Reasons to Love New York
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Lance Reddick moved to Manhattan in 1995 after graduating from the Yale University School of Drama.
Reddick was actually only on the set of the originalJohn Wickfor one day.
A Starz prequel centering on Charons character is on the way as well.)
By 2019sJohn Wick: Chapter 3 Parabellum, Reddick was performing intense action scenes alongside Reeves.
The movie blew up so much, Reddick explains in a conversation with Vulture.
What stood out to you when you first read theJohn Wickscript?It wasnt the death of the puppy.
And the opportunity to play this quintessential gentleman with an African accent was exciting to me.
I found out later that the role was kind of written for me.
So what was the real reason?Its a funny story.
He said that he loved it and thats where he knew me from!
The Kenyan accent was in the script just for you?No, it said African accent.
I get this call on a Wednesday and I was supposed to shoot it that Monday.
When I read it, I was worried it wasnt enough time to do it.
But then I thought it may be interesting.
So then I put on my accentations.
I tried my South African accent and it didnt fit.
And then I tried my Kenyan accent and it worked.
The director heard it and said, Great, lets do it.
So I started through some performances that made me think of him.
The two people who came to mind were Alfred fromBatmanand Hector Elizondo fromPretty Woman.
I was not expecting you to drop aPretty Womanreference.Yeah, there was an elegance about him.
I flew in on a Saturday and did my fittings.
Then I shot all my stuff on a Sunday.
We were downtown across the street from that big statue of a bull.
What about the sequel, when you got to leave the Continental?I remember a night shoot.
This was downtown, right?
Someone showed me a video of the night before and the rats were just swarming around this tree.
Id lived in New York for ten years and never seen anything like it.
All I kept thinking about was Willard!
Still, this was a big-budget Hollywood production.
By the third one, it was a big Hollywood production.
But yeah, I hadnt worked on a movie that big in New York sinceThe Siegein 1998.
And most of my exterior stuff was done at night.
And yeah, a lot of people were gawking.
“How good to see you again so soon, Mr. Wick”.
And if theres any big movie star whos not that person, its Keanu.
I said, Keanu do you want to do XYZ?
I dont even remember what it was.
And he kind of smiled and said, No man, you just do your thing.
Hes also very shy.
This is going to sound really weird, but he seems simple, but spiritually hes very advanced.
That makes perfect sense, actually.Hes incredibly deep and insightful and thoughtful.
Hes such a wonderful human being.
How has your friendship changed after four movies?Weve gotten to know each other a little better.
But he wasnt in the scene.
He came to the set anyway at nine oclock at night with his girlfriend who I had never met.
And she is … can I say a bad word?
Go for it.His girlfriend is cool as fuck.
And he wanted to give the note to me.
Ill never forget it.
Im going to cry now.
Where is the note now?I dont remember where I put it.
I do know that I want to frame it.
How may I help you?
Watch Lance Reddick as Charon in #JohnWick3, now on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray & Digital.
bit.ly/johnwickFB
Does the cast hang out together off-the-clock?No, the shoot is so fragmented.
But my wife and I did once see Bruce Springsteens one-man show.
Im not the biggest fan, but seeing him live is a whole other experience.
Can you confirm if there are regular, non-killer guests at the Continental?Hmmm …
I always assumed that all the clients are murderers.
But I didnt do any research into it.
Theyre very secretive and very dangerous.
But Im not part of those clubs!
Could John Wick have worked as well if it werent filmed in New York?I dont know.
Theres definitely a mystique about it.
Theres a pulse and energy to New York thats not like any other place Ive ever been.
Its such a cultural and financial center of the world.
I dont want to say it has a certain je ne sais quoi, but I just said it.
Thats all I can say.
I may do a cameo but I have not been approached.
My plate is pretty full anyway with doing theResident Evil,movies, and voice work.
So you say youre a homebody.
But what kind of reaction do you get from concierges when you travel and stay in hotels?Ha!
Thats a fun question.
Generally they dont talk to me.
Sometimes theyll know who I am and say, Its a pleasure to have you, Mr. Reddick.
But I dont use a concierge that much.
What about when youre filmingJohn Wickin New York?
Arent you in a fancy hotel for a long time?Im not, but the other actors are.
Because of my, um, personal quirks, I always stay in a Residence Inn.
I like to prepare my own food.
And the Residence Inn has a big room and a big kitchen.
Thats all I need.
This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
