'John Wick' producers wanted an alternate ending where the puppy lived

• Directors Chad Stahelski and David Leitch were pressured to movie an ending wherever John Wick's canine survives.
• "We were told, 'It's bad luck.' 'It's bad juju,'" Leitch told Business Insider.
• Keanu Reeves stepped successful and supported his directors.

One of nan seminal moments successful nan "John Wick" franchise is nan execution of Wick's puppy — which was nan last gift to him from his precocious woman — astatine nan hands of a mobster. The traumatic infinitesimal is what kicks disconnected nan movie, acting arsenic nan crippled motor that yet motivates Wick to return to nan deadly underworld he'd near down to activity his revenge.

But that infinitesimal could person been wholly different if nan suits progressive successful "John Wick" had gotten their way. In Business Insider's question and reply celebrating nan movie's 10th anniversary, board Chad Stahelski and David Leitch recalled being pressured to movie an ending successful which nan puppy lived.

"We were told, 'It's bad luck.' 'It's bad juju.' 'It's "Old Yeller," you can't do this!' 'No 1 will want to spot this connected screen; you're going to alienate nan audience,'" Leitch said. "And I'm like, 'We're going to execute group astatine adjacent range; sidesplitting nan canine is 1 thing, but what astir nan sadistic massacre of each these quality beings? Are they going to beryllium capable to judge that?'"

The vibes connected group weren't immoderate amended erstwhile nan then-first-time filmmakers changeable nan scene.

"On nan day, Keanu was acting pinch a stuffed dog. Crying. He's each hit up. He looks atrocious successful his pajamas. Everyone down nan monitors must person thought, 'Okay, this is nan worst idea; these first-time board are done,'" Stahelski told BI.

Stahelski said for weeks, nan unit grew for him and Leitch to sprout an alternate ending wherever it's revealed that nan puppy really lived. Finally, nan movie's star, Keanu Reeves, and nan lead shaper connected nan movie, Basil Iwanyk, stepped in.

"Keanu stood up for us," Stahelski said. "And Basil stood up to nan investors, and eventually, they conscionable felt, 'Fuck it, let's spot what these guys tin do."

"They didn't understand that we were making a genre movie," Leitch said. "We are genre fans to nan core, and we cognize those hard-boiled moments are what make memorable moments."

Ultimately, "John Wick" became a astonishment container agency hit, earning complete $86 cardinal connected a $20 cardinal budget. It's now regarded arsenic 1 of nan champion action movies ever made.

Meanwhile, dogs would go a awesome taxable successful nan "John Wick" franchise. In nan 3rd movie, Halle Berry plays a erstwhile assassin who has 2 kevlar-vested dogs arsenic her companions, and nan 4th showcases a canine by nan broadside of bounty huntsman Mr. Nobody (Shamier Anderson).