Stunt master and director Chad Stahelski will oversee the “John Wick” and “Highlander” franchises across all media for Lionsgate, the company announced Tuesday.
His next feature film will be directing the “Highlander” reboot, starring Henry Cavill as the immortal Scottish action hero. Under his expanded partnership with Lionsgate, Stahelski will have creative oversight of “Highlander” and “John Wick” across film, TV and all multimedia platforms.
His production company 87Eleven, co-founded with David Leitch, will design a “comprehensive multiplatform content strategy for both franchises” and “guide the short- and long-term creative direction, franchise strategy and strategic growth of these two iconic properties to ensure that quality, tone and vision remain consistent.” Stahelski will work with Thunder Road’s Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee on the “John Wick”franchise and Neal H. Moritz and the estate of the late Peter S. Davis on “Highlander.”
“I am pleased to be able togrowmy relationship with Lionsgate in this new oversight role for the‘John Wick’ universe and its further expansion,” said Stahelski. “‘John Wick’is so close to my heart and to be able to continue shepherding it will be a blast for me. I’m so happy to also be launching another franchise with‘Highlander,’ a world that is so rich with engaging stories to be told.”
Stahelski created and directed all four “John Wick” movies. Last year’s “John Wick Chapter 4” grossed a more than $440 million worldwide, a franchise best. He also executive produced “The Continental,” a prequel series that launched on Peacock in the U.S., and “John Wick’s” first spinoff film, “Ballerina” starring Ana de Armas, which will hit theaters on June 7.
“This deal expands on thegreatcreative relationship we already have in place onJohn Wickand extends it to our‘Highlander’franchise,” Joe Drake, the outgoing chair of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group and Adam Fogelson, chair of the MPG, said. “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 stewardsguiding 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.”
Stahelski is represented by WME, attorney Tara Kole, and Mortimer PR.
