Actress Halle Berry shoots a machine gun in a behind-the-scenes John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum video. In May 2018, Berry was officially cast for the latest franchise installment, this coming after she reportedly demanded to have a role before the script was written.
In the original John Wick film, Keanu Reeves plays the title character. After the death of John Wick’s wife, the former hitman returns to a life of crime and seeks vengeance for a home robbery, along with the murder of his dog. Produced for approximately $20 to $30 million, John Wick earned over $88 million at the box office. Director Chad Stahelski returned for the 2017 sequel John Wick: Chapter 2, with Reeves reprising his role. The budget increased to $40 million, and the film went on to earn over $171 million. In John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, Berry portrays Sofia, an assassin who assists the title character. Last April, Reeves stated that he’s willing to continue the John Wick franchise if fans want more movies.
On Twitter, the official account for John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum released a behind-the-scenes video. Captioned with “Confirmed: @HalleBerry is unstoppable,” the 60-second clip features Berry preparing for her role as Sofia. First, she’s seen shooting handguns, and then wields a machine gun while taking down various practice targets. Berry quickly shifts back to a handgun, and then shifts once again, thus foreshadowing the character’s agility and professional proficiency. Midway through, the tone lightens up as Berry smiles after someone acknowledges an impressive “double tap,” but the action picks up once again as Berry moves toward targets. Near the end, Reeves appears on camera and addresses Berry’s “Hollywood” shooting skills. Watch the behind-the-scenes John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum video below.
For Berry, John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum could reignite her career as an action star. Despite landing a supporting role in the 2017 film Kingsman: The Golden Circle, Berry’s career momentum has slowed up over the past decade. She made her feature debut in Spike Lee’s 1991 film Jungle Fever, and made history a decade later with Monster’s Ball upon becoming the first African-American woman to win an Oscar for Best Actress.
For action fans, Berry’s John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum role is the latest addition to her impressive action resume. In years past, she’s been a Bond girl and starred as Ororo Munroe/Storm in the X-Men franchise. However, Berry’s role as Sofia in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum allows for a truly gritty and raw performance, one that could provide for spectacular moments alongside Reeves. And based on early reviews, fans do indeed want more John Wick films.
More: Keanu Reeves Interview - John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum
Source: John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum/Twitter
- John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum Release Date: 2019-05-17
