Eva Longoria has built a sharp business sense over the years, but even the most successful ventures can come with a few what-ifs.
The Golden Globe-nominated actress revealed she more than doubled her $6 million investment in the original John Wick film after its 2014 debut.
Despite the impressive return, Longoria admits she still has one big regret: not staying involved in the franchise as it skyrocketed to success.
โWhat Iโm pissed off about is I wasnโt connected to the rest of them,โ Longoria told Business Insider.
โThis was a one-time thing. That was the gamble. But that was my only mistake, not being attached to all of the films.โ
The original John Wick pulled in over $86 million worldwide, and the franchise has since become a global phenomenon, surpassing $1 billion in box office revenue following the release of John Wick: Chapter 4 in 2023.
Producers Chad Stahelski and David Leitch credit Longoria as a key player in bringing the first film to life, stepping in with funding when the project nearly fell apart in its final stages.
โAt the time, I was just starting out as a producer,โ Longoria said. โMy bankroll was very new, and it was a lot of money. I was like, โSo how does this work?โ I had no idea. Iโd love to say I was a financial wizard who carefully calculated the riskโbut no, none of that.โ
The opportunity came through her agency, CAA.
โAn agentโwho wasnโt even my agentโcalled me and said, โYouโve got money. You should put it here.โ
I didnโt even know how movies got financed. I was like, โWhatโs gap financing?โโ
Even now, Longoria continues to receive checks from her investment in John Wick. โMy husband is friends with the head of Lionsgate, and heโll say, โI see we wrote a check to Eva this week,โโ she laughed. โBut the real geniuses were Chad and Davidโand of course, Keanu. I just wrote the check.โ
The John Wick universe is far from over. From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, starring Ana de Armas, hits theaters on June 6, 2025. Donnie Yen will also return as the deadly blind assassin Caine in a new Lionsgate film, while an anime prequel is currently in development.
Following the Peacock prequel series The Continental, fans can also look forward to another spinoff series: John Wick: Under the High Table, now in the works.
