In the gripping action-thriller, Lance Reddick portrayed Charon, the hotel manager at the Continental Hotel in New York City. When John Wick emerges from his retirement following an attack by a gang who intruded upon his home and took his beloved pet’s life, he finds refuge at the Continental Hotel. This establishment functions as a secure haven for assassins and other denizens of the criminal underworld.
When contemplating Greek mythology, Dante’s Divine Comedy often springs to mind. There are many similarities between John Wick and epic figures such as Odysseus, but a connection that some fans might overlook is the character of Charon.
Greco-Roman Mythology 101: Who Is Charon?
Initially, audiences come across Charon when John Wick visits The Continental prior to pursuing Iosef at the Red Circle. In Greek mythology, Charon was a boatman who transported the spirits of the deceased from our world to the next, acting as a mediator between two realms, much like a gatekeeper. Similarly, in John Wick, guests must pass through Charon to gain sanctuary within The Continental.
To navigate the underworld, Charon transports souls over the Rivers Styx or Acheron. The deceased received funeral rituals, where people placed a coin in their mouth as a fare for Charon’s safe passage. It was thought that without this payment, they couldn’t cross the rivers and would be forced to live near the River Styx. Likewise, when checking into the Continental, guests pay Charon with a special gold coin to enjoy the hotel’s secure areas. John Wick had to retrieve his coins hidden beneath the concrete floor of his basement before going to the hotel. Upon arrival, he slides a gold coin across the counter and is assigned a room.
In the time leading up to his death, while discussing “John Wick: Chapter 4,” Reddick referred to his character, Charon, as a “classic, silent butler type.” Expanding on Charon’s background and intentions, Reddick emphasized that it was crucial for his portrayal and for Charon to convey that he is capable of immense danger. In Dante’s Divine Comedy, Charon is depicted as an older man with fiery eyes. Presenting himself as elderly might make him seem less menacing, but his glowing, demonic eyes reveal a different truth. Just like a polite and professional doorman, he was more terrifying than he appeared.
Supporters of the John Wick series are full of praise for Laurence Fishburne’s portrayal of Charon, remarking on how he skillfully expressed a wealth of emotion and intention through minimal, non-verbal gestures even in his initial appearances in the films. Charon’s hidden affection for John Wick was particularly well-executed by Fishburne, creating a strong emotional connection that significantly contributed to the audience’s growing fondness towards John Wick.
John Wick Is Like Odysseus
The “John Wick” movie series continues to be adored by viewers and highly praised by critics, which is quite rare for sequels. This could be due to the unique perspective that the creative team behind these films has towards the “John Wick” narrative. During a recent red carpet event for the upcoming fourth film, Day Shift, director Chad Stahelski mentioned, “In truth, we’ve always viewed John Wick as a character akin to Odysseus. So, we take the time necessary to tell the story. As long as it doesn’t lull us into sleep, we carry on. But I suppose there is a point where one might need to use the restroom.” With a running time of 2 hours and 49 minutes for “Chapter 4”, Stahelski’s comment may have been referring to the film’s length, yet it also sheds light on his storytelling approach.
In each installment of the movie ‘John Wick‘, the main character encounters fresh hurdles and difficulties, mirroring Odysseus during his return voyage to Ithaca after the Trojan War. John Wick’s adventures can also be compared to that of Sisyphus. Keanu Reeves, the actor portraying John Wick, once stated, “Fate and consequences, an illusion of choice. It’s like Odysseus meets Sisyphus. I’ve often referred to it as the story of Sisyphus. At one point, I thought, ‘I might as well just go ahead and visualize it in number four.'” Stahelski is referring to the creation of John Wick’s journey.
Stahelski and Laurent Demianoff, the stunt choreographer, explained that while scouting locations in Paris for the first time, they stood atop the Sacré-Cœur and envisioned, “He will descend here, then ascend, then descend again, and finally climb up once more. We decided to make him push the boulder up.
| Title | Year | Runtime | IMDb Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Wick | 2014 | 1hr 41min | 7.5/10 |
| John Wick: Chapter 2 | 2017 | 2hrs 2min | 7.4/10 |
| John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum | 2019 | 2hrs 10min | 7.4/10 |
| John Wick: Chapter 4 | 2023 | 2hrs 49min | 7.6/10 |
In the depths of Tartarus, Sisyphus, a man known for his arrogance and cunning, was given an unyielding punishment by the gods due to his numerous transgressions against them. The sentence was that he must continuously roll a massive stone up a steep incline – a task that would be never-ending and fruitless, as once he reached the summit, the boulder would invariably tumble back down, forcing him to start all over again from the base.
Lance Reddick Is a Film and Television Icon
A week prior to the launch of John Wick: Chapter 4, it’s worth noting that Keanu Reeves’ influence extended far beyond the successful action film series. In fact, his first significant role was as Lieutenant Cedric Daniels in the Baltimore Police Department’s Narcotics Unit for the TV show The Wire. This gripping series, praised by critics and honored with numerous awards, explored Baltimore’s drug scene from the unique perspectives of both dealers and law enforcement officers.
| Title | Character | Year | IMDb Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Wire | Cedric Daniels | 2002–2008 | 9.3/10 |
| Fringe | Phillip Broyles | 2008–2013 | 8.4/10 |
| Lost | Matthew Abaddon | 2008–2009 | 8.3/10 |
| Bosch | Irvin Irving | 2014–2021 | 8.5/10 |
| Percy Jackson & the Olympians | Zeus | 2024–Current | 7.0/10 |
Reddick appeared in J.J. Abrams’s successful sci-fi suspense drama Fringe, partnering with Anna Torv. The Fringe Division, a combined task force, dealt with mysterious occurrences linked to fringe science. FBI Agent Olivia Dunham collaborated with a once institutionalized scientist and his son. They were supervised by Reddick’s character from Homeland Security, Agent Phillip Broyles. Agent Broyles enlisted Olivia for the specialized squad. Additionally, Reddick made a guest appearance on another one of Abrams’s popular series, Lost, portraying Matthew Abaddon, an employee of Charles Widmore who served as a significant adversary in the show.
More currently, it’s worth mentioning that Lance Reddick appeared in Disney+’s “Percy Jackson and the Olympians.” Beyond this, Reddick has made a significant impact in the gaming world. He’s best known for lending his voice to Commander Zavala of the Titan Vanguard in “Destiny” and the enigmatic researcher Sylens in the “Horizon Zero Dawn” series. Lance Reddick boasts a diverse and impressive repertoire, consistently infusing his characters with subtle, memorable depth.
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2025-04-30 16:12