WARNING: The following contains spoilers for John Wick: Chapter 3 -- Parabellum, in theaters now.
John Wick trilogy director Chad Stahelski has revealed the original plan was to kill off Keanu Reeves' titular character in John Wick: Chapter 3 -- Parabellum.
This film doesn't end with the protagonist's death but it does leave him badly wounded and once more in the crosshairs of the High Table. With this conclusion in mind, Stahelski admitted he contemplated taking the hitman off the table for good as they unraveled the war against those who deemed John "excommunicado."
"That was the original intent of number three to kill John Wick," Stahelski told Den of Geek. "That doesn't gel with some people." The director, as well as Reeves, have indicated they'd love to keep making these movies once the audience keeps buying in, and so far, critical and box office response is definitely painting the third film as a massive success.
Stahelski believes Wick will die at some point but now clearly isn't the right time. "Keanu and I both like the ending," Stahelski previously said. "He's like, 'Yes, you can kill him off, but maybe that's not an option right now, because we like the universe.'"
Directed by Chad Stahelski, John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum stars Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, Laurence Fishburne, Halle Berry, Jason Mantzoukas, Lance Reddick and Anjelica Huston. The film is in theaters now.