Keanu Reeves Spills Exciting Details on John Wick: Chapter 4 (Extended) | The Tonight Show

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

16 Mar 202310:21

Summary

TLDRIn this engaging transcript, Keanu Reeves shares amusing anecdotes from his encounters with fans, including a memorable restaurant birthday celebration and a 'wedding crash' in London. He discusses his passion for comic books and his involvement in creating 'Brzrkr,' a successful indie comic series, which is set to become a Netflix film. Reeves also talks about the highly anticipated 'John Wick: Chapter 4,' revealing details of the action-packed film, its impressive cast, and the themes explored in the movie. The conversation is filled with humor, admiration for his work, and a sneak peek at a thrilling clip from the upcoming film.

Takeaways

🎤 Keanu Reeves had a memorable encounter with the host at a restaurant in L.A., where the host sent him an olive and later the entire restaurant sang 'Happy Birthday' to him, despite it not being his birthday.
🎵 Keanu joined in singing 'Hey Jude' with a guitarist at the restaurant, creating a fun and spontaneous moment that was enjoyed by all.
🤷‍♂️ Keanu humorously admits he might have been the odd one out in a viral photo where he appeared at a wedding in London, which he was actually invited to for a photo opportunity.
📚 Keanu co-wrote the comic book 'Brzrkr' with Matt Kindt and illustrator Ron Garney, which became the highest selling indie comic of the 21st century with its first issue selling over 615,000 copies.
💡 The idea for 'Brzrkr' came from imagining a character that is half-god, half-immortal, cursed with violence, and has been alive for 80,000 years.
🎬 Netflix has shown interest in turning 'Brzrkr' into a movie, which Keanu Reeves is excited about and is considering making it happen.
🔫 'John Wick: Chapter 4' is praised as the best installment in the series, with stunning action sequences and cinematography that feels like classic cinema.
🏇 Keanu Reeves performs a variety of action scenes in 'John Wick: Chapter 4', including horseback riding, using nunchucks, and driving cars with no doors or windows.
🌟 The film introduces new characters that expand the world of the High Table, played by notable actors such as Donnie Yen, Hiroyuki Sanada, and Rina Sawayama.
🎭 Keanu Reeves appreciates the inventive direction of Chad Stahelski, who creates unique environments and storytelling methods for the action in 'John Wick: Chapter 4'.
🎥 The action in 'John Wick: Chapter 4' is meticulously choreographed, with some improvisation that still ends well and no harm to humans during the making of the film.

Q & A

What was the humorous incident that occurred at the restaurant involving the guest and the host?
-The host sent an olive to the guest as a joke, and later, the entire restaurant sang 'Happy Birthday' to the guest, even though it wasn't his birthday.
How did the guest describe the experience of singing 'Hey Jude' at the restaurant?
-The guest found it amazing and enjoyed the impromptu performance, even harmonizing with himself during the 'Nah, nah, nah' part of the song.
What is the name of the comic book series co-created by the guest?
-The comic book series is called 'Brzrkr' and is a 12-issue limited series co-created with Matt Kindt and Ron Garney.
What was the record-breaking achievement of the first issue of 'Brzrkr'?
-The first issue of 'Brzrkr' sold over 615,000 copies, making it the highest selling indie comic of the 21st century.
What is the central concept of the 'Brzrkr' character?
-The 'Brzrkr' character is half God, half immortal, and has been alive for 80,000 years. He is cursed with violence and doesn't know who his father is.
How did the idea for 'Brzrkr' come about?
-The idea for 'Brzrkr' originated from the question of what would happen if there was a character that could punch people through the chest and was both half God and immortal.
What is the status of the 'Brzrkr' movie adaptation?
-Netflix has expressed interest in making 'Brzrkr' into a movie, and the guest is open to the idea of it being made.
What is the title of the next installment in the 'John Wick' series?
-The next installment is titled 'John Wick: Chapter 4'.
What new elements can audiences expect in 'John Wick: Chapter 4'?
-The new movie features 14 action sequences, new characters that expand the world of the High Table, and a variety of inventive action scenes including horseback riding and driving scenes with no doors or windows.
Who are some of the new characters introduced in 'John Wick: Chapter 4'?
-New characters include Caine, played by Donnie Yen, The Tracker, Shimazu, and others, adding depth to the storyline and the world of John Wick.
What is the release date for 'John Wick: Chapter 4'?
-The movie is set to be released in theaters and IMAX on March 24th.

Outlines

00:00

🎤 Memorable Encounters and 'Brzrkr' Comic Book Success

The conversation begins with a warm exchange between the host and Keanu Reeves, reminiscing about a humorous encounter at a restaurant in L.A. where the entire establishment sang 'Happy Birthday' to the host on Keanu's initiative, despite it not being his birthday. They also discuss Keanu's reputation in Hollywood as a nice guy and touch upon a viral photo of him seemingly crashing a wedding in London, which he clarifies was an innocent interaction where he was invited to take pictures. The discussion shifts to his involvement in the comic book 'Brzrkr,' co-written with Matt Kindt and illustrated by Ron Garney. The comic has achieved remarkable success, with its first issue becoming the highest-selling indie comic of the 21st century, selling over 615,000 copies. The conversation highlights Keanu's creative process and the unique storyline of 'Brzrkr,' which revolves around a character that is half-god, half-immortal, and cursed with violence.

05:01

🎬 Anticipating 'John Wick: Chapter 4' and Future Projects

The second paragraph delves into Keanu Reeves' upcoming projects, particularly focusing on 'John Wick: Chapter 4.' The host expresses his enthusiasm for the 'John Wick' series, praising the action sequences and the film's aesthetic, which he describes as 'cinema.' Keanu confirms that the fourth installment will continue to impress with its action, mentioning that it starts almost immediately and doesn't let up. The conversation reveals that the film will feature new characters expanding the 'High Table' universe, including Caine, played by Donnie Yen, and others portrayed by Hiroyuki Sanada, Rina Sawayama, and Shamier Anderson. The themes of friendship, brotherhood, and the quest for personal freedom are highlighted, along with the film's release date. The host also mentions a clip from 'John Wick: Chapter 4' that was shown, further building anticipation for the movie.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡New York

New York is a city often associated with excitement, entertainment, and cultural significance. In the context of this video, it is likely the location where the conversation is taking place, setting the stage for the interaction between the two individuals. The mention of 'Hello, New York' suggests a warm greeting to the audience, indicating the start of a performance or a conversation.

💡Restaurant

A restaurant is an establishment where people gather to eat and socialize. In the video, it serves as the backdrop for a memorable encounter between the two speakers, where one of them was dining with his girlfriend. The restaurant is also the setting for a humorous anecdote involving an olive and a surprise birthday celebration, highlighting the spontaneous and joyful nature of the interaction.

💡Birthday

A birthday is the anniversary of the birth of an individual. In the script, it is humorously mentioned that the entire restaurant sang 'Happy Birthday' to one of the speakers, even though it was not his birthday. This incident showcases the playful and lighthearted atmosphere of the encounter and adds a layer of humor to the narrative.

💡Hey Jude

Hey Jude is a song by The Beatles, known for its uplifting and communal nature. In the video, it is sung by a musician at the restaurant, and the speaker joins in, creating a moment of shared joy and musical connection. The song's lyrics and melody are associated with encouragement and positivity, which fits the overall tone of the video.

💡Hollywood

Hollywood is a neighborhood in Los Angeles, California, and is synonymous with the American film industry. The term is used in the script to refer to the reputation of the speaker as a 'very nice guy' within the film community, indicating his positive standing and the respect he has earned among his peers.

💡Comic Book

A comic book is a magazine or book containing comics, usually consisting of a series of panels of images that tell a story. In the video, the speaker discusses 'Brzrkr,' a comic book he co-wrote, which has achieved significant commercial success. The comic book serves as an example of the speaker's creative ventures beyond acting.

💡Indie

Indie refers to independent creators or productions, often characterized by a lack of corporate or mainstream influence. In the script, 'Brzrkr' is described as an indie comic, emphasizing its origin from an independent publisher and its distinction from mainstream comic book productions.

💡Cinema

Cinema refers to the art of filmmaking and the film industry. In the video, the term is used to describe the visual and storytelling elements of the 'John Wick' film series, highlighting the creative and artistic aspects of the films, as well as their impact on the viewer.

💡Action Sequence

An action sequence is a series of events in a film or other visual media that involve physical feats, fights, or chases. The script mentions that 'John Wick: Chapter 4' contains numerous action sequences, showcasing the film's intense and dynamic nature, and the creativity involved in choreographing these scenes.

💡High Table

In the context of the 'John Wick' film series, the High Table is an organization that governs the world of assassins. The script mentions new characters that are connected to the High Table, indicating the expansion of the film's universe and the exploration of its underlying power structures.

💡Personal Freedom

Personal freedom refers to the state of being free from restrictions or control. In the video, the speaker mentions seeking personal freedom as a driving force behind his character's actions in 'John Wick: Chapter 4,' suggesting a central theme of autonomy and the struggle against external constraints.

Highlights

Keanu Reeves is warmly welcomed by the audience and hosts, reflecting his popularity and likability.

Recounting a humorous encounter where Keanu was sent an olive at a restaurant, leading to a memorable birthday song from the whole restaurant, despite it not being his birthday.

Keanu harmonized with himself during an impromptu 'Hey Jude' performance at the same restaurant, showcasing his musical talent.

Keanu Reeves' reputation in Hollywood as a nice guy is acknowledged, with personal anecdotes from the host.

A funny anecdote about Keanu 'crashing' a wedding in London, which he clarifies was an invited photo opportunity.

The comic book 'Brzrkr' co-created by Keanu Reeves is discussed, with its first issue becoming the highest selling indie comic of the 21st century.

Keanu's creative process in developing 'Brzrkr' is explored, starting from a simple idea of a character that could punch through chests.

The concept of 'Brzrkr' involves a character that is half-god, half-immortal, and cursed with violence, sparking a discussion on the character's depth.

Netflix's interest in turning 'Brzrkr' into a movie is revealed, with Keanu expressing enthusiasm for the project.

Praise for 'John Wick: Chapter 4' as the best in the series, with the action starting almost immediately and not stopping until the end.

Keanu Reeves performing action sequences on a horse and with nunchucks in 'John Wick: Chapter 4', demonstrating the film's intense choreography.

The film features innovative driving scenes with cars having no doors or windows, adding to the high-octane action.

Chad Stahelski, the visionary director of 'John Wick', is credited for inventing new ways to present action and storytelling.

Keanu discusses the themes of 'John Wick: Chapter 4', including friendship, brotherhood, and the search for personal freedom.

Introduction of new characters in 'John Wick: Chapter 4', such as Caine played by Donnie Yen, expanding the film's universe.

A clip from 'John Wick: Chapter 4' is shown, giving a glimpse of the film's cinematic action and storytelling.