What Happened To The Puppy From John Wick?
If you're a fan of the "John Wick" film series, you probably remember what sets off the events of the entire franchise: the theft of a car and the death of a dog. After the tragic death of his wife, retired hitman John Wick (Keanu Reeves) tries to pursue a life of solitude, but when thieves break into his house, take his car, and murder the puppy his wife left to keep him company, he returns to a violent life, massacring everyone involved in the horrific incident.
Though the beagle puppy, Daisy, doesn't appear in the film for very long, her death is incredibly impactful, driving John back to a life of killing in order to seek revenge against the men who killed her. John bonds with other canine companions in later films — in fact, dogs feature prominently throughout the entire series thus far — but Daisy's shadow looms large over John's whole story. Here's the truth about the dog who played Daisy. Luckily, the off-screen story is far less tragic.
The real life dog behind Daisy
As the first "John Wick" film hit theaters, everyone wanted to know more about the movie's adorable (and doomed) beagle puppy. According to a feature in USA Today, a lot of thought went into choosing the perfect professional pup.
As co-directors David Leitch and Chad Stahelski recalled, they sought out the cutest possible puppy to maximize the emotional impact of its murder. In conversation with USA Today, Leitch said, "John Wick started living life with this dog. And immediately that chance of being the person his wife wanted him to be was ripped from him. After that, he becomes the monster he was before, the anti-hero we like to watch in these kinds of movies. We set up the empathy for John Wick by going all out."
As Animal Actors International dog trainer Kim Krafsky told USA Today, Andy, the male beagle pup who eventually won the role, had a "rock star" quality: "He melts you with his eyes. He also has the right temperament. He and Keanu hit it off right away. But, then again, who wouldn't love this puppy?"
What it was like to work with Andy on set
In a different feature in the New York Post, Krafsky opened up more about Andy and the story behind this precious pup's big film role. First off, the breed was important; according to Krafsky, "There's this thing about them, they're just cute. They're not overly large or small, they're just a cuddly breed with those big sad eyes. The dog had to be outgoing, enjoy being around people and, of course, be beautiful. All of those things have to be wrapped up in to one animal."
Unsurprisingly, Andy, who was particularly friendly, was extremely popular on set. Not only did he bond with Reeves right away, he made Omer Barnea, the actor who had to "kill" Andy, feel super guilty. As Krafsky remembered, "He felt horrible. Every time the director yelled cut, he just picked up the dog and cuddled him."
According to the feature, after filming ended — and Andy got the chance to walk a few red carpets with Reeves — Andy returned to the Animal Actors International farm in New Jersey, awaiting his next big role.
Of course, going forward, John Wick has much better luck with dogs. By the time "John Wick: Chapter 2" kicks off, John is accompanied by a faithful and formidable pit bull, and dogs play a huge role in "John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum," even participating in some of the film's most unforgettable fights. The "Wick" team has even marked holidays like National Puppy Day with cheeky re-cuts of the film that revise them to be about a simple man and his dogs.
Uncertainty initially surrounded Daisy's fate
As the "John Wick" franchise continues to unfold and become increasingly fleshed out, the gruesome death of Daisy in the first movie still looms large. Sure, as the saga has gone on, her demise has become less and less of a focal point, but at the end of the day, it's impossible to deny how important it was in shaping the entire story. Even if you've never seen a "John Wick" movie, if nothing else, you know that the titular character is a man enraged over the murder of his dog. Therefore, it's surprising to learn that Daisy's demise could've wound up on the cutting room floor.
In a 2014 interview with the Austin Chronicle, "John Wick" co-director David Leitch revealed that some of the minds behind the film weren't so keen on Daisy being killed off. "It's risky. You kill the dog, you alienate the audience, and the movie's done," he said, recalling that executives at the movie's production company, Thunder Road, advised against it. Nevertheless, they went ahead with the plot point anyway. "Your lead actor shouldn't have a beard and don't kill the dog. "We go, 'Let's give the lead actor a beard, and let's kill the dog,'" Leitch concluded.
Andy has a new name since becoming a movie star
Without Andy and his performance and subsequent death as Daisy, "John Wick" and its many sequels would surely look quite different. Simultaneously, had he not landed the part with his floppy ears and natural charisma, it stands to reason that Andy's life would've turned out different as well. Not only would he have not taken on his new name, Wick, but it's entirely likely that he would've found a completely different home than the happy, comfortable one he now resides in.
"Andy is alive and well. A friend of mine took him to live in their home, and his name was changed to Wick by their kids," Kim Krafsky told LADbible in February of 2021, providing us all with a welcomed update on the "John Wick" poster-pup. Krafsky also revealed that Wick attended the "John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum" premiere in New York City, reuniting with Keanu Reeves and taking some time to enjoy the cinematic phenomenon that they launched together.
Daisy, and therefore, Wick, didn't get a lot of time to shine in the "John Wick" franchise, but they're a huge part of its legacy all the same. It's good to know that after becoming a Hollywood sensation, Wick is off living his best life.