Keanu Reeves recounts throwing up ‘couple of times’ after shooting intense ‘John Wick’ stunts

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: At a special 10th anniversary screening of 'John Wick' on November 3, Keanu Reeves looked back on the physically demanding stunts that made the action-thriller series iconic.

Reeves was joined by co-star Ian McShane, co-director Chad Stahelski, and producer Erica Lee, as moderator Grae Drake delved into the challenges of bringing John Wick's high-stakes action to life.

Keanu Reeves reveals throwing up after intense stunts

Reflecting on the rigorous stunts, Keanu Reeves said, “I had so many wonderful teachers and guidance and worked with so many talented actors, actresses, and stunt people… it’s such a dance and collaboration and cooperation."

"So there's a couple of times where you throw up or puke or whatever, but that's what makes it good!" he noted, as per People.

His remarks give an idea about not just the physically demanding stunts, but also the dedication behind each scene, like the pencil kill scene.

Ian McShane, who plays Winston in the franchise, chimed in on Reeves’ relentless drive and resilience.

“He pushes the envelope all the time,” McShane noted.

“So when your leading actor says, ‘We’d like do another one,’ and it's raining for the seventh day in a row outside…you go, ‘Well, Keanu's doing it. Here we are. Here we go.’”

Ian McShane lauds Keanu Reeves' dedication

Ian McShane’s admiration for Keanu Reeves’ commitment was evident, underscoring the star’s willingness to go above and beyond to bring John Wick’s world to life.

As they reminisced about the series, moderator Grae Drake humorously remarked, “Nobody's ever looked at a pencil the same way again”—a nod to one of 'John Wick's most infamous scenes.

Reeves responded with a laugh, “You shouldn’t. Because they work!”

'John Wick' became a global sensation, spawning three sequels and multiple spin-offs.

These include 'Ballerina', starring Ana de Armas, 'The Continental', a prequel anime series, and an upcoming spin-off featuring Donnie Yen.

Keanu Reeves reveals serious stunt injury on 'John Wick: Chapter 4' set

In a candid interview with ComicBook.com back in March 2023, Keanu Reeves had opened up about a serious accident that occurred during the filming of one of the 'John Wick' movies, revealing that he once split open a man’s head during a stunt gone wrong.

Known for his commitment to performing intense stunts involving speeding cars, nunchucks, and swords, Reeves reflected on the toll these demanding scenes take on the cast and crew.

“Well, I mean everyone is pretty tired – but it’s the best kind of tired,” Reeves said, describing the exhaustion that comes from working on the action-heavy 'John Wick' sets.

“It’s like you climbed a mountain; now you’re resting; like you finished the game and you won.”

However, he acknowledged the risks involved, recounting, “So in terms of accidents: I made a mistake once – I cut a gentleman’s head open. So that really f**king sucked – excuse my language. But other than that…oh, one guy got hit by a car. He was in the car, so he had to go to the hospital, but he was okay. All of this to say that you do have to take care. But it’s great that everyone [on set] is watching out for each other.”

He humorously added, “There’s some bruising and aches and pains, but [imitates official PSA announcement] ‘No humans were harmed in the filming of this motion picture!'”

“'John Wick: Chapter 4' has the most action of any of the ['John Wick'] films, which is saying a lot,” he noted.

“And it’s more by a good margin. It’s a big show…'John Wick: Chapter 4' was the hardest physical role I’ve ever had in my career so far. They really trained me up to be able to have what we call the toolbox.”

Keanu Reeves trained for months to master epic car stunt in 'John Wick: Chapter 4'

To prepare for the stunts in 'John Wick: Chapter 4', Keanu Reeves underwent nearly three months of intensive training.

One of the most challenging preparations involved a complex car stunt in which his character races around the historic Arc de Triomphe in Paris, performing a reverse 180 and drifting while reloading and shooting a prop gun out of the car window.

“It’s been about 12 weeks of training. It’s new levels of action,” Reeves said in a featurette for the sequel.

“You know, nunchucks, which was challenging…'John Wick' action asks just a little bit more. And you see the effort and the commitment from the team.”

As per Variety, in this movie, Reeves’ titular assassin faces new adversaries while reuniting with familiar allies in his quest to take down the villainous High Table once and for all.

Joining him in the ensemble cast were Bill Skarsgård as Marquis, Donnie Yen as Caine, Laurence Fishburne as Bowery King, Lance Reddick as Charon, Rina Sawayama as Akira, Shamier Anderson as Tracker, Hiroyuki Sanada as Shimazu, Scott Adkins as Killa, and Ian McShane as Winston.