Chad Stahelski (born September 20, 1968) is an American stuntman and film director. He is known for directing the 2014 film John Wick and directing its three sequels. Stahelski also doubled for Brandon Lee after the fatal accident involving Lee on the set of The Crow (1994) and replaced Lee in the film. He has worked as a stunt coordinator and second unit director on several films.
Chad Stahelski | |
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Born | Charles F. Stahelski (1968-09-20) September 20, 1968 (age 54) Palmer, Massachusetts, U.S. |
Nationality | American |
Occupation | Film director, stunt coordinator, second unit director, actor |
Years active | 1992–present |
Known for |
Stahelski worked on Alex Proyas' The Crow (1994). Stahelski and fellow stuntman Jeff Cadiente served as stand-ins for the actor Brandon Lee. Previously on March 31, 1993, while filming, Lee was accidentally wounded on set by defective blank ammunition and later died in hospital during surgery.[1] Special effects were used to give them Lee's face.[2] Their work paved the way for resurrecting actors to complete or have new performances, since pioneering CGI techniques were used to complete the film.[3]
In 1997, Stahelski co-founded action design company 87Eleven with David Leitch.[4]
He worked as a stunt double for his future John Wick star Keanu Reeves in The Matrix franchise, and later served as a stunt co-ordinator for the films.[5] In 2009, Stahelski was second-unit director and stunt co-ordinator on Ninja Assassin along with David Leitch.
In 2012, on the set of the film The Expendables 2 for which Stahelski served as stunt coordinator, stuntman Kun Liu was killed by an explosion on set. Liu's family sued Stahelski following the accident.[6]
In 2014, Stahelski co-directed the action thriller film John Wick along with Leitch, based on the screenplay by Derek Kolstad. The film starred Keanu Reeves and Michael Nyqvist, and was released on October 24, 2014 by Summit Entertainment, grossing over $88 million.[7][8]
Stahelski acted as sole director for the film's 2017 sequel, John Wick: Chapter 2,[9] and again for the third film, John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019).[10]
In 2019, Stahelski was the second unit director for the reshoots of Birds of Prey.[11]
In November 2017, he was signed on to the reboot of the Highlander franchise, which he committed to making a trilogy of, ending with "The Gathering" of the immortals. It would be similar in thematic development with the original Star Wars trilogy, and similar to John Wick action, but with swords replacing gun-play. The reboot trilogy would still include the iconic music by Queen.[12]
In December 2017, it was announced that Stahelski would be directing a film adaptation of the comic book Kill or Be Killed.[13]
In February 2018, it was announced that Stahelski would be directing a film adaptation of the Sandman Slim novels.[14][15]
In May 2018, Stahelski was announced as director of Analog.[16]
In May 2019, Stahelski was confirmed to be directing John Wick: Chapter 4, which is set for release on March 24, 2023.[17][18]
In March 2021, it was announced that Stahelski would direct a film adaptation of Ghost of Tsushima.[19]
Stahelski was married to fellow stunt performer Heidi Moneymaker,[20] who worked as Scarlett Johansson's double as Black Widow. She also appeared on Stahelski's film John Wick: Chapter 2. Stahelski and Heidi Moneymaker have been divorced since 2018.
Stahelski was a friend of Brandon Lee. They trained together at the Inosanto Academy.
Year | Title | Director | Producer | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | John Wick | Yes | No | |
2017 | John Wick: Chapter 2 | Yes | No | |
2019 | John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum | Yes | Executive | |
2021 | Bruised | No | Executive | |
2022 | Day Shift | No | Yes | |
2023 | John Wick: Chapter 4 | Yes | Yes | Post-production |
TBA | Ballerina | No | Yes | Filming |
Second-unit director
Year | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
2016 | Captain America: Civil War | |
2020 | Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) | Also stunt coordinator |
Stuntwork
Year | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
1994 | The Crow | Brandon Lee-Stunt Double (Reshoots Uncredited) Credited As Chad Storelson |
1996 | Escape from L.A. | |
1997 | Bean | |
1997 | Orgazmo | |
1998 | Recoil | |
1998 | Almost Heroes | |
1998 | The Hunted | Stunts/Stunt Coordinator |
1999 | 8mm | |
1999 | The Matrix | Keanu Reeves-Stunt Double |
1999 | Wild Wild West | |
2000 | Picking Up The Pieces | |
2000 | The Replacements | (Keanu Reeves-Stunt Double Uncredited) |
2000 | The Gift | (Uncredited Stunts) |
2001 | Tomcats | |
2001 | Ghosts of Mars | |
2001 | Rock Star | |
2001 | Corky Romano | |
2003 | The Matrix Reloaded | Martial Arts Stunt Coordinator |
2003 | The Matrix Revolutions | Martial Arts Stunt Coordinator |
2004 | Torque | Stunt Driver (Uncredited) |
2004 | Van Helsing | Fight Coordinator/Assistant Stunt Coordinator |
2004 | Spider-Man 2 | (Uncredited) |
2004 | Cellular | Utility Stunts (Uncredited) |
2005 | Thumbsucker | |
2005 | Constantine | Fight Choreographer (Uncredited) |
2005 | XXX: State of the Union | |
2005 | Mr. & Mrs. Smith | (Utility Stunts) |
2005 | The Dukes of Hazzard | (Johnny Knoxville-Stunt Double Uncredited) |
2005 | Serenity | Stunt Coordinator |
2005 | Æon Flux | (Uncredited) |
2005 | V for Vendetta | |
2006 | Beerfest | Stunt Coordinator |
2006 | 300 | Fight Choreographer |
2007 | Next | |
2007 | Live Free or Die Hard | |
2007 | Shoot 'Em Up | (Uncredited) |
2007 | I Am Legend | (Uncredited) |
2008 | Jumper | |
2008 | Speed Racer | Supervising Stunt Coordinator |
2009 | X-Men Origins: Wolverine | Action Coordinator |
2009 | Ninja Assassin | Stunt Coordinator |
2010 | Iron Man 2 | (Utility Stunts) |
2010 | The Expendables | Stunt Coordinator |
2010 | Tron: Legacy | (Uncredited) |
2011 | Season of the Witch | (Uncredited) |
2011 | The Mechanic | Stunt Coordinator |
2011 | Immortals | Fight Choreographer |
2012 | Safe | Supervising Stunt Coordinator |
2012 | Dredd | Action Coordinator |
2013 | G.I. Joe: Retaliation | Assistant Stunt Coordinator |
2013 | The Wolverine | Stunt Coordinator (Uncredited) |
2013 | 47 Ronin | Stunt Coordinator (Uncredited) |
2013 | Homefront | |
2014 | Captain America: The Winter Soldier | (Uncredited) |
2018 | Deadpool 2 | Directed By David Leitch |
Actor
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1998 | Vampires | Male Master #4 | |
2021 | The Matrix Resurrections | Chad[21] |
General | |
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National libraries | |
Other |
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