Eva Longoria’s only real action role in a forgotten thriller proves theJohn Wickmovies missed an opportunity by not inviting her to the franchise. Longoria might be best known for decidedly non-action fare likeDesperate HousewivesorDora and the Lost City of Gold, but she played a key role in theJohn Wickfranchiseeven happening.When the original moviefell short by $6 million, Longoria came to the rescue(viaBusiness Insider) by writing a large cheque.
Longoria is credited as a producer onJohn Wickand has confirmed her investment in the 2014 film paid off handsomely - though she regrets not sticking around for the sequels. Given that she essentially saved the project from collapse, it’s a shame Longoria hasn’t been invited to appear in the movies. That said, she’s not exactly known for her action roles, though Longoria’s sole outing in the genre makes a strong case that she could hold her own against Keanu Reeves' Wick.
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The Sentinel Proved John Wick Wasted Its Eva Longoria Link
Longoria played a Secret Service agent in this 2006 thriller
Shortly after her breakout inDesperate Housewives, Longoria began appearing in big movies. One of the most prominent from this period was 2006’sThe Sentinel, a thriller where Michael Douglas' veteran Secret Service agent is framed for an assassination plot against the President. Kiefer Sutherland (24) plays the agent chasing him, while Longoria co-stars as his partner, Jill Marin. In truth,The Sentinelis lame, with the film feeling instantly dated upon release and telling a familiar conspiracy tale with little invention.
Longoria’s Marin is very much a supporting player, but the actress proves surprisingly adept when it comes to action or chase sequences. She looks very confident wielding firearms and helps save the day during the action-packed finale.Eva Longoria’sSentinelrole proves she could handle the intensive action of theJohn Wicksagatoo. While she appeared in other movies (such as 2012’sA Dark Truth) where she handled weaponry,The Sentinelis really the only time she tested out the action genre.
Eva Longoria is part of the cast of Jamie Foxx’s comedyAll-Star Weekend, which was filmed in 2016 but has yet to be released.
A Secret Service Agent Praised Eva Longoria’s Shooting Skills In The Sentinel
Longoria was able to outshoot Michael Douglas and Kiefer Sutherland
The Sentinelsits at a measly 34% onRotten Tomatoesand grossed only $78 million worldwide(viaBox Office Mojo). It didn’t help that it aspired to be a mature thriller for adults - while sporting a watered-down PG-13 rating. Still, Longoria received good notices, and inThe Sentinel’sproduction notes (viaMBN), she was by far the best shot out of the actors during training. According toThe Sentinel’stechnical advisor Gerald A. Cavis - a retired Secret Service agent - Longoria stood out among the cast.
She was exceptional. In fact she would be recognized as a good shot even in the Secret Service. It was impressive.
Her co-star Douglas echoed this praise, stating “Eva’s a crack shot. I wasn’t ready for how good she was.” This translates to the movie itself, where she looks very credible during the action sequences, even when standing alongside the seasoned likes of Sutherland. The actress credited her upbringing for her comfort with shooting guns, revealing “I grew up on a ranch and used to go target-shooting with my dad. I shot my first gun when I was six!"
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From the World of John Wick: Ballerina
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In hindsight,it’s a shame Longoria’s only true action outing wasThe Sentinel.In the aftermath of the film, she should have been offered other action parts, but the movie’s underperformance and her typecasting fromDesperate Housewiveslikely saw her get passed over for similar projects. Of course, maybe she didn’twantto stick with the genre either, having tried it out withThe Sentinel.
It’s Not Too Late For John Wick To Invite Eva Longoria To The Franchise
John Wick 5 is inevitable anyway
WithJohn Wick’s10th anniversary in 2014, it feels like fans of the property have only recently learned of Longoria’s involvement. She truly was key to the film even happening, and it spawned a franchise that is still going on. The Ana de Armas frontedBallerinawill be next, but after that,John Wick: Chapter 5feels inevitable. At this stage, the series has little trouble attracting big name co-stars - butit would be real nice to see Eva Longoria getting an invite to the (High) table too.
John Wick 5 could give a juicy supporting part to Longoria as either an ally or enemy to Wick…
Sure,The Sentinelwas something of a dud, but she still did a great job with both the action and elevating a thinly written character.John Wick 5could give her a juicy supporting part as either an ally or enemy to Wick, and allow her to put those underutilized shooting skills to the test.Considering how forgottenThe Sentinelis nowadays, the sequel would show Longoria off to audiences in a totally different lightin terms of action.
That probably won’t happen, in all likelihood. The stars who get invited to theJohn Wickmovies tend to already have a background in action (Donnie Yen, Scott Adkins, Halle Berry, etc), andThe Sentinelisn’t the best showcase. Still, Eva Longoria played a key role in the franchise’s history, so even a cameo in the next chapter would be a nice acknowledgment.
John Wick
“John Wick” is a neo-noir action-thriller franchise centered around a retired hitman who returns to the criminal underworld to seek vengeance. Known for its intense and stylistic action sequences, the franchise has redefined modern action cinema with its choreographed gunfights, hand-to-hand combat, and intricate world-building. The series explores themes of loyalty, honor, and survival in a secret society of assassins.
The Sentinel
Cast
The Sentinel, released in 2006, follows a secret service agent accused of being a mole in an assassination attempt on the president. As he races to clear his name, he must also thwart another impending threat, all while evading a determined FBI agent.
