‘John Wick 2’ Casts Common as the Bad Guy

John Wick 2 is heading into production this week (what a time to be alive!) with Keanu Reeves returning as the titular badass protagonist. Every good guy needs a bad guy to stand in his way, and this time around it’s rapper / actor Common who will be giving John Wick a tough time — and eventually getting his face annihilated by our favorite puppy-loving hero.

Although plot details are few, THR reports that Common has been cast as the main villain in John Wick 2, with his character serving as head of security for a female crime lord — wait, read the last part of that sentence again. Keanu Reeves will be going up against a crime lord played by a woman! It’s too bad Charlize Theron is busy filming The Coldest City with John Wick co-director David Leitch.

Update: THR reports that Ian McShane will return to reprise his role as Winston, the owner of The Continental, the assassin-friendly hotel featured in the first film. Reeves previously hinted at further exploring the concept of the hotel in the sequel.

Co-director Chad Stahelski is returning (solo) to helm John Wick 2, the sequel to last year’s hit action flick starring Reeves as a widower hitman who comes out of retirement when some unsavory criminals steal his car and kill his dog. Reeves and Common are the only cast members confirmed for the sequel thus far, but I cannot wait to hear more about this lady crime boss.

There is no official release date for John Wick 2, which will likely hit theaters sometime next year.