Having already more than proven his acumen in recording booths and on stages, Common is now continuing his foray into film acting. The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed at the Chicago MC will play the lead villain in Jon Wick 2, the upcoming sequel to Keanu Reeves's wildly successful (and hyper-violent) 2014 action film.
For those unfamiliar with the first Jon Wick, the plot centers around Reeves's status as an almost-retired hit man, one whose house is broken into not long after his wife has passed away. Burglars beat him and viciously kill his dog, which sets him off on a return-to-form rampage. Jon Wick was essentially a clinic in straightforward vendetta-quest action filmmaking, with the titular protagonist proving all-but-invincible. Perhaps he'll meet his match, though, in Common?
As THR notes, "plot details for the new one are being kept muzzled but Common will be the movies’ chief villain, a head of security for a female crime lord." Jon Wick 2 will be directed by Chad Stahelski and is slated to begin filming this week. The casting announcement follows up Common's recent landing of a super-villain role in the upcoming Warner Bros. Suicide Squad film (alongside Will Smith and Jared Leto, no less), as well as his role opposite Liam Neeson in Run All Night. Common will also appear in The Wiz Live!, NBC's live recreation of the classic 1975 musical, later this year.
