In cinemas this week: Killer role as John Wick is probably Keanu Reeves’ career best

John Wick has really clicked with Keanu Reeves – in fact, the deadly hitman is probably his best-ever role.

Reeves is about to play the retired but vengeful killer in the third movie of the series. To many, it’s given him the best movies he’s ever been in, while to others, the Wick flicks wouldn’t have been the same with anyone but Keanu in the role.

Reeves loved the whole idea from the moment he set eyes on it, and he loved the name John Wick so much that they decided to name it that rather than Scorn, the original title.

As he was going around telling anyone who would listen that he was in “the John Wick movies”, it made sense.

They have earned him rave reviews, playing one of the best anti-heroes cinema has seen in many years, and he also gets deeply involved with ideas for action scenes and other things, right down to the tiniest detail.

The first film saw Wick hunting down the men who broke into his home, stole his beautiful car and killed his adorable dog.

As the puppy was his only link to his wife, who had recently died, it struck rather deep with Wick, and he was remorseless in catching them and punishing them.

The second film gave him an even bigger hit, with huge audiences and astounding box office results, and it followed Wick as an old gang boss turns up for the favour he owes.

When Wick tells him he is retired and isn’t interested, the hood has his house destroyed and Wick has to seek revenge once more.

The sort of thing that Charles Bronson made his own, and which Keanu Reeves does surprisingly well, too.

This latest film, John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, sees a huge contract on his life and Wick having to battle his way out of New York.

The other man involved with the series at the top end is Chad Stahelski, who played Reeves’ stunt double in The Matrix and made his directorial debut with the first Wick film.

Stahelski was a good friend of Brandon Lee, with whom he was working on The Crow when Lee was accidentally shot dead just days before filming was completed.

It was decided to finish the movie, with Stahelski standing in for him, Lee’s mother and fiancee both giving their approval.

Both Stahelski and Reeves reckon this latest movie will be another belter.

“For me, it’s about surrounding myself with the best, most talented team out there and not ever being afraid of being the worst guy in the room,” is Stahelski’s frank assessment.

“It’s ego crushing, yeah. Every day is ego crushing. But it keeps you sharper than you can imagine.”

Reeves, too, isn’t the sort to brag about his skills or talents.

“I’m a meathead, man!” he laughs.

“You have got smart people and you have got dumb people. I just happen to be dumb.”

Keanu admits his attention to detail has always been there, and he has long enjoyed the more technical aspects of movie-making.

“I have definitely been curious and involved in the process, even as a young actor,” he says.

“I was always looking at where the camera was, what story it was telling.”

John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum is in cinemas from Friday May 17.