For the past decade, the John Wick franchise has consistently delivered four exceptional action films, each surpassing the last in pushing the boundaries of Keanu Reeves’ iconic character’s kill count. John Wick’s evolution has taken him from a retired widower to a world of covert organizations and adrenaline-pumping action sequences. As John Wick: Chapter 4 appears to conclude the saga, questions arise about whether this marks the final chapter in the enigmatic Baba Yaga’s thrilling story.
Now, where does the franchise currently reside, and what insights can we glean from prominent figures such as Reeves, director Chad Stahelski, and Lionsgate’s key decision-makers regarding the potential for a John Wick 5?
John Wick 4 and 5 Were Supposed To Be Shot Together
While John Wick 5 isn’t a surefire reality at the moment, there was a juncture when it not only appeared imminent but was also slated for consecutive filming alongside John Wick: Chapter 4. In August 2020, Lionsgate’s CEO John Feltheimer revealed during an earnings call, as reported by Deadline, that the studio had embarked on initial planning for both the fourth and fifth entries in the franchise.
This decision came just over a year after the third installment had dominated the summer blockbuster scene in 2019. In the course of the call, Feltheimer shared an update on the progress of these two concurrent projects.
Feltheimer said during the call (via Deadline)
“We’re also busy preparing scripts for the next two installments of our John Wick action franchise, with John Wick 4 slated to hit theatres Memorial Day weekend 2022. We hope to shoot both John Wick 4 & 5 back to back when Keanu becomes available early next year.”
Clearly, the original intent to film both movies consecutively never materialized, leaving fans in a state of uncertainty about the fate of John Wick 5.
Keanu Reeves Wasn’t Sure About Shooting John Wick 5
As the March 2023 premiere of John Wick: Chapter 4 drew nearer, the future trajectory of the franchise remained shrouded in ambiguity. Director Chad Stahelski expressed Lionsgate’s intent to extend the series beyond the fourth installment, yet he himself remained uncertain. This uncertainty heightened in January 2023 when Keanu Reeves, speaking to Total Film (as reported by GamesRadar), indicated that the possibility of a fifth film hinged on the audience’s response to Chapter 4, remarking:
“You have to see how the audience responds to what we did. The only reason we’ve had a chance to make these movies is that people have liked what we have done. So I think we have to wait and see how the audience responds to it. Hopefully they’ll like it.”
The film proved to be an immense triumph, earning widespread critical acclaim and smashing franchise records at the box office, even with its nearly three-hour duration. However, as Stahelski emphasized around its release, the future of John Wick 5 remained far from assured.
John Wick: Chapter 4 will start streaming on Starz starting September 15.
Source: Cinemablend
