THE John Wick The franchise has quickly become one of the most interesting and dynamic action series in recent years, and much of its success comes from the involvement of lead actor Keanu Reeves. The franchise marked a notable turning point in the actor’s career – though he’s obviously worked on projects like Breaking point and The Matrix Before, Reeves wasn’t quite the action star he is today, and that’s exactly what made John Wick they work so well. These blockbusters have since become some of Keanu Reeves’ most-watched films, and it’s impossible to imagine them without him.
However, Reeves’ involvement in the John Wick the franchise should not be taken for granted. There were other actors in the discussion to play John Wick, and the series could have been something entirely different. One of the most notable names in the John Wick conversation was Bruce Williswho was attached to the project long before it was presented to Reeves. His take on the retired assassin would certainly have been entirely separate from the version created by Reeves, bringing his own strengths and weaknesses to this popular franchise.
10
Bruce Willis would have been an older John Wick
Willis’ Age Could Have Completely Changed John Wick’s Character
The most obvious difference between Reeves and Willis’ versions of this character would be age: Reeves was 50 when the first film was released, while Willis would have been 59. While it’s nothing major, an older version of John Wick could have still changed fundamentally the style of this franchise. As it exists today, Wick’s age is an important part of the story. He is a retired assassin whose glory days are behind him, but he is still strong enough to fight his enemies and strike fear with just the mention of his name.
This aspect of the character may have been less believable with an older actor like Willis in front of the camera. His more recent action films have not been as brutal and violent as previous ones in his career, such as Armageddon or Die Hard. Willis played many strong characters, but Reeves was definitely the right choice to balance the tame, family-friendly side of John Wick with the dynamic action as well.
9
Bruce Willis was best known as an action star
Willis had a lot more action movies than Reeves
One of the most interesting aspects of the first John Wick The film was Reeves’ image at the time: he was not seen as the legendary action star he is considered to be today, and most of his previous films had been dramas or thrillers. This metatextual information gives John Wick an extra layer of subversion, as audiences don’t necessarily expect the character to unleash the relentless violence that takes place in the first film. It has been a long time since Reeves has been involved in such complex stunt work, and this influences the character’s story.
However, this would have been totally different with Willis. The actor is most famous for his work on projects such as Die Hardwhere his physical combat and taste for explosions are evident from the beginning. Your involvement in John Wick wouldn’t have allowed this subtle element of surprise in the first film, simply because his face is intrinsically connected to the action genre. Willis’ action characters are all very recognizable, while Reeves didn’t have this problem, even considering his action roles in the 1990s.
8
Bruce Willis’ Age Could Have Changed the Tone of John Wick’s Story
John Wick’s story is set in his youth
The family component is a crucial part of John Wick’s story; While there’s nothing wrong with the way Reeves approaches this aspect of the character, an older actor like Willis could have brought a fresh perspective to this subplot. The loss of his wife is an integral part of Wick’s character: it’s what motivates him every day to fight injustice and work alongside the Continental to protect New York from violence and corruption. Willis could have brought more wisdom and experience to John Wick, allowing director Stahelski to more clearly illustrate his life before retirement.
Although Helen Wick plays a major role in the franchise, she is barely seen on screen in any of the films. This sometimes makes it difficult to connect with Reeves’ lost love and obscures the character’s true intentions. With Willis playing the character, John Wick could have included more flashbacks to justify making him a little older, constantly reminding the audience that he is past his prime and had a good life before being dragged back into this world. It would help solidify the barrier between Wick’s two lives.
7
Bruce Willis may not have committed to a long-running franchise
It’s unlikely that Willis would have stuck around for four John Wick films
The most obvious reason that John Wick The success as a franchise, with four films in the main series and some spin-offs, is thanks to Reeves’ behind-the-scenes involvement. He was clearly very passionate about this franchise, which motivated him to stick around for years, to the point that now it’s hard to imagine how John Wick has a future without Reeves. This is only true because of Reeves’ dedication to this franchise, which may not have been the case with Willis.
Willis’ recent career has been quite sporadic and it’s been a while since he tackled a long-running franchise. This is mainly due to the actor’s ongoing battle with aphasia and frontotemporal dementia, which has severely restricted his ability to work in the industry. While there are definitely strengths that Willis could have brought to this franchise, it’s unlikely that it could have lasted as long as it did without a more active and trustworthy face behind the character.
6
Bruce Willis may not have been as involved in his own stunts as Keanu Reeves
Reeves is famous for undertaking most of his own stunt work
The main thing that sets Reeves apart from many other action stars, especially those who are older and more experienced, is his willingness to engage in stunt work. John Wick franchise. Despite this series’ high-octane action and dynamic choreography, Reeves was constantly willing to do his own stunts as John Wick to make the combat look as believable as possible. This has contributed enormously to John Wicksuccess over the years, giving the series a reputation for its lively action and extended fight sequences.
With any other actor, there’s no guarantee that they themselves would be as eager to be involved in the choreography. It’s not particularly common when action stars reach a certain age, and Reeves is definitely the exception. Naturally, even if Willis had been inclined at the beginning of the franchise, his physical condition would have made it impossible for him after a certain point.
5
Bruce Willis’ style would have resulted in a more stoic John Wick
Willis’ acting style is completely different from Reeves’
Reeves’ career before John Wick was singularly interesting: projects like The Matrix and Bram Stoker’s Dracula were very well received, but the actor certainly also had some bad apples in his filmography. However, up until this point in his career, he had never delivered the earth-shattering performance that audiences suspected him of being capable of. Reeves’ style has always been quite restrained and subtle., but a lot of that changed with John Wick. His take on the character was almost comically gritty, filling the films with dramatic readings and exaggerated expressions.
It was a bold take on the character that worked really well, but it’s very different from anything Willis has showcased over the years. He has typically been a much more stoic and traditionally “cool” actor, which comes with his status as a 90s action star and leading man. Willis probably would have turned John Wick into a more traditional, binary character like the rest of your action heroes. This would have brought its own strengths and weaknesses, but it would definitely have been different.
4
Bruce Willis’ involvement could have made John Wick a higher-profile film
Willis, being a bigger name at the time, would have changed the reception of John Wick
Although Reeves is a huge action star today, Willis was certainly a bigger name within the genre at the time of the first film’s production, having been an industry legend since Die Hard. It’s hard to sell less The Matrix and the impact it had on Reeves’ career, but it’s an effect he largely shared with the film’s broader influence on the genre. The poor reception of the Headquarters the sequels also likely contributed to him still being below Willis in the 2000s.
Willis’ involvement may have led to a bigger budget for the first John Wickwith studios perhaps seeing it as a “safer” release rather than the admitted risk it ultimately was. But the risk paid off, of course, and Stahelski managed to create one of the best action films of the 2010s despite relatively risky casting decisions. Ultimately, Reeves proved to be a solid choice, transitioning from drama to action with incredible ease and finding his niche immediately.
3
John Wick would have faced countless comparisons to die
Willis’ classic action adventure has some similarities to John Wick
Die Hard is Willis’ best-known action film, and it works because his character is an everyman who finds himself in a dangerous situation to protect his wife. There are some similarities to the story of Wick, who is supposed to be retired, just brought back to this world to get revenge and come to terms with his wife’s death. As a result, the two films were often compared.
Happily, John Wick managed to survive comparisons with Die Hard, when most entries in this franchise are stronger than Die Hard and its sequels, and are much more elegant. There are similarities in the narrative, but when it comes to tone and atmosphere, Reeves’ version of this character is very different. If it had been Willis in front of the camera, however, it could have come dangerously close to being just another Die Hard.
2
John Wick and Winston’s relationship would have become less like father and son
The duo’s dynamics were complicated throughout the John Wick series
The relationship between Wick and Winston is a crucial part of all four John Wick movies, especially when the killer becomes “excommunicated“and is forced into hiding. Winston is always there to help him – as long as it also serves his own interests. The two have an almost paternal relationship, and Winston serves as a mentor of sorts to Wick. That might have been harder to believe with Willis playing the character.
Ian McShane is only 13 years older than Willis, so it would have been much more difficult to create any kind of paternal bond between the two, which is crucial to their relationship as portrayed in the final versions of the films. Even though Winston betrays John Wick and doesn’t always offer help, you have to feel that Wick admires and respects Winston for his dynamic of staying the same.
1
John Wick’s humor would have been more pronounced
Willis’ characters are typically funnier than Reeves’
One thing that’s always missing from Reeves’ portrayal of John Wick is a sense of humor – his version of the character is always serious, constantly assessing his surroundings and making sure he’s alert. Most of Willis’ action heroes are not like this: the actor likes to play his protagonists with a twinkle in his eye, inserting a little humor into the roles whenever possible.
The comedy in John Wick It’s much more subtle and nuanced, rarely seen in Reeves’ performance, but rather in the actions of the people around him and the absurdity of the situations he finds himself in. But even when he’s riding a horse on a highway, John Wick always has a serious expression on his face. Willis’ version of the character would have been completely different and could have given the John Wick franchise a more evident sense of humor.