John Wick 5 is coming, but how do you make it work after the dramatic ending of John Wick: Chapter 4? It’s a dilemma that even director Chad Stahelski is grappling with.
Keanu Reeves has signed on to return as the iconic assassin, but the big question is how to continue his story when he seemingly dies in the previous film. Warning: Spoilers for John Wick 4 ahead.
At the end of Chapter 4, John Wick is gravely injured and collapses in front of his enemies, but we don’t actually see him die. His gravestone appears, and Winston (Ian McShane) and the Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne) pay their respects, but the film leaves a glimmer of uncertainty over John’s fate. This ambiguous ending is why the idea of John returning in John Wick 5 isn’t as clear-cut as it may seem.
Stahelski recently shared his thoughts on how the franchise can move forward. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, he admitted that figuring out a story for John Wick 5 is tricky. Despite this, Stahelski and writer Mike Finch have a promising direction they’re exploring. As Stahelski puts it, they’re still in the brainstorming phase: “Once we have a 50-page book, and if we’re feeling it, we’ll sit with Keanu and shape this thing. Look, everybody seems to want it. It’s a matter of whether we crack it.”
The director continued, stating that even though the studio is eager to make John Wick 5 happen, the team wants to ensure they get the story right. “If we go down the road of John Wick 5 and decide this isn’t right, there are probably going to be 10 other things we’ll discover that we’ll use for other things,” he said, making it clear that they’re willing to take creative risks. However, Stahelski also acknowledged that “the studio would very much will it into existence,” given the financial success of the series.
It’s not that Stahelski and Reeves are against exploring the next chapter in John’s saga, but they’re adamant that they won’t tarnish the emotional weight of the previous film’s conclusion. Stahelski ruled out the idea of a prequel, saying, “Keanu and I are not interested in going backwards.” Instead, he hinted that if John Wick 5 were to happen, it would be a radically different story from what fans expect.
Given Keanu Reeves’ age-he’s 60 now-the idea of him continuing to play the physically demanding role of John Wick raises concerns. Stahelski, however, teased that any continuation of the series would involve a fresh take. He mentioned that John’s grief arc was addressed in Chapter 4, so a fifth movie would likely focus on a different narrative. “It will be really different, and everybody [will] see the trailer and go, ‘Holy fuck… I gotta see that.’”
In the meantime, the John Wick Universe is thriving. The franchise includes spinoffs like Ballerina, starring Ana de Armas, and an upcoming series featuring Donnie Yen reprising his role as Caine. Lionsgate has also expanded the universe with the TV series The Continental, which explores the backstory of the iconic hotel, and John Wick: Under the High Table, a new show currently in development. Plus, there’s an animated prequel on the way, focusing on John’s ‘Impossible Task.’ Meanwhile, the immersive John Wick experience in Las Vegas and the upcoming John Wick video game further solidify the brand’s growing presence.
John Wick 5 may not be a certainty yet, but if it happens, it will likely be a bold new direction for the franchise, keeping fans on their toes.