John Wick is a popular action movie franchise that follows the story of a retired hitman who seeks revenge after his beloved dog is killed. The movies have gained a massive fan base since the first movie was released in 2014, but many fans wonder if the story is based on a true story. In this article, we will unravel the myth and find out if John Wick is based on a true story.
The short answer is no. John Wick is not based on a true story. The story is entirely fictional and was created by screenwriter Derek Kolstad. The inspiration for the story came from Kolstad’s own life experiences and his fascination with the world of organized crime and hitmen.
Kolstad has stated in interviews that he was inspired to create the character of John Wick after the death of his own grandfather. He wanted to explore the themes of grief and loss in his writing and use those themes to drive the story forward. He also drew inspiration from classic action movies of the 1980s and 1990s, such as Die Hard and Lethal Weapon.
The character of John Wick himself is not based on any real-life person. However, the character does draw inspiration from the world of organized crime and the life of hitmen. The movie’s creators did extensive research into the world of hitmen and the criminal underworld to create an authentic and believable story.
The movie’s depiction of the criminal underworld, with its intricate networks of assassins and high-stakes power struggles, is not entirely unrealistic. Organized crime does exist in the world, and there are certainly hitmen who operate within these organizations. However, the portrayal of this world in the John Wick movies is highly stylized and exaggerated for dramatic effect.
One aspect of the John Wick movies that has garnered a lot of attention from fans is the intricate world-building that takes place throughout the franchise. The movies are set in a world where assassins operate under a strict code of conduct, with their own currency and secret societies. While this world may seem far-fetched, it is not entirely without precedent.
The concept of secret societies and codes of conduct among hitmen has been explored in other works of fiction, such as the popular video game series Assassin’s Creed. These ideas draw on real-life secret societies, such as the Freemasons, and the concept of honor codes among criminal organizations.
While the John Wick movies are not based on a true story, they do draw inspiration from real-life people and events. The character of Winston, played by Ian McShane, is based on real-life gangsters, such as Meyer Lansky and Lucky Luciano. The character of Viggo Tarasov, played by Michael Nyqvist, draws inspiration from real-life Russian gangsters and organized crime figures.
The action scenes in the John Wick movies are also heavily influenced by real-life martial arts and military tactics. Keanu Reeves, who plays the titular character, underwent extensive training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, judo, and firearms for his role in the movies. The fight choreography is designed to be both realistic and visually stunning, with a focus on practical techniques and movements.
What’s the Story Behind John Wick?
Derek Kolstad is the author of the American action-thriller series John Wick. It centers on John Wick, a former hitman who finds himself dragged back into the underworld of crime.
The series’ debut film, John Wick, came out in 2014; it was followed by Chapter 2 in 2017 and Chapter 3: Parabellum the following year. The three films received positive reviews and generated over $587 million in worldwide box office revenue. The fourth John Wick movie, simply titled John Wick, came out in March of 2023.
Together with two spin-offs, including the limited series The Continental in 2023 and the movie Ballerina in 2024, a fifth main chapter that was previously intended to be filmed back-to-back with the fourth feature, is also in development.
Does John Wick Have a Real Story Behind It?
No It is not true events on which “The narrative of John Wick” is based. The character and his biography were developed by screenwriter Derek Kolstad to realize his idea for an original vengeance thriller opener. Classic noir movies, graphic novels, video games, and even his own dogs served as inspiration for him.
Kolstad asserted that the idea came to him when he thought about how he would respond if his two dogs, Loki and Isis, were hurt. He made threats of “bad, terrible things.”
He also wanted to make an action hero who was the right age. In response to Keanu Reeves’ interest in playing John Wick, the author changed the character’s age.
Real Events Influenced John Wick
While the plot of John Wick is fictional, some of the characters, settings, and events are based on actual people, places, and things. Here’s an illustration:
The Roma Ruska:
According to John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, John’s real name is Jardani Jovanovich, and he is a member of the Ruska Roma4, a real Romani clan in Russia with some 209,000 members. The Ruska Roma are well known due to their matrilineal traditions and distinctive music.
Using The Continental
The Continental is a hotel that is frequently used by the High Table’s criminal underworld. There are numerous places, including Casablanca, Rome, and New York City. “No business” is the sole rule that applies to Continental grounds. As a result, it is illegal to murder someone on Continental soil.
Due to Switzerland’s reputation for maintaining its political neutrality during times of strife, Kolstad patterned this region after it.
Marcus Lottie
Marcus Luttrell, a former Navy SEAL, wrote Lone Survivor in 2005 to describe the struggles his fire team faced in Afghanistan during Operation Red Wings. Once he returned from the war, friends of Luttrell gave him a yellow labrador puppy they named DASY. The four men who killed DASY were captured by the Texas Rangers.
Some sources claim that this tragedy served as the inspiration for Kolstad’s John Wick trilogy, which centers on a man seeking retribution for the death of his dog. Kolstad, however, has never established this link.
What websites offer John Wick streaming?
Currently, you may watch the first John Wick movie on Peacock for free but with ads. For viewing, a Peacock account is necessary; nevertheless, signing up is cost-free.
The NBC app with a cable login and Hulu with Live TV both have John Wick available. If you don’t have cable and don’t want a Monthly subscription, you can purchase or rent the movie on Amazon Prime for $7.99.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while John Wick is not based on a true story, it does draw inspiration from real-life people, events, and concepts. The movie’s creators did extensive research into the world of hitmen and organized crime to create an authentic and believable story. The franchise’s intricate world-building draws on real-life secret societies and codes of conduct among criminal organizations. The action scenes in the movies are heavily influenced by real-life martial arts and military tactics. While the story is entirely fictional, it is grounded in reality and draws on real-life elements to create a compelling and exciting movie franchise.
