Keanu Reeves, Anjelica Huston Share Secret to Success at ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum’ Premiere

Hundreds of cheering fans lined the streets of Hollywood Boulevard on Wednesday night, hoping to catch a glimpse of Keanu Reeves, Halle Berry, Anjelica Huston and director Chad Stahelskias as they arrived at the TCL Chinese Theater for the premiere of John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum.

The latest sequel in the John Wick franchise picks up only seconds after the second movie ended and finds the titular hitman on the run from the secretive organization of assassins that he once worked for. Reeves’ journey takes him from the streets of New York to the sands of the Sahara and he uses everything from horses to motorcycles to stay one step ahead of his pursuers. Reeves shared with The Hollywood Reporter why he loved starring in the series.

“I love the idea of the real world and then this underground assassin world and then the world of the high table,” Reeves said. “I love the action involved in the film. I think they’re funny, I think they’re suspenseful. I think they’re very unique. On Chapter 3, I had a chance to film in the Sahara. To play John Wick in a suit walking on sand dunes is a lot of fun.”

It was clear that after having shot three films together, the camaraderie among the cast was high. At one point while Lance Reddick was doing an interview, Ian McShane snuck up behind him and barked like a dog to startle him.

Halle Berry, a newcomer to the franchise, described to THR the intense level of training she had to undergo to prepare for her role in the film. “I had strength training. I had martial arts training. I learned jiu jitsu, aikido, taekwondo, gun fu. Then I had firearms training which I had never done before in my life and then I ended up every day with my dogs for about two hours doing dog training.”

Anjelica Huston, who is best known for her more dramatic roles, joined the franchise as The Director, the leader of a powerful criminal organization. She told THR why audiences love watching Reeves. “I’m a huge Keanu Reeves fan. I love his work,” she said. “He has a total dedication to what he does and an enjoyment for what he does and I think he really loves people and that’s so important.”

Following the film’s final gunshot, the audience headed over towards the Avalon Hollywood nightclub for the afterparty. Guests sipped cocktails and snacked on appetizers like fried chicken and beef sliders and bacon-wrapped dates while discussing their favorite of the movie’s many thrilling action sequences.

Reeves and Berry chatted in the VIP section and they greeted dozens of well-wishers still hyped off of the adrenaline from watching the film.

John Drake, the co-chair of Lionsgate’s motion picture group told THR why he believes the franchise has been such a success. “I really think that it is both Keanu and Chad’s pure love of the audience,” said Drake. “They make movies for the audience and they are determined to thrill and wow and invent things that you’ve never seen before and when you love the audience so much and you deliver for them, they show up.”

John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum hits theaters on May 17.