John Wick: Chapter 4 director Chad Stahelski revealed that Akira actor Rina Sawayama took some convincing to hitch the newest sequel within the John Wick franchise. Sawayama’s Akira is the Osaka Continental’s concierge, combating alongside Wick all through the movie. Her position within the film is compounded by the truth that she is the daughter of Shimazu Koji, the supervisor of the Osaka Continental and an previous buddy of John’s.
Talking with Leisure Weekly, Stahelski revealed that Sawayama took some convincing to hitch the solid of John Wick: Chapter 4. He reveals that, at first, she was hesitant to hitch the film as a result of she had by no means acted in something earlier than. Take a look at what Stahelski needed to say under:
“I acquired on a cellphone name along with her. [I said], ‘Hello, I am Chad; I am the director of John Wick.’ And she or he was like, ‘Oh, I like these motion pictures.’ I used to be like, ‘That is good; how would you wish to be in a single?’ And there was a bit awkward silence. It was like, ‘Yeah, I do not do motion pictures, I’ve by no means acted, I do not do motion.’
I [said], ‘Look, we like the way in which you carry out, and I like your vibe. Would you no less than fly to Berlin and meet us?’ So, she flew from London to Berlin, spent the day with me, Keanu, and our stunt staff, [she] did a bit evaluation. Having a lot of a performance-dance background, she had an amazing mindset and a reminiscence for choreography, and he or she had a pure capability to carry out, and he or she’s acquired this vibe and charisma about her that clearly speaks for itself. After the day, all of us acquired collectively within the workplace later that night time and mentioned, ‘Do you wish to give it a go?’ And she or he mentioned, ‘Sure.’ She spent 4 or 5 weeks with the stunt staff. It is fairly loopy.”
Akira’s Position In John Wick: Chapter 4 Defined
What makes Sawayama’s casting in John Wick: Chapter 4 so fascinating is that will probably be the primary time she has ever acted in a movie. Sawayama is a singer and dancer, although due to the extra action-oriented roles related to the John Wick franchise, Stahelski was extra concerned with casting her due to her dancing capabilities. It’s because, within the motion sequences that includes Akira all through John Wick: Chapter 4, the character’s combating type is akin to that of a dancer.
Akira as a personality can also be fascinating as a result of she is Koji’s daughter, giving her a connection to John that is not very distant given his friendship with Koji. Because the Osaka Continental is featured in outstanding motion sequences all through the film, Sawayama can showcase her abilities in choreographed combating, which have been enhanced due to her dancer background. This makes for a mess of memorable struggle sequences all through the movie the place Sawayama shines.
Sawayama is not the one newcomer to be featured in John Wick: Chapter 4 both. Martial artist Donnie Yen performs Caine, a blind Excessive Desk murderer and former buddy of John’s who proves to be a serious adversary for the movie’s titular hero. With a martial artist like Yen and a dancer like Sawayama concerned so closely in John Wick: Chapter 4, it is little surprise that the most recent movie within the franchise is being heralded as its finest.
Supply: EW