keanu Reeves hates doing interviews – and I believe he very nicely would possibly – however it’s fairly apparent they take quite a bit out of him. True story: a number of years in the past, at Sundance, I used to be ready to speak to Eli Roth when, out of the blue, Keanu Reeves, who had simply completed doing a spherical of interviews, pulled as much as a seat at my desk, put his head down and went to sleep. Keanu Reeves has the everliving shit beat out of him making these John Wick films (John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum comes out subsequent week) but it’s press tour interviews that you would be able to see bodily draining his vitality. And right here I used to be, late on a Sunday afternoon, Reeves’ final interview after a 3 day press occasion.

But the factor is, in contrast to different individuals in his place, he can nonetheless be playful and enjoyable, even when you’ll be able to inform he’s bodily and mentally drained. When I discussed his function in Ron Howard’s Parenthood, of all issues, his eyes lit up – an apparent signal Parenthood hadn’t been talked about this weekend, so there was one thing new to speak about. Which then leads mainly to a Vaudeville routine through which each of us attempt to keep in mind his character’s identify in Parenthood earlier than I lastly cave and simply look it up on my cellphone.

The factor I’ve seen about Keanu Reeves is for those who ask him if he’s seen one thing, the reply is almost certainly no. Did he see that video of Will Smith breaking down why he handed on The Matrix? No, however Reeves had some particulars so as to add (together with his, no joke, love for Wild Wild West). Had he seen the viral video of him sharing a experience with different stranded passengers after a canceled flight? Again, no, however he additionally appears aggravated that was put on the web within the first place. (The earlier time I interviewed Reeves I requested him if he had ever seen Speed 2: Cruise Control. He responded, deadpan and hilariously, “I haven’t yet.”)

And when the subsequent installment of Bill and Ted is introduced up, he appears genuinely excited. But, first, I couldn’t resist quoting one in every of my private favourite Reeves traces, from Man of Tai Chi.

I nonetheless typically say, “You owe me a life.”

You owe me a life!

Donaka Mark.

You owe me a life!

I really feel like on this film that line may very well be used if it wasn’t used already.

Yeah, somewhat Man of Tai Chi, Donaka Mark. Yeah, I don’t know if they’ve similarities…

I don’t suppose the characters do, however the theme.

But there’s something to it of actuality and one other hyper-reality, one other world.

I’m stretching. Any excuse to say that, I’m going to say it.

You owe me a life!

I spoke to you for the primary John Wick and the priority then was “Are people going to like this?” Things have modified.

Yeah, yeah it’s been actually particular. You hope individuals like what you do – and also you hope that much more once you love what you’re doing. I like the John Wick movies. I like taking part in John Wick.

Well, it feels like they beat you up in these films.

Yeah, and I just like the struggling of John Wick, and coming again and surviving.

But it must be grueling.

But the grueling is the reward, proper? That a part of it – the time it takes, the hassle, all of the artistic – there’s a lot collaboration within the motion and folks working collectively. It’s such a pleasure.

There’s a scene with a knife struggle inside a knife retailer. For me, that was a, “Oh, that’s a new one” second. To be clear, it’s not that I haven’t seen characters throw knives earlier than in films.

Right, however not like that.

But not like that.

Well, we have been making an attempt to do John Wick motion, however to open it up and put it into completely different conditions. And to, yeah, I might simply say open up the complexity and have completely different environments. So I’m glad you recognize that.

Were you really throwing knives?

Yeah, there’s some actual knives. We threw some rubber knives after which we had an empty hand, so there’s some CG knives and rubber knives. We skilled with rubber knives and I skilled with actual knives. So we have been making an attempt to get the approach…