‘John Wick: Chapter 2’ Delivers That ‘Matrix’ Reunion in New Photo
We have a few days before the end of 2016, but more importantly, less than two months before John Wick is thinking he’s back again — this time with a canine upgrade, some new assassins, and a delightful reunion with Matrix co-star Laurence Fishburne. In keeping with the spirit of the season, Lionsgate has released a new photo from John Wick: Chapter 2, giving us a preview of that mini-reunion along with a few details about Fishburne’s role in Wick’s world.
Entertainment Weekly has the new photo, featuring Fishburne and the man himself, Keanu Reeves:
Is…is Laurence Fishburne wearing pajamas? That is incredibly boss of him. Speaking with EW, director Chad Stahelski (returning to helm the sequel on his own while David Leitch made his solo debut on The Coldest City) described the experience of making Chapter 2 as “tricky” and said they didn’t “want to fall into the trap of retelling the first story again.” That means no dead dogs (or cats). Instead, the sequel will explore “more of the John Wick world, what he would have experienced before he settled down and tried to get out of the business.”
As for Fishburne’s involvement, Reeves offers this charming explanation of how that Matrix reunion came together:
It was so cool to have a chance to work with Laurence Fishburne again, with the history that we have professionally and personally. I ran into him, and he was saying that he was a fan of the first film, and was there anything in the second film. I said, ‘As a matter of fact there is!’ So, we sent him the project and he responded to the role. Laurence is playing a character called the Bowery King. He is a leader of this underworld in New York City. He knows everything about everything and he helps John in his mission. It was cool to act with him again and hopefully people will enjoy seeing us reunited.
Uh, yeah, dude. We can’t wait.
John Wick: Chapter 2 hits theaters on February 10, 2017.