Keanu Reeves says John Wick 2 is a third degree black belt action movie

It's safe to say that John Wick was one of 2014's biggest and best cinematic surprises, and thanks to a decent-sized box office haul Keanu Reeves will be back on the silver screen as cinema's most dapper and efficient hitman next year.

Reeves recently spoke with IGN about what's in store for John Wick: Chapter Two, and it sounds like they've followed the sequel mantra of upping the ante; "For us it was just what is the next chapter? What is the continuation of this story? Opening up the world – the underground world. The world behind the world in terms of the assassins. Kind of evolving the action – if the first one was a black belt, then this one is third degree black belt. It’s such a fun project and a great character."

Reeves also had a few things to say about his Matrix co-star Laurence Fishburne, who joined the cast of the sequel; "Laurence has this fantastic role as a character in the Underworld called The Bowery King. He plays such a great character in the piece and he brings of course humour, intelligence, charisma and fascination – he’s such an incredible actor and it was a pleasure to work with him again."

Whether or not Fishburne is a friend or foe for Wick remains to be seen, but it's good to know that we're going to see more of the underground world that was so compelling in the first film. One thing is for sure; Where John Wick: Chapter Two is concerned, we're taking the red pill.

Directed by Chad Stahelski and starring Keanu Reeves, Bridget Moynahan, Peter Stormare, Laurence Fishburne, Lance Reddick, Ian McShane, Common, John Leguizamo, and Ruby Rose, John Wick: Chapter Two is released in UK and US cinemas on February 10, 2017.

Images: Thunder Road Pictures

Amon Warmann

Amon is a contributing editor and columnist for Empire magazine, but is also a Film and TV writer for GamesRadar+, Total Film, and others. He has also written for NME, Composer Mag, and more, along with being a film critic for TalkSport. He is also the co-host of the Fade to Black Podcast, and a video mashup creator. Can also do a pretty good Bane impersonation.