John Wick director Chad Stahelski has addressed the status of the previously-planned fifth film, saying that for the time being, the fast-approaching John Wick: Chapter 4 puts the Keanu Reeves-led film series to bed.
During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Stahelski was asked about his plans for a potential fifth main-series entry in the John Wick franchise, the development of which has been in flux for some time. "In our minds, Keanu and I are done for the moment. We're going to give John Wick a rest," the director replied.
"I'm sure the studio has a plan," Stahelski continued. "If everyone loves it and it goes kooky, then we'll take a quiet minute. Wicks always, for some weird reason, always get the latest release date in Japan. It;s always like, three months later. If it's the same this time, we'll do a Japanese tour and release the movie in September. Keanu and I will take the long trip to Tokyo, we'll sit in the Imperial Hotel Scotch Bar and go, 'What do you think?' We'll have a couple 20-year-old whiskies and write some ideas on napkins. If those ideas stick, maybe we'll make a movie."
What Happened to John Wick: Chapter 5?
Directed by Stahelski, the original John Wick film -- starring Reeves as the titular assassin -- released in theaters in 2014. Stahelski returned to helm John Wick: Chapter 2 and John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum, which followed suit in 2017 and 2019, respectively. Shortly after Chapter 3's release, Lionsgate announced that a fourth film was in the works, with Stahelski once again returning to the director's chair. In August 2020, it was confirmed that a fifth John Wick film starring Reeves was in development as well, and that it would enter production immediately after Chapter 4 wrapped.
In March 2021, however, Lionsgate delayed production on John Wick: Chapter 5, opting to simply move forward with Chapter 4. In late 2022, Stahelski opened up about why exactly John Wick: Chapter 4 and Chapter 5 didn't shoot back-to-back as originally planned. "I didn't feel good about doing 4 and 5 collectively," the director said, citing the fact that doing so would require an exhausting 200-day production. At the time, though, Stahelski seemed confident that a fifth film would be made at some point. "Keanu calls it the John Wick fever," he said. "You haven't done John Wick for two years and you're like, 'We gotta go do something!'"
The John Wick Universe Is Expanding
While a fifth main-series John Wick film is up in the air at the moment, the franchise at large doesn't appear to be going anywhere. Lionsgate is still moving forward with Ballerina, a spinoff film directed by Len Wiseman and starring Ana de Armas. Ballerina takes place between the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum and John Wick: Chapter 4, with Reeves even attached to reprise his role. The film was in post-production as of last month, though still currently lacks a release date. Additionally, a prequel miniseries titled The Continental is currently slated for release on Peacock after previously being developed for Starz. The show does not yet have a premiere date.
In the meantime, John Wick: Chapter 4 is set to release in theaters later this month on Friday, March 24. The film has already been met with strong reviews from critics, currently holding an approval rating of 90 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. In his official review of the film, CBR's own Brandon Zachary wrote, "Between the boisterous side characters, a ridiculous Bond-villain role for Scott Adkins, and a willingness to use slapstick in the middle of action beats, John Wick: Chapter 4 is maybe the funniest entry in the series. The bittersweet and quietly somber tone of the film's softer moments ends up landing with great effect as a result, a reminder of the fragile humanity that's always been at the heart of John Wick's vengeance-fueled rampages and dark comedy... John Wick: Chapter 4 is truly massive but worth every ounce of effort that went into it."
John Wick: Chapter 4 opens in theaters on March 24.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter