Charles F. Stahelski (born September 20, 1968) is an American stuntman and filmmaker. He is considered a highly-influential figure in the action film genre.[1] He first achieved prominence as a stunt performer and coordinator, notably as the key stunt double for Keanu Reeves on The Matrix (1999), and as the martial arts stunt coordinator on its first two sequels. He subsequently directed the 2014 film John Wick, starring Reeves, and its three sequels.
Chad Stahelski | |
|---|---|
 Stahelski at the John Wick red carpet premiere in Austin, Texas, September 19, 2014 | |
| Born | Charles F. Stahelski September 20, 1968 |
| Alma mater | University of Southern California |
| Occupations | |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Known for | |
Biography
editMartial arts training
editStahelski was born in Palmer, Massachusetts to Gary and Kathleen Stahelski (née Diamond) in 1968. He began training in martial arts from a young age.[2] He studied Jeet Kune Do under Dan Inosanto, and for a time was an instructor at Inosanto's school in Los Angeles.[3]
Prior to his motion picture career, Stahelski competed in kickboxing and mixed martial arts.[3] He was one of the earliest American competitors in Shooto. He fought Manabu Yamada in a 1993 Shooto event, losing in the first round from a kneebar submission.[4]
Stahelski is an alumnus of the University of Southern California.[5]
Stuntman (1993–2013)
editStahelski and fellow stuntman Jeff Cadiente served as stunt doubles for the actor Brandon Lee on the 1994 film The Crow. Accidentally wounded on set on March 31, 1993 by defective blank ammunition, Lee later died in hospital during surgery.[6] Stahelski completed the remaining filming in place of Lee and special effects were used to superimpose Lee's face onto Stahelski.[7]
In 1997, Stahelski co-founded action design company 87Eleven with David Leitch.[3][8] The company has since split between an action design company and a production company, 87North Productions.
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.[9] Stahelski states that his experience working with martial arts choreographer Yuen Woo-ping heavily influenced his own approach to stunts.[1]
In 2009, Stahelski was second-unit director and stunt co-ordinator on Ninja Assassin along with David Leitch, produced by Matrix directors The Wachowskis.[10]
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.[11]
Director (2014–present)
editIn 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.[12][13] Stahelski acted as sole director for the film's 2017 sequel, John Wick: Chapter 2,[14] and again for the third film, John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019) and fourth film, John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023).[15][16][17][18] He also served as the second unit director for the reshoots of Birds of Prey.[19]
In 2021, Stahelski returned to The Matrix franchise for its fourth installment, The Matrix Resurrections, making a cameo appearance as Trinity's "husband."[20]
Upcoming
editIn March 2023, Stahelski clarified that a remake of Highlander[21] as well as adaptations of Rainbow Six, Ghost of Tsushima,[22] Black Samurai for Netflix, and Shibumi[23] for Warner Bros. were the projects he was currently developing to produce and direct.[24]
Other projects he has been attached to in the past include Analog, and adaptations of Kill or Be Killed, and Sandman Slim.[25][26][27][28]
In February 2024, Lionsgate appointed Stahelski to oversee the John Wick and Highlander franchises. Stahelski will have creative oversight across film, TV and all multimedia platforms.[29]
Personal life
editStahelski was married to fellow stunt performer Heidi Moneymaker, but they divorced in 2018.[30]
Stahelski was a friend of Brandon Lee and worked as his double.[31] They trained together at the Inosanto Academy.
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Director | Producer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2025 | From the World of John Wick: Ballerina | No | Yes |
Second-unit director
| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Ninja Assassin | James McTeigue | Alongside David Leitch |
| 2011 | Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows | Guy Ritchie | |
| 2012 | The Expendables 2 | Simon West | |
| Safe | Boaz Yakin | ||
| 2013 | After Earth | M. Night Shyamalan | |
| Escape Plan | Mikael Håfström | Alongside David Leitch | |
| The Hunger Games: Catching Fire | Francis Lawrence | Also supervising stunt co-ordinator | |
| 2015 | Hitman: Agent 47 | Aleksander Bach | Alongside David Leitch |
| 2016 | Grimsby | Louis Leterrier | |
| Captain America: Civil War | Anthony and Joe Russo | Alongside David Leitch | |
| 2020 | Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) | Cathy Yan | 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 | |
| Orgazmo | ||
| 1998 | Recoil | |
| Almost Heroes | ||
| The Hunted | Stunts/Stunt Coordinator | |
| 1999 | 8mm | |
| The Matrix | Keanu Reeves' Stunt Double | |
| Wild Wild West | ||
| 2000 | Picking Up The Pieces | |
| The Replacements | (Keanu Reeves' Stunt Double (Uncredited) | |
| The Gift | Uncredited stunts | |
| 2001 | Tomcats | |
| Ghosts of Mars | ||
| Rock Star | ||
| Corky Romano | ||
| 2003 | The Matrix Reloaded | Martial Arts Stunt Coordinator |
| The Matrix Revolutions | ||
| 2004 | Torque | Stunt Driver (Uncredited) |
| Van Helsing | Fight Coordinator/Assistant Stunt Coordinator | |
| Spider-Man 2 | Uncredited | |
| Cellular | Utility Stunts (Uncredited) | |
| 2005 | Thumbsucker | |
| Constantine | Fight Choreographer (Uncredited) | |
| XXX: State of the Union | ||
| Mr. & Mrs. Smith | Utility Stunts | |
| The Dukes of Hazzard | Johnny Knoxville-Stunt Double (Uncredited) | |
| Serenity | Stunt Coordinator | |
| Æon Flux | Uncredited | |
| V for Vendetta | ||
| 2006 | Beerfest | Stunt Coordinator |
| 300 | Fight Choreographer | |
| 2007 | Next | |
| Live Free or Die Hard | ||
| Shoot 'Em Up | Uncredited | |
| I Am Legend | ||
| 2008 | Jumper | |
| 2008 | Speed Racer | Supervising Stunt Coordinator |
| 2009 | X-Men Origins: Wolverine | Action Coordinator |
| Ninja Assassin | Stunt Coordinator | |
| 2010 | Iron Man 2 | Utility Stunts |
| The Expendables | Stunt Coordinator | |
| Tron: Legacy | Uncredited | |
| 2011 | Season of the Witch | |
| The Mechanic | Stunt Coordinator | |
| Immortals | Fight Choreographer | |
| 2012 | Safe | Supervising Stunt Coordinator |
| Dredd | Action Coordinator | |
| 2013 | G.I. Joe: Retaliation | Assistant Stunt Coordinator |
| 2013 | The Wolverine | Stunt Coordinator (Uncredited) |
| 47 Ronin | ||
| Homefront | ||
| 2014 | Captain America: The Winter Soldier | Uncredited |
| 2018 | Deadpool 2 | |
| 2024 | Deadpool & Wolverine |
Actor
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Nemesis 2: Nebula | Nebula |
| 1998 | Vampires | Male Master #4 |
| 2021 | The Matrix Resurrections | Chad |
References
edit- ^ a b Hemphill, Jim (2023-11-29). "Chad Stahelski Is Reinventing How Action Sequences Get Made". IndieWire. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
- ^ Martin, Paul (2012-08-13). "Interview with Chad Stahelski (Martial Arts Stunt Coordinator, Neo Stunt Double) from The Matrix Reloaded / Revolutions (2003)". Matrix Fans. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
- ^ a b c "Meet the Team At 87eleven Action Design". www.87eleven.net. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "Chad Stahelski MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography - Sherdog.com". Sherdog. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
- ^ "USC Cinematic Arts | School of Cinematic Arts Events". cinema.usc.edu. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
- ^ Robey, Tim (October 27, 2016). "Brandon Lee, Michael Massee and the 'curse' of The Crow". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
- ^ "The Crow cast deals with Brandon's Lee death". EW.com. Retrieved 2020-09-25.
- ^ O'Falt, Chris (3 December 2019). "BTL Influencers: 87-Eleven's Chad Stahelski and David Leitch". IndieWire. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
- ^ "Chad Stahelski". IMDb.
- ^ O'Connell, Mikey (2023-03-14). "'John Wick' Filmmaker Chad Stahelski Talks Sequels, Oscar Stunt Snubs and Why Guns Still Show Up on Sets". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
- ^ "'Expendables 2' Stuntman Death Prompts Family Lawsuit". The Hollywood Reporter. 26 July 2012.
- ^ Cunningham, Todd (October 26, 2014). "Keanu Reeves' 'John Wick' Hits Box-Office Bulls-Eye and Lionsgate's Gamble Pays Off". thewrap.com. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
- ^ "John Wick (2014)". boxofficemojo.com. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
- ^ WEINTRAUB, STEVE (September 24, 2015). "Exclusive: Chad Stahelski To Direct 'John Wick 2' Solo". collider.com. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
- ^ Romano, Nick. "John Wick 3 brings back Chad Stahelski to direct". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
- ^ McNary, Dave (2019-05-20). "'John Wick 4' Confirmed With a 2021 Release Date". Variety. Retrieved 2020-06-13.
- ^ "Lionsgate Sets New Dates for 'John Wick 4,' 'Spiral'". The Hollywood Reporter. May 2020. Retrieved 2020-06-13.
- ^ Giardina, Carolyn (2023-04-02). "'John Wick 5'? Director Chad Stahelski Says "We're Open To It"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
- ^ "'John Wick' Director Chad Stahelski to Oversee New Action Scenes for 'Birds of Prey' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. 16 August 2019.
- ^ Valenzuela, Ernesto (2022-07-23). "Why John Wick Director Chad Stahelski Played A Small Role In The Matrix Resurrections [Comic-Con]". /Film. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
- ^ Brian Gallagher (30 January 2017). "Highlander Reboot Will Start a Trilogy, Gets Compared to John Wick". MovieWeb.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (2021-03-25). "Sony And PlayStation Productions Developing Ghost of Tsushima Movie With 'John Wick's Chad Stahelski Directing". Deadline. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (August 18, 2022). "Chad Stahelski & Warner Bros' Assassin Movie Shibumi Finds Writer In Matthew Orton, Stahelski To Direct". Deadline Hollywood.
- ^ ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ Director Chad Stahelski Breaks Down the Ending That Made the Studio Say, “Are You Insane?”
- ^ Borys Kit (22 May 2018). "John Wick Director, Colony Creator Tackle Comic Book Analog for Lionsgate (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
- ^ Kit, Borys (2017-12-14). "John Wick Director Tackling Ed Brubaker Comic Kill or Be Killed (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2017-12-15.
- ^ Bui, Hoai-Tran (13 February 2018). "John Wick Director Chad Stahelski to Direct Dark Fantasy Film Sandman Slim". /Film. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
- ^ Foutch, Haleigh (12 February 2018). "'John Wick' Director Chad Stahelski to Helm Dark Fantasy Sandman Slim for Studio 8". Collider. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
- ^ Moreau, Jordan (January 16, 2024). "Chad Stahelski Will Oversee Highlander and John Wick Franchises for Lionsgate". Variety Magazine. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
- ^ "HEIDI LOUISE MONEYMAKER STAHELSKI VS CHARLES STAHELSKI". UniCourt.
- ^ O'Connell, Mikey (2023-03-14). "'John Wick' Filmmaker Chad Stahelski Talks Sequels, Oscar Stunt Snubs and Why Guns Still Show Up on Sets". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2023-04-11.