"John Wick" now stands tall as a towering beacon of modern action cinema, and its journey to cinematic glory holds an unlikely heroine at its heart: Eva Longoria. A decade ago, as directors Chad Stahelski and David Leitch polished the razor-sharp edges of their Keanu Reeves-led revenge thriller, they were dealt a devastating blow—the production found itself on the brink of financial collapse.
"With less than a week to go, we stumbled into a $6 million funding gap, a nightmare scenario for any filmmaker," Stahelski reminisced in a Business Insider interview marking the film's decennial milestone. "Our independent financing efforts to secure the movie's bond hit a snag when one investor couldn't deliver the funds on time."
Personal fortunes were on the line, with Stahelski, Leitch, Reeves, and even producer Basil Iwanyk (who maxed out three credit cards) all injecting their own money into the fray. It seemed all hope for "John Wick" was fading fast.
But just when all seemed lost, a Hail Mary pass soared through the production's despair. CAA, orchestrating the financing, offered an olive branch to its actors with deep pockets, dangling the carrot of priority repayment. And Eva Longoria, never one to shy away from a challenge, grasped it firmly.
This bold move marked Longoria's debut as a major producer, a title she's since solidified with her UnbeliEVAble Entertainment (acquired by Hyphenate Media Group in 2023, a company she co-founded). Her producing prowess extends from TV hits like "Desperate Housewives" to shows like "Devious Maids," "Telenovela," and "Grand Hotel."
"She swooped in like a guardian angel, bridging that financial gap within a hair's breadth of our having to shut down," Stahelski recalled, revealing that Iwanyk kept the identity of the savior under wraps until "John Wick" roared to success. "Basil took us out for dinner, chuckling over our shared misfortunes, and then dropped the bombshell: 'By the way, guess who saved us? Eva Longoria!' We were stunned."
Strangers before fate intervened, Stahelski and Leitch promptly invited Longoria to lunch at the iconic Chateau Marmont, where she shared a laugh, admitting, "I never thought it would work out."
Years later, their paths crossed again at an event, and the conversation inevitably veered back to "John Wick." "We were reliving those days," Leitch reminisced, "and she exclaimed, 'That was the smartest investment I've ever made!' It certainly paid dividends for her—the film went on to gross over $86 million worldwide on a $20 million budget."
As for Longoria's potential to shine on the big screen in an action flick? "She's eager, absolutely eager," Leitch affirmed. "I'd jump at the chance to collaborate with her. We're actively exploring options."
