The first John Wick movie hit theaters 10 years ago, launching another iconic action series for Keanu Reeves, and four films have since grossed $1 billion worldwide. . But it turns out that none of that success would have been possible without Eva Longoria. In an interview with Business Insider, directors Chad Stahelski and David Leitch revealed that Longoria paid $6 million less than 24 hours before filming to bridge an unexpected gap in the film’s financing. I recalled what I had prepared.
“With less than a week left, we lost nearly $6 million in gap financing,” Stahelski said. “We were raising money on our own to acquire the bonds, but one of our investors was unable to raise the funds by the deadline.”
The filmmakers and Reeve believed in the project and had already poured their own money into John Wick, but producer Basil Iwanyk maxed out three of his personal credit cards to finance the budget. I’ve used up as much as I can. CAA helped the film production team raise money and, in a last-ditch effort to save the project, offered some of the actors the opportunity to invest in the film.
“[Eva]came to my rescue and literally within 24 hours I had to close the door on the movie and leave, and she provided me with some gap funding,” Stahelski said. said. “Basil took us out to dinner[after the shoot]and we were laughing about all the crap that happened, and he said, ‘By the way, funny story, “Do you know who provided the gap financing?” Eva Longoria. “We were like, ‘What! ‘It was like, ‘
Stahelski and Leitch eventually took Longoria out to lunch at the Chateau Marmont to thank him for saving “John Wick.”
“She laughed and said, ‘I didn’t think it would work,'” Stahelski recalled, adding that Longoria later said Longoria’s investment in “John Wick” was “the best money she ever spent.” ”, he said. .
Did Longoria’s investment convince the directors to cast her in one of the John Wick sequels? “She definitely wants to do action,” Leach said. “I’d love to work with her. We’re trying to figure something out.”
Visit Business Insider’s website to read more about Stahelski and Leitch’s 10th anniversary of “John Wick.”
