John Wick’s Chad Stahelski has struck a multi-year first-look production deal with Lionsgate.
Announced by Lionsgate, Stahelski’s 87Eleven Entertainment production company has set a multi-year first-look deal with the studio to focus on original action movies and projects.
“Chad and his team at 8711 Entertainment are profoundly talented filmmakers and creative collaborators,” said Adam Fogelson, chair of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group. “They raise the bar of excellence on every project they take on, and we are looking to Chad to bring us the best new original action projects that we can work on together and turn into the next hits and franchises.”
Stahelski said, “Lionsgate has been my home studio throughout my career as a feature director, so it only makes sense that I would base our film production business with the team that has been such extraordinary partners for so many years.”
Stahelski directed all four films in the John Wick franchise, including 2014’s John Wick, 2017’s John Wick: Chapter 2, 2019’s John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum, and 2023’s John Wick: Chapter 4. He’s also executive producing the upcoming Ana de Armas-led spin-off movie, Ballerina, which is directed by Len Wiseman and is scheduled to release in 2025.
Chad Stahelski is also helming Lionsgate’s Highlander franchise
The news comes just a few weeks after Lionsgate announced that Stahelski will have a major role overseeing both the John Wick and Highlander franchises going forward. His next film will be the Henry Cavill-starring Highlander reboot, which does not yet have an official release date.
Fogelson and outgoing Lionsgate chair Joe Drake said at the time, “This deal expands on the great creative relationship we already have in place on John Wick and extends it to our Highlander franchise. From the outset, Chad has been the creative force defining the world of Wick; as we continue to think about the future for that world, we want Chad, working together with Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee of Thunder Road, as our stewards guiding us and strategizing together at every step. This deal makes it official, and we look forward to his steady hand and creative input not just on the film he is making, but other stories that arise from it. He is a true visionary, and we are thrilled to have him in our corner.”
Jason Spitz and Alex Young are also part of the key team at 8711 Entertainment. Lionsgate’s Bonnie Stylides oversaw the deal on behalf of the studio.
