Although Keanu Reeves often takes the spotlight, the immense talent of other actors in the John Wick franchise makes it an even more worthwhile watch. Names like Donnie Yen, Anjelica Huston, and many more have made a significant impact. Among them, the Ice Age actor John Leguizamo is the most prominent one. He played the role of Aurelio, a skilled mechanic and chop shop owner, in the first two films and quickly became a fan favorite that is until his character failed to make the final cut in the third installment of the series mentioned.
In a recent Looper interview, the actor finally broke his silence on being entirely excluded from the film and shared his thoughts on the speculation of his return in the upcoming installments.
John Leguizamo on Being Completely Cut From John Wick 3
The actor and director John Leguizamo reflected on his experience behind the camera while promoting his upcoming high school chess drama, Critical Thinking in 2020. The movie led Leguizamo to understand why his character Aurelio failed to make it in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum following his roles in the first two John Wick films.
Now that he had already been on the chair of a director he is completely okay with being cut from the epic film. While talking to Looper he revealed,
“[With Critical Thinking], there was a lot of stuff that got cut that was so painful. […] Then, there was a lot of other stuff that was important in the script, but not so important once you saw it and you go, ‘I understand that. I don’t need to see it. It’s more powerful if I don’t see it,’–As an actor, I don’t [understand being cut], but as a filmmaker, I do. So, I have to make peace [with] myself.”
But as time passed, he grew more and more aware of what goes inside a director’s head and therefore was able to push all the hard feelings aside. As a result, he now appreciates not being part of the third movie as it created an opportunity for him to make his feature film directorial debut.
Also Read: John Leguizamo Came Up With a Disgusting Way to Voice Sid the Sloth in $3.2 Billion Ice Age Movies
Will John Leguizamo Return to the John Wick Franchise?
Although for the actor John Leguizamo, that was not the first time his parts were removed from the franchise. In fact, he revealed that the majority part of his role in the second movie, John Wick: Chapter 2, also ended up on the cutting room floor. He continued saying,
“As a filmmaker, yeah, there are a lot of great performances that sometimes have to go. And as an actor, it’s impossible. That part of you that knows that you did great work and funny and really inventive stuff that didn’t get seen […] you’ll always hurt.–In 2, I had a fight sequence, I had a backstory […] I had a whole plot, Someday I’ll share the script of it.”
Thus, after his schedule was wide open again after Critical Thinking, the Looper interviewer asked the obvious million-dollar question. Would be returning to the franchise ever again? and he jokingly replied,
“Yeah. If they ask me, I’m not going to say no. I’m not an idiot,”
Although it was all fun and games, the actor hinted at being a little dejected after being cut from the franchise significantly time and again. It now appears that the Sid the Sloth voice actor has already moved and is in search of bigger and better things.
Source: Looper
