Rewind the clock back to late 2014 and John Wick was a Keanu Reeves-headlined action/thriller arriving on the scene with limited fanfare; save for the positive buzz surrounding the movie after its screening at the Austin Fantastic Fest, a month before its domestic theatrical release. Jump ahead to the present and now the film/TV blogosphere is all abuzz about this week’s release of John Wick: Chapter Two, in the aftermath of the first installment becoming a proper cult hit and giving rise to a multimedia franchise that already encompasses video games and comic books, in addition to a pair of movies (so far).

The initial critical word of mouth around John Wick: Chapter Two is quite positive right now, suggesting that fans of the original John Wick movie shouldn’t be disappointed with what returning screenwriter Derek Kolstad and director Chad Stahelski (who co-helmed the first John Wick film with David Leitch) have cooked up for this time around. Lionsgate is continuing its final marketing push for the sequel in the meantime - and today, we are exclusively debuting yet another addition to the growing collection of official John Wick: Chapter Two posters, at that.

John Wick: Chapter Two picks up but four days after its predecessor, with John eager to settle back down into a quiet life of retirement, with a new dog to keep him company. However, word that John is “back” travels fast and an old acquaintance in the form of The Bowery King (Laurence Fisburne) soon comes calling, requesting that John fulfill the blood oath that he owes to the King. However, in order to do so, John has to head overseas to Rome and kill a whole lot of people. It’s a good thing he’s properly reloaded then, as this new poster teases:

The John Wick: Chapter Two posters continue to impress with the latest addition to the pile, again embracing the minimalist approach that has defined the film’s poster artwork campaign, leading up to now. These simple, yet stylish and effective one-sheets have made for a refreshing change of pace in that respect too - as more often than not nowadays, posters for tentpoles and franchise movies seem intent on including as many famous faces from the movie as possible. There’s certainly a logic behind that trend (read: utilizing your cast for its full marketing potential), but the simpler poster designs for movies such as the John Wick sequel and next month’s Logan now stand-out all the better, as an inadvertent side effect.

That isn’t to imply that John Wick: Chapter Two is lacking in the star-power department, by comparison. The film’s supporting cast includes not only Reeves and Fisburne, but also Oscar-winner Common (Suicide Squad), Ruby Rose (Resident Evil: The Final Chapter) and Peter Stormare (Longmire) in prominent roles, as well as returning John Wick players like Ian McShane and Lance Reddick. Still, Reeves as the John Wick character is the major selling point for the sequel and as such, it’s only fitting that the movie’s posters have continued to keep the focus on him and his - quite literal - guns.

Source: Lionsgate

  • John Wick: Chapter 2 Release Date: 2017-02-10