Willem Dafoe, Keanu Reeves to Lead Assassination Thriller JOHN WICKS

Willem Dafoe has signed on to join Keanu Reeves in the upcoming hitman thriller JOHN WICKS, according to Deadline.

The project is set up at Thunder Road, and features a script by Derek Kolstad.

The film follows "Dafoe's Marcus character hired to take out the Reeves-portrayed title character, who is a former contract killer himself. And Marcus also happens to be a close friend of the Wick character. He was the one who encouraged Wick to leave the life after his wife dies. Only later do things turn sour when Marcus gets the job to kill his friend. In the film, Reeves stars as the retired hitman who goes after the guy who stole his car and in the process killed Wick's beloved dog - a present from his late wife. Turns out the thief's dad is a crime boss in New York, who puts a contract out on Wick."

Dafoe's long career in film includes Platoon, Affliction, Off Limits, Streets of Fire, To Live and Die in L.A., Born on the Fourth of July, The English Patient, The Last Temptation of Christ, Mississippi Burning, The Boondock Saints, Spider-Man, and The Aviator as well as voice roles in Fantastic Mr. Fox and Finding Nemo.

Dafoe has been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor twice. The first was for his role in Platoon in 1986 and the second for his performance in Shadow of the Vampire in 2000.

Photo by Peter James Zielinski

To post a comment, you must register and login.