Chad Stahelski


Chad Stahelski is an American stuntman and film director. He is known for his work on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and directing the 2014 film John Wick along with David Leitch, as well as solo directing its two sequels. Stahelski also doubled for Brandon Lee after the fatal accident involving Lee on the set of The Crow and replaced Lee in the film. He has worked as a stunt coordinator and second unit director on several films.

Career

Stahelski was a friend of Brandon Lee at Inosanto Academy. Lee died from a gunshot wound on March 31, 1993, after an accidental shooting on the set of The Crow. After Lee's death, with only eight days left before wrap, his fiancée, Eliza Hutton, and his mother supported director Alex Proyas' decision to complete the film. Only a few scenes requiring Lee remained unfinished, so the story was rewritten, and Stahelski and another stunt double, Jeff Cadiente, served as Lee's double with special effects used to give them Lee's face.
In 1997, Stahelski co-founded action design company 87Eleven with David Leitch.
He worked as a stunt double for his future John Wick star Keanu Reeves in The Matrix franchise, and later served as a stunt co-ordinator for the films. In 2009, Stahelski was second-unit director and stunt co-ordinator on Ninja Assassin along with David Leitch.
In 2014, Stahelski co-directed the action thriller film John Wick along with Leitch, based on the screenplay by Derek Kolstad. The film starred Keanu Reeves and Michael Nyqvist, and was released on October 24, 2014 by Summit Entertainment, grossing over $88 million.
Stahelski acted as sole director for the film's 2017 sequel, ', and again for the third film, '.
In 2019, Stahelski was the second unit director for the reshoots of Birds of Prey.

Upcoming work

In November 2017, he was signed on to the reboot of the Highlander franchise, which he committed to making a trilogy of, ending with "The Gathering" of the immortals. It would be similar in thematic development with the original Star Wars trilogy, and similar to John Wick action, but with swords replacing gun-play. The reboot trilogy would still include the iconic music by Queen.
In December 2017, it was announced that Stahelski would be directing a film adaptation of the comic book Kill or Be Killed.
In February 2018, it was announced that Stahelski would be directing a film adaptation of the Sandman Slim novels.
In May 2018, Stahelski was announced as director of Analog.
In May 2019, Stahelski was confirmed to be directing , which is set for release on May 27, 2022.

Personal life

Stahelski was married to fellow stunt performer Heidi Moneymaker., who worked as Scarlett Johansson's double as Black Widow. She also appeared on Stahelski's film .

Filmography

Second-unit director
YearTitleNotes
2016'
2020Birds of Prey Also stunt coordinator