A newly-released John Wick: Chapter 4 behind-the-scenes video provides a look at a brutal car hit Keanu Reeves’ stunt double took for the movie’s Arc de Triomphe sequence. Released last month to rave reviews from audiences and critics, John Wick: Chapter 4 continues the story of Reeves’ titular hitman as he faces off against the High Table. Directed once more by Chad Stahelsk, the sequel features the best action in the franchise yet, including a number of standout scenes in Paris.
Now, Vincent Bouillon, Reeves’ stunt double for the film, shares a behind-the-scenes look at how one big car hit during John Wick: Chapter 4‘s Arc de Triomphe sequence was filmed.
While attempting to make his way to the Sacré-Cœur for his duel against the Marquis (Bill Skarsgård), Wick is set upon by waves of assassins, which eventually takes him to the Arc de Triomphe. The sequence is one of the most memorable from the film, featuring plenty of car action and the franchise’s signature gun fu, and much of it was actually shot practically, as seen in the video above.
Keanu Reeves Can’t Do All Of His Own John Wick: Chapter 4 Stunts
Part of the reason why the John Wick franchise has become so popular, in addition to its incredible action choreography of course, is because Reeves does many of the fight scenes himself. The actor trains hard for months before each movie, mastering shooting, driving, and hand-to-hand combat to become the ultimate on-screen killing machine. Despite how hard Reeves trains, however, there are certain sequences that, for one reason or another, require a stunt person.
A stunt double will often be brought in for a sequence for insurance reasons because, even if a star is willing to do the sequence themselves, the risk of injury and a subsequent stoppage of production (which would cost millions) is too big of a risk to take. The John Wick: Chapter 4 van hit, for example, is clearly too dangerous for Reeves to do himself given the speed of the vehicle and the nature of the impact.
The stair sequence in John Wick: Chapter 4, when Wick is thrown down the 222-step staircase that leads up to the Sacré-Cœur, is another scene that required Bouillon’s help. After fighting his way to the top, Wick (Bouillon) is thrown all the way back down again in a scene that really highlights every bump and scrape. Although Reeves has proven himself a truly capable action star over the last several decades, there are evidently some moments in John Wick: Chapter 4 (and the franchise more generally) that require the use of a trained stunt performer like Bouillon.
Source: Vincent Bouillon/ Instagram
