John Wick has taken the understanding of the mob world to the next level. And sacrificing the one they would call to kill the boogeyman- the one who is a “man of focus, commitment, and sheet will”– on whose hard work all the pillars of the sanctions laid- would have been no less than an uphill battle. The saga of the legendary hitman, portrayed by the incomparable Keanu Reeves, is perhaps the greatest achievement of its creator.

But do you know what inspired such a gut-wrenching ending in Chapter 4? None other than the Japanese non-noir sci-fi anime, Cowboy Bebop. Talking to Comic Book Movies a few days earlier, movie director Chad Stahelski unwrapped the inspiration behind its formidable yet satisfying ending. And well, Shinichiro Watanabe’s creation takes the central stage in his list of inspirations.

While talking about the ending, Stahelski informed how they thought Wick’s ending could not be an ordinary one. It had to serve as an apex for many characters’ arcs. “The only way to win is by John Wick sacrificing himself. If he does that, everybody wins. Everybody with John and if you look at it, even John wins, just not John Wick,” Stahelski said. And hence began the great quest to bring this thought into reality.

But how exactly did that happen?

How Cowboy Bebop inspired the ending of John Wick Chapter 4

Turns out, the director himself is a great fan of the anime. He revealed how the church location fit right in when they first saw it; especially the “going down the stairs” part- “I have this favorite anime Cowboy Bebop, where Spike Spiegel dies on the stairs.” Notably, in the anime as well, Spiegal dies the death of a hero while thinking about his former partner on the stairs.

In John Wick 4, Reeves’s character sacrifices himself after killing hundreds of mafias, including the members of High Table who wished to see him dead. After killing Marques, Wick collapses on the steps of the church with his funeral later held in New York- a direct parallel to anime. Furthermore, just like Cowboy Bebop’s director, Stahelski also did not have much faith in the success of his action thriller. However, both resulted in a successful production, thus knotting even their emotional sentiments to each other.

What are your thoughts about it? Do let us know in the comments below.