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In the production notes for “John Wick: Chapter 4,” Keanu Reeves says about Laurence Fishburne, “He’s been a mentor to me since we worked together on ‘The Matrix.'” Fishburne told Looper that the feeling is mutual: “We love each other and we respect each other. The same is true of Keanu and Chad [Stahelski, “John Wick” director], and Chad and his team.”
Fishburne added that all that shared camaraderie and affection that can be found among the cast and crew of the “John Wick” movies started for him and Reeves all those years ago on their first collaboration. “We made something together that has had lasting impact with the first three ‘Matrix’ movies,” he said. “This is really a continuation of that impulse, of that desire to create things for an audience that the audience loves.”
It’s not clear where the “John Wick” saga goes from here, and “Chapter 4” may well represent the last time we see John and the Bowery King together on screen. But even if there isn’t a “John Wick: Chapter 5” in the offing, there are upcoming spin-offs such as “Ballerina” and “The Continental” in which it would be easy to see the Bowery King make another appearance. “That’s a rich world,” agreed Fishburne.
Meanwhile, film history will eventually determine whether Reeves and Fishburne will join the list of other great acting teams, from legendary duos like Robert Redford and Paul Newman or Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder to more recent pair-ups such as Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper. But whatever happens next, Fishburne has one word for the professional and personal experiences he’s shared with his co-star: “It’s beautiful.”
“John Wick: Chapter 4” arrives in theaters this Friday, March 24.
