Known for movies like Face/Off and Bullet in the Head, John Woo is ranked among some of the best-accomplished directors in Hollywood. His films have achieved immense critical success over the years. The filmmaker is returning with his upcoming action thriller flick Silent Night, which is his first American feature film since the 2003 sci-fi action Paycheck.
He is also known to be a huge fan of Samurai movies. During his recent interview with Vulture, the director shared that he wanted to make such films. However, he was advised to focus on the popular movies at the time instead of pursuing his interests.
John Woo Wanted to Make Samurai Films
The filmmaker John Woo talked about his popular film Last Hurrah for Chivalry during his recent interview with Vulture. Released in 1979, it is known for setting the tone for future martial arts films. However, the director of the film has shared, “I think the dialogue is a little too cheesy,” but he still loves the movie.
He claimed that he was a little too ambitious and young at the time and still had so much to learn. The Mission: Impossible 2 director also shared that before the 1979 film, he wanted to make a movie like Le Samouraï. However, he was told that it was too early for him to make such movies. Woo shared,
“But the studio always said, ‘You just started. It’s too early to make that kind of movie. Those kinds of movies are poison. Nobody wants to watch them.'”
He shared that he was rather advised to make movies that were very popular at the time. “So I was frustrated. All I could do was make some kind of kung-fu film and a comedy,” he shared adding that he “[didn’t] have that kind of passion” for those movies.
John Woo is Set to Release His First American Film in 20 Years
Following the release of his 2003 film, Paycheck, John Woo has seemingly taken a leave from Hollywood. He has since worked on several films, but his upcoming movie Silent Night, starring Joel Kinnaman is his first American film in 20 years.
It follows Kinnaman as a speechless man, Godluck, who seeks to avenge his young son’s death on Christmas Eve. The film is produced by the John Wick producers Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee. “It was a very smart script, and the story really touched me [because] I have three children,” the director said, as per Entertainment Weekly. In September 2023, Lionsgate acquired the rights to distribute the film.
Silent Night is set to release on 1 December 2023.
Last Hurrah for Chivalry is available on Prime Video.
