Ian McShane & Lance Reddick Interview: John Wick Chapter 4 (2024)

John Wick: Chapter 4 follows John Wick as he takes the fight to the High Table. However, all of his allies are in danger when a dangerous new enemy is brought in by High Table: the Marquis Vincent de Gramont. The Marquis will turn old friends into foes, and the fight will become even more personal for John, with higher stakes than ever.

John Wick: Chapter 4 stars Keanu Reeves, Lance Reddick, Ian McShane, Laurence Fishburne, Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgård, Hiroyuki Sanada, and Shamier Anderson Chad Stahelski continues to helm John Wick's story, returning to direct John Wick: Chapter 4.John Wick first debuted in 2014 and has continued to grow, now expanding beyond the titular character's story with two upcoming spin-offs: The Continental television series and Ballerina movie.

Related: Every Continental Hotel Location In The John Wick Franchise

Screen Rant spoke with McShane and Reddick about reprising their roles as Winston and Charon in John Wick: Chapter 4. Reddick revealed the origin story of Winston and Charon's friendship that he and McShane created and how the Marquis is the most dangerous John Wick villain yet. McShane teased how John Wick 4 is different from the other installments.

Ian McShane & Lance Reddick On John Wick Chapter 4

Screen Rant: The John Wick franchise outdoes itself in every single installment. In a world where you can't trust anybody, there is loyalty that does exist. Lance, can you talk about the bond that your characters share and the loyalty between them?

Lance Reddick: We talked about [it] independently, and came to have a backstory that was very similar since we've talked about it. But I think we've known each other for decades; probably met when he was in Africa, doing some MI6 work, and I was teenager not too well off. And one of us saved each other's lives. And then he took me under his wing, and I've been with him ever since. For me, not only do I feel that I owe him my life, but he's my brother.

Winston always seems to have an angle, but he still wants to help the people that he looks out for. How do you tap into the duality of that performance?

Ian McShane: Because of what happens. Up until this movie, it's all been taken care of John, and he's been relatively secure, even though he's done what he thinks to tread the fine line. But this time something's taken away from him, which doesn't sit too well with Winston. Because they do run a hotel for assassins. It's an odd job, so they've got to take care of stuff. And so it goes on another trajectory, which is good. But that's the fourth [movie], you've got to expand the characters.

Fourth John Wick, you think, "Same old," but it's not. It's expanded, the relationships have got deeper, they've gotten better; you understand more about the world. It's matured, but I think that's due to the writer and Chad staying with it. Chad directing all the movies. It wouldn't be the same [otherwise]. That's key to it, absolutely.

Speaking of expanding, we're going to learn more about Winston and Charon in the upcoming Continental series. Is there anything that you guys would like to see explored about your characters?

Ian McShane: They've never actually asked us anything about it. So, I haven't got a clue what the series is about.

Is there anything that you'd want to explore in Winston personally?

Ian McShane: Oh no, you mean Winston now? The less you know, the better. Maybe too late now, I don't know. As you said, it's called John Wick. It's not called Winston. I just come in and say, "Excuse me, see the name on the thing? It's called John Wick." It's all about Keanu, and we're all in it together. And he's great.

We all [turn] around the sun, the glory, but we all add to the show as a whole. Each time out, you look for the wrinkles in the script that are going to be different from last time. And luckily, there's mostly more to do and more to be interested in.

Both of you face the most difficult and deadly enemy yet, the Marquis. What makes him so dangerous and especially in a world full of killers?

Ian McShane: He's six foot five, he was appalling suits, he's Swedish, and he speaks nineteen language. And he's one Skarsgård and he's got 1000 brothers. No, I love Bill. I think Bill is great in the [movie], crazy as a loon.

Lance Reddick: But also he's almost a complete psychopath and it feels like he has more carte blanche to do what he wants from the High Table than any villain yet.

About John Wick Chapter 4

Following the events of Parabellum, John Wick has found a new path to defeating the High Table and is taking the fight to them. But before he can try to earn his freedom, a powerful new enemy will turn even more people against Wick, including one of his oldest and most dangerous friends.

Check out our other John Wick: Chapter 4 interviews here:

• Keanu Reeves
• Laurence Fishburne
• Chad Stahelski
• Scott Adkins
• Costume Designer Paco Delgado
• Writers Shay Hatten and Michael Finch

Next: Ballerina's Timeline Shows John Wick Really Can't Catch A Break