David Leitch & Chad Stahelski | Pioneering a New Path for Action Cinema

Behind the current wave of horror films sweeping Hollywood lies the unbeatable producer Jason Blum and his Blumhouse Production, known for never failing to turn a profit. Investors and audiences can sigh relief whenever Jason Blum expresses interest in a horror film project. But what about other film genres, such as action movies, which once dominated the box office? We've previously introduced to you the duo who revolutionized action cinema. Still, a new generation of more energetic and innovative partners has emerged. Almost imperceptibly, the names David Leitch and Chad Stahelski have appeared behind several Hollywood action films, with "John Wick" marking a pivotal success that has laid the foundation for their increasingly prosperous careers in Hollywood over the past four years.

The True Practitioner: Chad Stahelski

When "John Wick" premiered in 2014, most audiences hadn't heard of David Leitch and Chad Stahelski, even though they directed and produced the film. These two unfamiliar names only seemed to cast a darker shadow over the film's prospects; however, David Leitch and Chad Stahelski were well-known figures in the world of stunt work.

Like your favorite action stars Steven Seagal and Jean-Claude Van Damme, Chad Stahelski began martial arts training at a young age, earning a black belt at a tender age—thanks to Chad's father, who took his young son to see a Bruce Lee martial arts film at the cinema, igniting Chad's passion for martial arts.

Despite lacking opportunities to apply his real-life skills, the silver screen was where Chad thirsted for martial challenges. Growing up amidst the golden age of action cinema in the 80s and 90s, with the aerial kicks of Jean-Claude Van Damme and the seemingly magical aikido of Steven Seagal, not to mention the martial arts prowess of 80s legend Jackie Chan, Chad, a martial arts enthusiast since childhood, eventually enrolled at the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts.

He vividly recalls the unforgettable "Steven Seagal Bar Insult" scene in "Out for Justice," where everyone gets humiliated by Steven Seagal except for one guy. His name is Sticks, and he wields twin sticks like two fans in full rotation, leaving Steven Seagal unable to defend himself.

Steven Seagal couldn't hold a candle to him in stick fighting. Eventually, Sticks sets a trap—using a blatantly vulnerable move, he lets Steven Seagal grab his right hand, only to knock him out with a stick.

But Sticks' status off-screen isn't so bad; he's the personal instructor of Bruce Lee's nunchaku and Filipino sticks (Sticks' martial arts style). Dan Inosanto is one of Hollywood's most famous martial arts instructors, and his Inosanto Martial Arts Academy is still thriving with numerous apprentices.

Fresh out of USC, young and eager Chad Stahelski took on numerous low-budget film roles—roles in films where no one knew the actors or directors, perhaps even films no one had seen—getting hit by cars, kicked by people, and sent flying three stories down. He gained valuable experience, which took him to places like the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Rome. But he knew he needed more professional training in film martial arts.

So, of course, Chad Stahelski enrolled at the Inosanto Academy, and who knows, maybe he could make some connections in the Hollywood circle through his master's network. Little did he know that one of his classmates there would become his most important partner in the future: David Leitch.

A fellow student at the Inosanto Academy

David Leitch & Chad Stahelski's names are now frequently mentioned together, but their personalities and backgrounds differ.

David Leitch wasn't precisely a "classically trained" martial artist; he certainly loved action martial arts films, especially those of Jackie Chan. But he didn't train in dojos from a young age; instead, he honed his physical abilities and reflexes and mimicked the moves from those films using unconventional methods.

However, David Leitch was fortunate enough to receive formal education later on: he also attended the Inosanto Martial Arts Academy for study.

David Leitch could also be considered a martial arts enthusiast, but rather than aspiring to become a martial arts powerhouse in action films; he was more interested in action films. His favorite films include "Die Hard" and "Lethal Weapon" because, while they may not feature a lot of martial arts, the characters in these films are rich and well-developed.

In the years following their graduation from the Inosanto Martial Arts Academy, David Leitch, and Chad Stahelski, like most of their peers, chose the most common career path: stunt work in action films. However, David Leitch's passion for action films led him to expand beyond stunt work more quickly.

Chad joined the hacker family a bit earlier than David Leitch: he became Keanu Reeves' stunt double in "The Matrix" in 1999, while David Leitch was doubling for Brad Pitt in "Fight Club." Chad may have had a more challenging time, as the hacker family was filled with super perfectionists, including directors the Wachowskis, martial arts choreographer Yuen Woo Ping, and especially the lead actor with seemingly no martial arts experience.

Chad thought he would have to handle most of the martial arts work. Still, he underestimated a crucial factor: when Keanu Reeves knew he would play the messianic figure, he decided that he, too, would be invincible like a messiah off-screen, and the perfectionist messiah made life difficult for Chad...

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