Eva Longoria swooped in with $6 million in private funding to save the first John Wick movie 24 hours before it was canceled.
The film became an iconic action series that grossed $1 billion worldwide with the success of four feature films. The film’s directors, Chad Stahelski and David Leitch, revealed that Longoria used his own money to fill an unexpected hole in the film’s funding when plans hit a major snag.
Perhaps just as shocking was the fact that John Wick had no idea who was financing it until long after it became a hit. business insider.
BERLIN, GERMANY – MAY 6: Canadian actor Keanu poses at the “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum” photocall held at Hotel de Roma on May 6, 2019 in Berlin, Germany.・Reeves. (Photo by Isa Foltin/WireImage) Getty Images
“We were raising money on our own to acquire the bonds, but one of our investors was unable to raise the money by the deadline,” Stahelski told the publication.
By that point, he, like Leitch, had put up his own money for the film. The film’s star, Keanu Reeves, was also a personal investor. Producer Basil Iwanyk maxed out three credit cards to do what he could to keep things moving, but the lack of funds still exists, and without Longoria, all The plan would have been completely and abruptly halted.
CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 18: Eva Longoria attends the ‘Emilia Perez’ red carpet during the 77th Cannes Film Festival held at the Palais des Festivals on May 18, 2024 in Cannes, France. (Photo: Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, CA – MAY 15: (LR) Ian McShane, Keanu Reeves, Halle Berry and Chad Stahelski at the TCL Chinese Theater on May 15, 2019 in Hollywood, California Attended a special screening of Lionsgate’s John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Creative Artists Agency is in the process of financing the film, offering investment opportunities to some of the actors and promising that they will be paid back first. According to Business Insider, Longoria jumped on board and allowed John Wick to see the light of day, earning him his first major producer credit.
“She came to our rescue and provided us with gap funding literally less than 24 hours before we had to close the movie door and leave,” Stahelski said.
He recalled the moment he finally realized it was Longoria who had handed over the cash.
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 6: (From left) Jeremy Marinas, Stephen Dunlevy, Erica Lee, Basil Iwanyk, Chad Stahelski and Scott Rogers on stage at the 2024 Astra Film Awards. John Wick: Chapter 4 won the Best Action Award. Biltmore Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, January 6, 2024. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
“Basil took us out to dinner and we were laughing about all the crap that happened and he said, ‘By the way, funny story, I know who funded you. “Eva Longoria.”We said, “What! ’” Stahelski said. (Related: Stephen King’s ‘Carrie’ returns to TV)
“She laughed and said, ‘I didn’t think it would work,'” he told Business Insider.
