Imagine a world without John Wick. No stylish gunfights, no intense action sequences, no legendary Keanu Reeves as the ultimate assassin. Sounds terrible, right? Well, that almost became a reality!
The John Wick franchise, which has grossed billions and completed a decade of cinematic excellence, nearly never existed. Just days before the release of the first film, everything was on the brink of collapse. But thanks to an unexpected hero—Eva Longoria—the franchise was saved at the last moment! Curious? Let’s dive into this unbelievable story.
The Near-Death Experience of John Wick
In an interview with Business Insider, co-directors Chad Stahelski and David Leitch revealed a shocking truth: the first John Wick film was one step away from being scrapped.
“We were less than a week out and lost almost $6 million in financing,” Chad revealed. “We had all put in everything, including Keanu. But we were still short. So, we were shut down.”
That’s right—Keanu and the directors had invested everything they had into this project. But without that missing money, the film was doomed to never hit the big screen.
Enter the Unexpected Savior: Eva Longoria
At the time, the Creative Artists Agency (CAA) was desperately looking for investors to bridge the financial gap. They pitched the project to various actors, hoping someone would take a chance. And that’s when Eva Longoria stepped in!
“She came to the rescue and provided the gap financing. Literally less than 24 hours before we had to lock the doors on the movie and walk away, our producer said, ‘We’ve got the investor, we’ve locked the gap,’” Chad recalled.
Longoria wasn’t initially named as the investor, so even the directors had no idea who had saved them. It wasn’t until later that they discovered the Hollywood star had single-handedly kept John Wick alive.
Why Did Eva Longoria Invest?
Surprisingly, Eva didn’t invest in John Wick because she foresaw its massive success. In fact, she had no clue what she was getting into!
“I was new to investing. My bankroll was very fresh, and it was a lot of money,” Eva admitted. “I wasn’t some investment genius who calculated the risks. No, none of that.”
So, what convinced her? Passion. She saw how dedicated Chad Stahelski and David Leitch were to their craft.
“They put in their 10,000 hours as stunt guys and second-unit directors. They had seen all the bad movies and knew how to make a great one,” she said. “They were undeniably passionate, and I knew they were going to create an undeniable product.”
Eva’s Only Regret: Not Staying for More!
If there’s one thing Eva wishes she had done differently, it’s this—sticking around for the entire franchise!
“What I’m pissed off about is that I wasn’t connected to the rest of them,” Eva said. “This was a one-time thing. That was the gamble. But that was my only mistake—not being attached to all of the films.”
With John Wick now one of the most successful action franchises in history, it’s safe to say that was indeed a missed opportunity. But fans can still be grateful—without Eva Longoria, we wouldn’t have John Wick at all!
Final Thoughts: Thank You, Eva!
The next time you watch John Wick, remember to silently thank Eva Longoria. Without her, we wouldn’t have seen Keanu Reeves suit up as the legendary hitman.
So, to every John Wick fan out there, let’s give a big shoutout to Eva for saving the franchise and allowing us to experience one of the most iconic action sagas of all time!
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