Laurence Fishburne wants next John Wick filmed in Australia

Laurence Fishburne wants the next John Wick filmed in Australia and reveals why Wick: Chapter 4 ‘is going to be the best one yet’.

Laurence Fishburne as Bowery King in John Wick: Chapter 4.Picture: Murray Close

If award-winning actor Laurence Fishburne has his way, the next chapter of the hit action franchise John Wick will be filmed here in Australia.

“I’ll just need to talk to the powers that be … and I’ll let you know,” Fishburne said, from Los Angeles ahead of the fourth movie being released.

The Hollywood heavyweight first worked with John Wick himself – Keanu Reeves – filming the series of Matrix movies in Sydney two decades ago. And it was this friendship formed out of Neo and Morpheus’ adventures which led to his role as the Bowery King in the second John Wick

“Keanu and I have remained friends, and I told him I watched the (first) movie and loved it,” Fishburne said.

Laurence Fishburne as Bowery King in John Wick: Chapter 4. Picture: Murray Close

“He was about to start the movie again and I was like, ‘Yo, man, you gotta talk to Chad and tell him that your boy Fish wants to come get down’ because I really wanted to be a part of it. They found something for me to do, and it was really cool.”

John Wick Chapter 4 sees Wick discover a way to defeat the High Table. But to win his freedom, he must face a new rival with powerful alliances around the world, capable of turning old friends into enemies.

The adventure hops around the globe, with Wick seen walking through Paris in winter with the Eiffel Tower looming large, and also getting into sword fights in Japan, New York and Berlin.

Keanu Reeves and Donnie Yen in John Wick 4. Picture: Murray Close

“It was the best. It was the best. When I read the script, I thought, ‘This is going to be the best one yet’,” Fishburne said.

“You know, it’s just the character development. We learn more about certain characters. I mean, it’s just so rich, this movie.”

Many have hailed John Wick: Chapter 4 “one of the greatest action movies ever made”, heaping praise on Reeves and the sequel’s stacked supporting cast, which also includes Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgard, Scott Adkins, and Clancy Brown

Fishburne agreed, saying Reeves – with his former stunt double-turned-filmmaker Chad Stahelski at the helm – had upped the ante on the action scenes.

“There’s the attention to detail with the action,” he said.

“And with Chad and Keanu having worked so closely as actor and stuntman during The Matrix, it’s phenomenal.”

Director Chad Stahelski, Laurence Fishburne and Keanu Reeves on the set of John Wick: Chapter 4. Picture: Murray Close

The three-time Emmy Award and Tony Award winning actor has a lengthy resume of stage and screen roles spanning 50 years – from Furious Styles in Boyz n the Hood, Tyrone “Mr. Clean” Miller in Apocalypse Now, Ike Turner in What’s Love Got to Do With It, and even as the first African American to portray Othello on film.

There’s no particular role that he has a burning desire to add to his portfolio.

“No, no, no, no – I have no bucket list, if you will,” he said.

“I’m open to what’s coming to me. I’m sure there are things that are coming to me that are unexpected, that will challenge me in ways and require me, hopefully, to grow and change.”

John Wick 4, in cinemas March 24

Originally published as Laurence Fishburne wants next John Wick filmed in Australia