Eva Longoria has cultivated substantial business acumen throughout her career, yet she harbors certain regrets.
Following her impressive return on a $6 million investment in John Wick upon its 2014 release, which yielded more than double that figure, the esteemed Golden Globe nominee expressed a desire to have remained engaged with this immensely successful franchise, which recently celebrated its tenth anniversary.
“What frustrates me is that I was not involved in the subsequent films,” Longoria remarked during an interview with Business Insider. “That venture was a one-time chance. That was the gamble I took, yet my sole mistake was not securing a connection to the entire film series.”
The first John Wick film grossed over $86 million globally, and the franchise as a whole surpassed the remarkable $1 billion milestone last year with the release of John Wick: Chapter 4.
This discussion follows comments from producers Chad Stahelski and David Leitch, who acknowledged Longoria’s pivotal involvement in bringing the project to fruition, particularly after initial funding obstacles threatened the production of the Keanu Reeves-led action film.
Reflecting on her early days in production, Longoria remarked, “At that time, I was just beginning. I had limited resources, and the financial commitment felt daunting—I was merely trying to understand the process. I would love to claim I was an investment savant, meticulously calculating my risks, but that was far from the truth.”
It was her agency, CAA, that presented her with this opportunity while sourcing funding for the venture. “An agent—who wasn’t even my representative—contacted me, suggesting I invest in this project,” she explained, adding, “I was entirely oblivious to the nuances of film production, perplexed by concepts like gap financing.”
Longoria continues to receive dividends from her investment in John Wick. “My husband has acquaintance with the head of Lionsgate and sometimes comments, ‘I notice Eva received a check this week.’ But it was truly the brilliance of Chad and David, along with Keanu’s star power, that made the film successful. I merely facilitated funding.”
The franchise is set to expand with From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, featuring Ana de Armas, scheduled to premiere in theaters on June 6, 2025. Moreover, Donnie Yen is poised to reprise his role as the formidable, blind assassin Caine in an upcoming Lionsgate offering. Additionally, a prequel anime film is currently in development.
Following the previous year’s Peacock limited series The Continental, a sequel titled John Wick: Under the High Table is also in production.
Vocabulary List:
- Acumen /ˈæk.jə.mən/ (noun): The ability to make good judgments and quick decisions typically in a particular domain.
- Regrets /rɪˈɡrɛt/ (noun): A feeling of sadness or disappointment over something that has happened or been done.
- Substantial /səbˈstæn.ʃəl/ (adjective): Of considerable importance size or worth.
- Facilitated /fəˈsɪl.ɪ.teɪt/ (verb): Made an action or process easier or more achievable.
- Pivotal /ˈpɪv.ə.təl/ (adjective): Of crucial importance in relation to the development or success of something else.
- Oblivious /əˈblɪv.i.əs/ (adjective): Not aware of or not concerned about what is happening around one.
