Keanu Reeves Honors 'John Wick 4' Stunt Crew with T-Shirts Listing Their Onscreen Deaths

Keanu Reeves gifted the stunt crew of "John Wick: Chapter 4" t-shirts that had the number of deaths each stunt person faced during the movie, as reported by The New York Times. For some of the crew, that number was above 20, as the movie re-used stunt workers in multiple scenes. For instance, during the iconic staircase fight, which required Reeves' John Wick to race up 222 steps leading to the Sacré-Coeur Basilica, the production used 35 stunt workers, many of whom had repeated deaths in the scene. The fight took seven night shoots, and each stunt man was "killed" four or five times. At the end of the shoot, Reeves made T-shirts for the stunt performers with the number of times they were slain throughout the film.

The staircase scene required a high level of expertise, according to fight coordinator Jeremy Marinas. Not only did it feature 100 guys falling down the stairs, but also each reaction and fall had to be different. Reeves performed every stunt as it pertained to John Wick ascending the staircase. The 44-second fall down the stairs, however, required stunt double Vincent Bouillon.

Despite the physical challenges, the cast and crew of "John Wick: Chapter 4" took pride in their work. Director Chad Stahelski explained that John Wick's suffering is what makes the movie fun. Reeves also gifted his four-man stunt team personalized Rolex Submariner watches at the end of production as a thank you for their hard work. The inside of each watch was engraved with a personal message from the actor. "John Wick: Chapter 4" is now playing in theaters nationwide.

In addition to the impressive staircase fight scene, "John Wick: Chapter 4" also features other notable action sequences. One of the most challenging scenes involved Reeves' character riding a motorcycle through a crowded marketplace. The scene took months of preparation and coordination between the stunt team, production crew, and local officials in Berlin, where the scene was filmed.

The film's stunt coordinator, Darrin Prescott, explained that the team had to design a special rig that allowed Reeves to ride the motorcycle through the crowded space while avoiding collisions with pedestrians and other vehicles. The team also had to work closely with the local government to secure permits and ensure the safety of everyone involved.

Despite the challenges, Prescott described the scene as "an incredible experience" and praised Reeves' commitment to performing his own stunts. Reeves has long been known for his dedication to his craft and willingness to push himself physically in order to create more realistic and exciting action scenes.

The "John Wick" franchise has become known for its impressive and inventive action sequences, and "Chapter 4" is no exception. With Reeves' commitment to performing his own stunts and a talented team of stunt performers and coordinators, the movie promises to deliver even more heart-stopping moments for audiences.