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David Leitch and Chad Stahelski, this dynamic duo, cut their teeth on "The Matrix" trilogy. Chad started as Keanu Reeves' stunt double in the first installment and, under the guidance of Yuen Woo Ping, by "The Matrix Revolutions," he became one of the fight choreographers. Whether it was David Leitch or Chad Stahelski, they learned much more from the Wachowskis in this trilogy: two highly skilled martial artists receiving hands-on guidance from two of contemporary Hollywood's most visually intense directors. This shapedshaped them into influential figures in both artistry and athleticism in Hollywood.
Who knew that stunt doubles could also become directors? Clearly, on the set of "The Matrix," they weren't just there to work; it was more like attending a valuable filmmaking masterclass. They didn't just learn from the Wachowskis; they also learned various wire-fu techniques from the Yuen Woo Ping Stunt Team and how to establish their stunt team; they learned from Keanu Reeves about being super-perfect, about striving for perfection to survive.
By around 2013, both had been in the Hollywood stunt industry for nearly 20 years, standing in for stars in countless blockbusters. David Leitch was the bomb guy in "V for Vendetta" and Matt Damon in "The Bourne Ultimatum"; Chad was the one kicked into walls by angels in "Constantine," and the martial arts coordinator responsible for Rain's spinning kicks in "Speed Racer."
Over 20 years, they had become more than just stunt doubles; they were proficient in martial arts, firearms, car crashes, and explosions. David Leitch and Chad Stahelski's career paths also began to diverge; specializing in physical skills, Chad became the stunt coordinator in charge of special effects. Chad orchestrated all the breathtaking scenes in "The Expendables" trilogy.
He had been hit by over 2,000 vehicles of all kinds—from trucks to golf carts—and knew exactly how to make it look good while maintaining the lowest possible level of safety. David Leitch, on the other hand, leaned more towards directing. He later took on more second-unit directorial work, allowing directors to confidently let him handle specific car chase and explosion sequences independently because he was well-versed in both large and small-scale stunts.
87Eleven
Their ambitions were greater; they formed a stunt action company called "87Eleven." Don't assume this company only consisted of martial arts stunt performers; 87Eleven was more like a small film studio. Its staff included directors, editors, visual effects artists, pyrotechnicians, and stunt doubles. Why would a stunt studio make things so complicated? Because 87Eleven was following in the footsteps of the Yuen Woo Ping Stunt Team.
87Eleven went beyond the traditional approach of presenting resumes and team compositions to production teams when big-budget films needed stunt teams. Instead, they would directly shoot a video of 87Eleven's stunt performers performing based on the script or storyboards—as if they were making a real movie. During this process, meticulously designed action sequences were combined with the contents of the paper storyboards to create visual representations.
In simple terms, they were like software developers, directly transforming customer requirements into visual and actionable prototypes, allowing clients to immediately witness 87Eleven's overall capabilities: "We have the people, we have the equipment, and this is what we can achieve. We can even clarify your needs and help the director present the life-and-death battle he envisions." Regardless of whether the director was familiar with stunts, seeing is believing. The short film produced by this small film studio made it clear at a glance.
87Eleven had connections and capabilities, but they couldn't be sure whether they could join Hollywood production companies' ranks. But one person was already sure: he knew that 87Eleven wouldn't just be a stunt studio. With the company's current appearance, Chad Stahelski's stunt design experience, and David Leitch's directing experience, they could become the saviors of action movies.
The "John Wick" story
Directed by Chad Stahelski and David Leitch, with David Leitch also serving as producer, and with 87Eleven handling all the stunt work and special effects design, "John Wick" has almost no originality in its plot because it is determined to pay homage to the social violence action films of the 80s and 90s. Plot in an action movie? What's that? Action movies should be poetry in punches, with car wrecks and explosions as punctuation. The meat of this film is the silent fight scenes, which are meant to be brutal and outnumbered, where fists and blood splatters speak for the protagonist with few words.
As Chad Stahelski and David Leitch's first foray into production, "John Wick" naturally had to incorporate everything they had learned in the past. "John Wick" wouldn't be a brain-burning, super-complex movie but a film dedicated to action and physical stunts. Chad Stahelski and David Leitch had to innovate in all action scenes, making "John Wick" a film that would make the Wachowskis proud and re-teach Hollywood that action movies can have new tricks.
Now, Chad Stahelski and David Leitch are increasingly realizing their dreams. These two good buddies have become the leaders of a new wave of action movies: David Leitch directed "Atomic Blonde" and "Deadpool 2".... Whether it's action movies using various high-tech firearms or action movies filled with the spirit of Scottish warriors, no one questions David Leitch and Chad Stahelski's ability to handle these themes.
87Eleven has even surpassed Chad Stahelski and David Leitch's dreams. These two fighters can achieve their current status because they have persisted on the path of combat. They don't rest on their laurels; they learn more about filmmaking beyond martial arts because they understand very clearly that the opportunities that led them down this path were inspired by action movies that made every little boy want to wield a sword and gun. Action movies are a great film genre, and they honor it with outstanding performances and innovation, ultimately leading it again in Hollywood.
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