John Wick’s Chad Stahleski Reveals the Big Similarity Between Keanu Reeves and Brandon Lee

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Chad Stahelski, director of the John Wick films, finds a striking resemblance between star Keanu Reeves and the late Brandon Lee: an unyielding determination. Stahelski was Lee’s stunt double on the 1994 film The Crow, and following Lee’s unfortunate demise, Stahelski took over his remaining scenes using special effects to blend Lee’s face onto Stahelski’s body. In a similar fashion, Stahelski also served as Reeves’ stunt double in The Matrix trilogy before collaborating with him on John Wick. Recently, during an interview with ComicBook, Stahelski discussed the upcoming documentary Wick is Pain about the creation of the John Wick franchise. He expressed that Reeves possesses a similar level of intense concentration as Lee had.

According to Stahelski, Brandon and Keanu are distinct individuals with unique personalities. However, they share one remarkable trait: an intense determination and drive that, once committed, they give their all with superhuman focus. In other words, when they take on a task, they are absolutely dedicated, displaying extraordinary levels of concentration. This is evident in the stories you hear about them; everyone does their own stunts and trains rigorously. Keanu, in particular, stands out as exceptional. He possesses remarkable endurance and an indomitable will. In essence, he’s like an unstoppable force, yet he remains humble and gentle.

Stahelski continued, “Brandon possessed that quality. He was the one who would laugh, even amidst the gravest situations. Even among the toughest kickboxers in the world, who were all trying to outdo each other and potentially harm one another, Brandon would be the one laughing and enjoying himself. Nothing invigorated him more than putting in hard work.

As a devoted fan, I was part of the team that worked under Chad Stahelski on “The Crow.” Tragically, during filming in March 1993, Brandon Lee, our lead actor, suffered an accidental gunshot wound from a prop gun loaded with faulty blank ammunition. Despite being rushed to the hospital, he tragically passed away during surgery. He was only 28 years old and was the son of the legendary Bruce Lee. The movie eventually wrapped up, leaving behind a poignant memory as Brandon’s final performance.

In a short span of time, Stahelski crossed paths with Reeves when he was serving as his stunt double in the Matrix trilogy. Over time, he ascended to the position of stunt coordinator for these films. Afterward, he diligently worked towards directing a major production himself, and it was Reeves who consented to act in it. Since then, Stahelski has helmed all four John Wick movies, and he is showcased in the recently released documentary titled Wick is Pain.

The film offers an inside look at the tumultuous events leading up to the launch of this series, as well as its astonishing journey towards success. Speaking of Wick, Pain, you can buy it online now on Prime Video and Fandango Now.

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2025-05-11 22:15