Wil There Be a Fifth John Wick Movie? (2024)

When it comes to John Wick, audiences always assume he'll be back. That's not just something the 21st Century's most successful action hero likes to say; he's proven it accurately time after time. That is, at least, until John Wick: Chapter 4 ended with the titular hero's fate seemingly decided for good. An emotional moment with Winston on the steps of The Basilica Of Sacré Coeur De Montmartre led to fans watching in dismay as John Wick closes his eyes for potentially the last time.

Since the credits first rolled on John Wick: Chapter 4, fans have refused to accept that John Wick's life is over. Instead, they've been holding their collective breaths, feverishly hoping for the dog-loving hitman to announce his return to the living in John Wick: Chapter 5. Will John Wick ride again? The announcement of Keanu Reeves' return to the franchise in John Wick: Chapter 5 seems to indicate that he is perhaps not as dead as first thought.

Updated on July 10, 2024, by Natasha Elder: The John Wick franchise has been significant for the action genre. Its success speaks for itself as far as its popularity, with even a three-hour runtime not dissuading fans from seeing the film in theaters. Such success naturally leads to fans demanding another addition. The end of John Wick: Chapter 4, with John's supposed death, didn't break this pattern. We wanted to update this article with new information regarding John Wick: Chapter 5, as well as the spin-off film Ballerina so that fans of the series are better informed as to when they can expect the next release.

Are There Plans For John Wick: Chapter 5?

The Success of John Wick 4 Potentially Influenced Stahelski's Willingness to Do a Fifth

The only group of people that might want John Wick: Chapter 5 to happen more than its fans are the executives who run Lionsgate. After all, despite its incredibly long runtime, John Wick: Chapter 4 became the highest-grossing entry of the franchise when it collected over $426 Million worldwide. No wonder Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chair Joe Drake remarked earlier this year: "We're not ready to say goodbye to Keanu with this franchise."

• There have been three video games based on the John Wick movies: Payday 2: John Wick (2014), John Wick Chronicles (2017), and John Wick Hex (2019).
• The character of Caine in John Wick: Chapter 4 was initially much more stereotypical in name and design. For example, he was potentially going to be named Shang and was supposed to wear traditional Chinese clothing. Donnie Yen refused to play the character until that changed.

The often-forgotten truth is that John Wick: Chapter 5 was initially supposed to shoot back-to-back with Chapter 4. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 crisis and a grueling production schedule ended that idea prematurely. Following the completion of Chapter 4, director Chad Stahelski noted that he and Keanu Reeves were likely "done for the moment." Then, Chapter 4 became a runaway hit at the box office, and suddenly, Stahelski's stance on a potential sequel softened. He told SyFy:

If a gun was put to my head and they said you have to make three more John Wick movies, could we sustain it with action set pieces and storyline threads, and could we put in some tributes or love letter Easter eggs for things? Yeah, we could totally do that.

The real question for both Stahelski and Reeves was: Why make a fifth film? Before every John Wick film is shot, Keanu Reeves and Chad Stahelski meet at the Imperium Hotel in Japan and drink whisky together until they figure out the next story arc for their enigmatic hero. Whether John Wick lived or died was decided by the ideas that emerged from these sessions. And guess what? Producer Basil Iwanyk has promised that Keanu and Chad will reconnect soon over a few glasses of Yamazaki in Japan.

What Would John Wick: Chapter 5 Be About?

The High Table Could Still be a Target

The most significant sticking point regarding John Wick: Chapter 5 is what it could be about. After all, John Wick seemingly died at the end of the previous entry. Director Chad Stahelski has a few ideas about action-packed set pieces swimming around in his head, but the story has yet to present itself to him. Speaking with Empire in the Summer of 2023, he told them:

I don't have a take right now. But I could wake up tomorrow and have a cool idea that I'd pitch to Keanu, or he would pitch to me, and it might hit that chord of, "Oh my God, we got to do this right now."

Clearly, given the upcoming production of the film, Stahelski must have stumbled upon the right idea.

John Wick's storytellers have a handful of options they could pursue regarding narrative choices. For instance, they could go the prequel route to focus on John Wick's past and how he earned his nickname Baba Yaga. Then again, why look to the past when there's already an entire television series called The Continental exploring the franchise's roots? While John Wick is not in the show, it still expands upon the world in a way that potentially makes a prequel a bit redundant.

• Derek Kolstad is the creator of the John Wick franchise, as well as the spin-off show The Continental: From the World of John Wick.
• The Continental: From the World of John Wick has yet to be renewed for a second season despite relatively good ratings.

Another possibility would be to fill in the gaps between chapters by creating new stories between the events of the first four films. This is reportedly a similar strategy that the Ballerina spin-off film will be employing, so it's also unlikely to be used here. That only leaves two options: a franchise reboot or to bring John Wick back from the dead. A soft reboot that moves away from the Continental, High Table, and John Wick could be exciting but is also a substantial financial risk. The safest bet is a return to what's guaranteed to work, and that's Keanu Reeves.

Wick's victory at the end of the fourth film didn't destroy The High Table, which means that Wick's vengeance still needs to be fully completed. Moreover, despite his apparent demise, the movie never showed Wick die and even boasted an alternate ending. So, John Wick: Chapter 5 could prove that the rumors regarding John Wick's demise were greatly exaggerated before he finally abolishes the High Table once and for all. This would also make sense for his character, given that he wants to live a normal life, but is motivated by revenge. Committing to the idea that he is dead to live peacefully, only to change his mind and carry out his revenge instead, is definitely in-character for John Wick.

Would Keanu Reeves Return as John Wick?

As Long as the Story is Right, Reeves Will Return

It wouldn't be much of a John Wick film without John Wick, but no matter how convincing he might be, Keanu Reeves isn't exactly a spring chicken anymore. Would fans be willing to buy into the idea of a 60-plus-year-old John Wick still kicking butt? If box office returns are anything to go by, it's safe to say that the answer is still yes. Additionally, there are other action films whose main actors are on the older side, one of the most famous of which is the Expendables franchise. Moreover, Keanu might be warming up to the idea himself.

While being interviewed on a recent episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast, director Chad Stahelski said:

If you asked [Keanu] right now, "Would you do John Wick 5?" he'd be [like] "F*** yeah!" But then he'd look and go, "Well, what is it? I have no f**in' idea." ... It's not like we're gonna figure it out today.

In other words, it all comes down to finding the right story for Keanu, as well. The moment that happened, Keanu had made it clear that he would return.

Would Chad Stahelski Direct John Wick: Chapter 5?

He Has Already Been Confirmed as the Director

Another question that is often asked is whether Chad Stahelski would be willing to return to the director's chair. This is a particularly apt question, as a look at Stahelski's schedule seems to indicate that being willing might not have anything to do with it. Stahelski already has three massive feature films in various stages of development: Rainbow Six, a remake of Highlander, and an adaptation of The Ghost of Tsushima. A jam-packed schedule like that suggests Chad might have to consider handing off the John Wick directorial duties to a filmmaker who presents him with an irrefutable pitch.

However, it is no surprise that Stahelski wanted to return. Back in October of 2023, he told Inverse:

I have notebooks and notebooks of sh*t behind me, John Wicks 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. We have ideas for days. We just don't have the story locked.

At the time, it was clear that when Chad found the right story, it was practically guaranteed that both he and Keanu would return in at least some capacity. It seems as though he must have struck gold given that he is slated to direct John Wick: Chapter 5. The release date is still up in the air, though, as is the plot for the film.

What Other Actors Could Return to John Wick: Chapter 5?

An Extensive Cast Could Make a Return

Ian McShane is likely to return as the Continental owner, Winston, for John Wick: Chapter 5, especially with so much real estate relegated to developing Winston's past on Amazon's The Continental. Since Laurence Fishburne has been a part of practically every John Wick since Chapter 2, he'd almost assuredly be back. Unfortunately, following his untimely passing, the one actor who won't be returning is Lance Reddick, especially considering his character of Charon was also killed off. At least fans will see Reddick one final time as Winston's faithful concierge in the upcoming spin-off Ballerina.

• Mr. Nobody is also referred to as "Tracker" and as a "Guy with a Dog" by various characters in John Wick: Chapter 4.
• Mr. Nobody travels with a female Belgian Malinois that he deeply cares about.

It's hard to say who might return for Chapter 5 outside those key characters, especially given the extensive list of intriguing characters. Donnie Yen could conceivably return as Wick's old friend, Caine, and audiences could find out if he survives the assassination attempt teased in Chapter 4's post-credit scene. However, given that he has an upcoming film of his own, they may not want to double-book the actor. Shamier Anderson's mysterious tracker, Mr. Nobody, could also return as he was one of the few survivors at the end of the film and had interesting interactions with John Wick. Ana de Armas's ballerina, Rooney, could jump from her film to Chapter 5 should she prove popular enough and survive her first adventure, as well.

How Has the John Wick Franchise Impacted the Action Genre?

Stahelski's Grappling Emphasis Has Led to Better Action Sequences

While the action franchise was not hurting at the time the first John Wick film was released, with hits such as The Equalizer and Kingsman: The Secret Service being released in the same year, it stood out for its serious tone and extensive use of grappling techniques. The use of grappling techniques meant that Keanu Reeves was able to be in the action shots more frequently than other actors in action films, leading to more cohesive shots and longer action-packed sequences. The fact that his entire motivation was the fact he was taking revenge for the death of his dog also added to the impact of the film, as it made the character stand out among other, more typical action character motivations. Additionally, while a one-man army, John Wick is clearly more injured and tired as the series goes on, adding humanity to his character that is often lacking in action film heroes.

• Chad Stahelski has a kickboxing background and became a stunt double at the age of 24.
• Chad Stahelski was a stunt double for Keanu Reeves' character Neo in The Matrix.

Additionally, Chad Stahelski's background as a stunt actor and stunt coordinator lent to the unique feel of the shots. His personal experience on the other side of the camera has ensured that he captures the entirety of different motions in action sequences, engaging fans in the process. He has also incorporated guns in a way that is distinct to John Wick, potentially influenced by his time working with, and under the guidance of, Yuen Woo-Ping while developing The Matrix. Yuen Woo-Ping based many of the action scenes on John Woo's work, who was famous for his development of interesting gun movements in shoot-outs. Stahelski's involvement in The Matrix potentially played a part in the development of John Wick's action scenes.

These unique action sequences, the fallibility of the main character, and the distinct motivations have all set the John Wick franchise apart. As such, other action films have begun to incorporate similar elements. Dev Patel's Monkey Man, for example, had stellar action sequences that were punctuated by camera movements similar to those in the John Wick films. Additionally, the main character, Kid, suffers from injuries as the movie goes on, clearly feeling fatigue as a result. As there are references to the John Wick franchise in Monkey Man, it is safe to assume that some action sequences were influenced by Stahelski's own action direction.

What's Next in the John Wick Universe?

Ballerina is Set to Release in 2025

Speaking of Ana de Armas, the feature-length film Ballerina, directed by Underworld vet Len Wiseman, is set to hit the big screen on June 6, 2025. Centered around a member of the Ruska Roma crime family that was introduced in Chapter 3, the film will also star Gabriel Byrne, Norman Reedus, and Catalina Sandino Moreno. In addition, Ian McShane and even Keanu Reeves are set to make extended appearances in the film, as the narrative takes place between John Wick: Chapters 3 and 4.

For die-hard fans of the franchise, Ballerina is going to have to hold them over because there's simply no way Chapter 5 could see release before Ballerina hits theaters. Considering that the only known information about John Wick: Chapter 5 is the return of Chad Stahelski as a director and Keanu Reeves, 2026 looks even more likely.

During an earnings call in November 2023, the Chairman of Lionsgate's motion picture group, Joe Drake, said:

On the Wick side, we got multiple spin-offs and Wick Five. We started to work on [it] right when the writer's strike started, and we've gotten back to work as soon as it ended.

Reading between the lines of that announcement, it's pretty clear that it's only a matter of time until fans once again hear Keanu Reeves utter the infamous line:

John Wick

Dive into the world of a retired hitman pulled back into the brutal underworld he left behind, igniting a relentless crusade for revenge.

Created by

Derek Kolstad

First Film

John Wick

Latest Film

John Wick: Chapter 4

Upcoming Films

John Wick: Chapter 5

Upcoming TV Shows

The Continental

First Episode Air Date

September 22, 2023

Cast

Keanu Reeves , Laurence Fishburne , Ian McShane , Lance Reddick , Halle Berry , John Leguizamo , Donnie Yen

Spin-offs (Movies)

Ballerina (2023)

Video Game(s)

Payday 2 , John Wick Hex