Chad Stahelski
{{Short description|American stuntman and film director}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Chad Stahelski
| image = Chad Stahelski.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Stahelski at the John Wick red carpet premiere in Austin, Texas, September 19, 2014
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1968|9|20}}
| birth_place = Palmer, Massachusetts, U.S.
| alma_mater = University of Southern California
| occupation = {{hlist|Film director|stunt coordinator|second unit director|actor}}
| years_active = 1992–present
| title =
| known_for = {{Ubl|The Crow|The Matrix|John Wick}}
| parents =
}}
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.{{Cite web |last=Hemphill |first=Jim |date=November 29, 2023 |title=Chad Stahelski Is Reinventing How Action Sequences Get Made |url=https://www.indiewire.com/features/interviews/chad-stahelski-director-indiewire-honors-1234930097/ |access-date=February 2, 2024 |website=IndieWire |language=en-US}} 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.
Biography
= Martial arts training =
Stahelski was born in Palmer, Massachusetts, to Gary and Kathleen Stahelski (née Diamond) in 1968. He began training in martial arts from a young age.{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Paul |date=August 13, 2012 |title=Interview with Chad Stahelski (Martial Arts Stunt Coordinator, Neo Stunt Double) from The Matrix Reloaded / Revolutions (2003) |url=https://www.matrixfans.net/interview-with-chad-stahelski-martial-arts-stunt-coordinator-neo-stunt-double-from-the-matrix-reloaded-revolutions-2003/ |access-date=February 2, 2024 |website=Matrix Fans |language=en-US}} He studied Jeet Kune Do under Dan Inosanto, and for a time was an instructor at Inosanto's school in Los Angeles.{{Cite web |title=Meet the Team At 87eleven Action Design |url=https://www.87eleven.net/team/ |access-date=February 2, 2024 |website=www.87eleven.net |language=en-US}}
Prior to his motion picture career, Stahelski competed in kickboxing and mixed martial arts. 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.{{Cite web |last=Sherdog.com |title=Chad Stahelski MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography - Sherdog.com |url=https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Chad-Stahelski-11733 |access-date=February 2, 2024 |website=Sherdog |language=en}}
Stahelski is an alumnus of the University of Southern California.{{Cite web |title=USC Cinematic Arts {{!}} School of Cinematic Arts Events |url=https://cinema.usc.edu/events/event.cfm?id=16733 |access-date=February 2, 2024 |website=cinema.usc.edu}}
= Stuntman (1993–2013) =
Stahelski 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.{{cite news|last1=Robey|first1=Tim|date=October 27, 2016|title=Brandon Lee, Michael Massee and the 'curse' of The Crow|work=The Daily Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/film/the-crow/brandon-lee-death-shooting-truth|access-date=January 26, 2017}} Stahelski completed the remaining filming in place of Lee and special effects were used to superimpose Lee's face onto Stahelski.{{Cite web|title=The Crow cast deals with Brandon's Lee death|url=https://ew.com/article/1994/05/13/crow-cast-deals-brandons-lee-death/|access-date=September 25, 2020|website=EW.com|language=EN}}
In 1997, Stahelski co-founded action design company 87Eleven with David Leitch.{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/12/influencers-87-eleven-1202192395/|title=BTL Influencers: 87-Eleven's Chad Stahelski and David Leitch|last=O'Falt|first=Chris|date=December 3, 2019|website=IndieWire|access-date=April 15, 2020}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0821432/|title=Chad Stahelski|website=IMDb}} Stahelski states that his experience working with martial arts choreographer Yuen Woo-ping heavily influenced his own approach to stunts.
In 2009, Stahelski was second-unit director and stunt co-ordinator on Ninja Assassin along with David Leitch, produced by Matrix directors The Wachowskis.{{Cite web |last=O'Connell |first=Mikey |date=March 14, 2023 |title='John Wick' Filmmaker Chad Stahelski Talks Sequels, Oscar Stunt Snubs and Why Guns Still Show Up on Sets |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/john-wick-filmmaker-chad-stahelski-sequels-oscar-stunt-snubs-firearms-1235343132/ |access-date=April 11, 2023 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}
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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/expendables-2-stuntman-death-family-lawsuit-355057|title = 'Expendables 2' Stuntman Death Prompts Family Lawsuit|website = The Hollywood Reporter|date = July 26, 2012}}
= Director (2014–present) =
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.{{cite news|last1=Cunningham|first1=Todd|title=Keanu Reeves' 'John Wick' Hits Box-Office Bulls-Eye and Lionsgate's Gamble Pays Off|url=https://www.thewrap.com/keanu-reeves-john-wick-hits-box-office-bulls-eye-and-lionsgates-gamble-pays-off/|access-date=October 27, 2015|work=thewrap.com|date=October 26, 2014}}{{cite web|title=John Wick (2014)|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=johnwick.htm|publisher=boxofficemojo.com|access-date=October 27, 2015}} Stahelski acted as sole director for the film's 2017 sequel, John Wick: Chapter 2,{{cite news|last1=WEINTRAUB|first1=STEVE|title=Exclusive: Chad Stahelski To Direct 'John Wick 2' Solo|url=https://collider.com/john-wick-2-director-is-chad-stahelski/|access-date=October 17, 2015|work=collider.com|date=September 24, 2015}} and again for the third film, John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019) and fourth film, John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023).{{cite magazine|last1=Romano|first1=Nick|title=John Wick 3 brings back Chad Stahelski to direct|url=https://ew.com/movies/2018/01/19/john-wick-3-director-chad-stahelski/|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=January 19, 2018}}{{Cite web|last=McNary|first=Dave|date=May 20, 2019|title='John Wick 4' Confirmed With a 2021 Release Date|url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/john-wick-4-summer-2021-lionsgate-1203221620/|access-date=June 13, 2020|website=Variety|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Lionsgate Sets New Dates for 'John Wick 4,' 'Spiral'|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/lionsgate-sets-new-dates-john-wick-4-spiral-1292904|access-date=June 13, 2020|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=May 2020|language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Giardina |first=Carolyn |date=April 2, 2023 |title='John Wick 5'? Director Chad Stahelski Says "We're Open To It" |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/chad-stahelski-dan-lanstsen-john-wick-4-thr-behind-the-screen-1235363619/ |access-date=April 11, 2023 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}} He also served as the second unit director for the reshoots of Birds of Prey.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/john-wick-director-oversee-new-action-scenes-birds-prey-1231715|title='John Wick' Director Chad Stahelski to Oversee New Action Scenes for 'Birds of Prey' (Exclusive)|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=August 16, 2019}}
In 2021, Stahelski returned to The Matrix franchise for its fourth installment, The Matrix Resurrections, making a cameo appearance as Trinity's "husband."{{Cite web |last=Valenzuela |first=Ernesto |date=July 23, 2022 |title=Why John Wick Director Chad Stahelski Played A Small Role In The Matrix Resurrections [Comic-Con] |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/938422/why-john-wick-director-chad-stahelski-played-a-small-role-in-the-matrix-resurrections-comic-con/ |access-date=February 2, 2024 |website=/Film |language=en-US}}
==Upcoming==
In March 2023, Stahelski clarified that a remake of Highlander{{cite web |url= http://movieweb.com/highlander-movie-reboot-trilogy-john-wick-action-scenes/ |author= Brian Gallagher |date= January 30, 2017 |website= MovieWeb |title= Highlander Reboot Will Start a Trilogy, Gets Compared to John Wick }} as well as adaptations of Rainbow Six, Ghost of Tsushima,{{Cite web|last=Kroll|first=Justin|date=March 25, 2021|title=Sony And PlayStation Productions Developing Ghost of Tsushima Movie With 'John Wick's Chad Stahelski Directing|url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/sony-playstation-productions-ghost-of-tsushima-movie-john-wicks-chad-stahelski-directing-1234721342/|access-date=April 3, 2021|website=Deadline|language=en-US}} Black Samurai for Netflix, and Shibumi{{cite web|title=Chad Stahelski & Warner Bros' Assassin Movie Shibumi Finds Writer In Matthew Orton, Stahelski To Direct|url=https://deadline.com/2022/08/chad-stahelski-john-wick-warner-bros-shibumi-movie-assassin-matt-orton-1235095335/|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=August 18, 2022|first=Andreas|last=Wiseman}} for Warner Bros. were the projects he was currently developing to produce and direct.[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/john-wick-chapter-4-ending-chad-stahelski-ending-1235359772/ ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ Director Chad Stahelski Breaks Down the Ending That Made the Studio Say, “Are You Insane?”]
In July 2023, Adult Swim announced Lazarus, an upcoming original anime television series directed by Shinichirō Watanabe, with Stahelski designing the action sequences.{{Cite web |title=Adult Swim announces new anime series from 'Cowboy Bebop' creator |url=https://ew.com/tv/adult-swim-new-anime-from-cowboy-bebop-creator-john-wick-director/ |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=EW.com |language=en}}
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.{{Cite web |last=Moreau |first=Jordan |date=January 16, 2024 |title=Chad Stahelski Will Oversee Highlander and John Wick Franchises for Lionsgate |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/chad-stahelski-highlander-john-wick-1235873941/ |access-date=February 22, 2024 |website=Variety Magazine}}
Other projects he has been attached to in the past include Analog, and adaptations of Kill or Be Killed, and Sandman Slim.{{cite web|author=Borys Kit|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/john-wick-director-chad-stahelski-colonys-ryan-condal-tackle-comic-book-analog-lionsgate-1113922|title=John Wick Director, Colony Creator Tackle Comic Book Analog for Lionsgate (Exclusive)|date=May 22, 2018|website=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=August 23, 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/john-wick-director-tackling-ed-brubaker-comic-kill-be-killed-1066847 |title=John Wick Director Tackling Ed Brubaker Comic Kill or Be Killed (Exclusive) |last=Kit |first=Borys |date=December 14, 2017 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=December 15, 2017}}{{cite web|last1=Bui|first1=Hoai-Tran|title=John Wick Director Chad Stahelski to Direct Dark Fantasy Film Sandman Slim|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/sandman-slim-movie-chad-stahelski/|website=/Film|date=February 13, 2018|access-date=February 13, 2018}}{{cite web|last1=Foutch|first1=Haleigh|title='John Wick' Director Chad Stahelski to Helm Dark Fantasy Sandman Slim for Studio 8|url=https://collider.com/chad-stahelski-sandman-slim-movie/|website=Collider|date=February 12, 2018|access-date=February 12, 2018}}
Personal life
Stahelski was married to fellow stunt performer Heidi Moneymaker, but they divorced in 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://unicourt.com/case/ca-la23-heidi-louise-moneymaker-stahelski-vs-charles-stahelski-21262|title=HEIDI LOUISE MONEYMAKER STAHELSKI VS CHARLES STAHELSKI|website=UniCourt}}
Stahelski was a friend of Brandon Lee and worked as his double. They trained together at the Inosanto Academy.
Filmography
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! Director ! Producer |
|---|
| 2014
| {{yes}} | {{no}} |
| 2017
| {{yes}} | {{no}} |
| 2019
| John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum | {{yes}} | {{Partial|Executive}} |
| 2020
| Bruised | {{no}} | {{Partial|Executive}} |
| 2022
| {{no}} | {{yes}} |
| 2023
| {{yes}} | {{yes}} |
| 2025
| {{no}} | {{yes}} |
Second-unit director
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! Director ! Notes |
|---|
| 2009
| Alongside David Leitch |
| 2011
| Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows | |
| rowspan="2"| 2012
| |
| Safe
| |
| rowspan="3"| 2013
| Alongside Jeff Habberstad |
| Escape Plan
| Alongside David Leitch |
| The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
| Also supervising stunt co-ordinator |
| 2015
| Alongside David Leitch |
| rowspan="2"| 2016
| Grimsby | |
| Captain America: Civil War
| Alongside David Leitch |
| 2020
| Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) | Also stunt coordinator |
Stuntwork
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! Notes |
|---|
| 1994
| The Crow | Brandon Lee-Stunt Double (Reshoots Uncredited) Credited As Chad Storelson |
| 1996
| |
| rowspan=2| 1997
| Bean | |
| Orgazmo
| |
| rowspan=3| 1998
| Recoil | |
| Almost Heroes
| |
| The Hunted
| Stunts/Stunt Coordinator |
| rowspan=3| 1999
| 8mm | |
| The Matrix
| Keanu Reeves' Stunt Double |
| Wild Wild West
| |
| rowspan=3| 2000
| Picking Up The Pieces | |
| The Replacements
| (Keanu Reeves' Stunt Double (Uncredited) |
| The Gift
| Uncredited stunts |
| rowspan=4| 2001
| Tomcats | |
| Ghosts of Mars
| |
| Rock Star
| |
| Corky Romano
| |
| rowspan=2| 2003
|rowspan=2| Martial Arts Stunt Coordinator |
| The Matrix Revolutions |
| rowspan=4| 2004
| Torque | Stunt Driver (Uncredited) |
| Van Helsing
| Fight Coordinator/Assistant Stunt Coordinator |
| Spider-Man 2
| Uncredited |
| Cellular
| Utility Stunts (Uncredited) |
| rowspan=8| 2005
| |
| 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
| |
| rowspan=2| 2006
| Beerfest | Stunt Coordinator |
| 300
| Fight Choreographer |
| rowspan=4| 2007
| Next | |
| Live Free or Die Hard
| |
| Shoot 'Em Up
|rowspan=2| Uncredited |
| I Am Legend |
| 2008
| Jumper | |
| 2008
| Supervising Stunt Coordinator |
| rowspan=2| 2009
| Action Coordinator |
| Ninja Assassin
| Stunt Coordinator |
| rowspan=3| 2010
| Utility Stunts |
| The Expendables
| Stunt Coordinator |
| Tron: Legacy
|rowspan=2| Uncredited |
| rowspan=3| 2011 |
| The Mechanic
| Stunt Coordinator |
| Immortals
| Fight Choreographer |
| rowspan=2| 2012
| Safe | Supervising Stunt Coordinator |
| Dredd
| Action Coordinator |
| 2013
| Assistant Stunt Coordinator |
| rowspan=3| 2013
|rowspan=2| Stunt Coordinator (Uncredited) |
| 47 Ronin |
| Homefront
| |
| 2014
| Captain America: The Winter Soldier | Uncredited |
| 2018
| |
| 2024
| |
Actor
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role |
|---|
| 1995
| Nebula |
| 1998
| Vampires | Male Master #4 |
| 2021
| Chad |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|0821432}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stahelski, Chad}}
Category:American people of Polish descent
Category:Film directors from Massachusetts
Category:American stunt performers
Category:American Jeet Kune Do practitioners
Category:American male kickboxers
Category:American male film actors
Category:Place of birth missing (living people)
Category:American film producers
Category:American action film directors
Category:20th-century American male actors