John Wick is one of the best examples of top-notch action in movies and one of the most significant influences the genre has ever had. It is a Keanu Reeves show through and through, with the actor acting out his action sequences (and enjoying it too). And John Wick: Chapter Four has just released yesterday with excellent reviews and enormous love from the audience.
Despite being a highly successful franchise, especially in these times when the audience is more critical than ever, the franchise’s future is still not set in stone. Unlike movie studios greenlighting several sequels of box-office hit franchises at once, Lionsgate has been announcing sequels one after the other only.
John Wick 5 was canceled after being greenlighted. Keanu Reeves attributes a new installment to the success of the fourth movie, and Director Stahelski has expressed uncertainty about the film. However, Reeves will return as Wick in the spinoffs of Ballerina and The Continental.
1. Was John Wick: Chapter Five canceled?
John Wick: Chapter 5 had been greenlit to be shot back to back with John Wick: Chapter Four. However, the movie was canceled and has yet to be greenlit again after the release of the franchise’s fourth movie.
Like several other franchises, John Wick 5 was meant to be shot back-to-back with John Wick 4. It was even greenlit for the same, but later on, canceled in an unexpected move.
Director Stad Chahelski, in an interview with ComicBook stated that the films were being split, different from the original plan, for a ‘creative breath’ and ‘two great movies.’ We agree; quality tends to drop with more on our plates, and we always want the best.
“It seems in the other franchises that have tried it, they just feel like the same thing done again, right? Like there’s no new influence. Sometimes you need that creative breath to come up with fresh shit. Otherwise I’m stressed out about making two movies instead of one really good one. I’m just not that bright. I’m not that clever. I’m not that good as a director to project my vision years into the future and do two great movies.” – Stad Chahelski
The movies of the John Wick series have much to offer in terms of style, avatars, story, and needless to say, action. With a globetrotting assassin as the titular character, the series’ creators always have much on their plates to create such perfections. Taking both movies separately on their shoulders will let them focus more on each piece.
However, the increased runtime of the latest release (John Wick 4 is 30 minutes lengthier than the last movie of the series) gives an impression that the creators have meshed together their ideas for the fourth and fifth movies to provide us with a bigger and longer thrilling experience. With several destinations featured in John Wick: Chapter Four, more than usually seen in any film, including a John Wick film, this is highly possible.
2. Did Keanu Reeves confirm or deny John Wick 5?
Keanu Reeves, who plays the titular character in the John Wick movies, has stated that the franchise’s future lies with the audience and their receival of John Wick: Chapter Four.
In an interview with Games Radar, Reeves, the perfect actor for the character of John Wick, hinted that John Wick 5 was not a given. The movie has not yet been decided upon or greenlighted by Lionsgate and the creators.
“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.” – Keanu Reeves
Also, uncharacteristic for a John Wick movie, John Wick 4 ends with no significant cliffhanger. Indeed, there is a post-credit scene that could be utilized to develop a future storyline; however, this change gives the franchise an out from developing a fifth movie with reason,
Thus, the future of the movie series does lie in uncertainty. However, as John Wick 4 has had the biggest opening for any John Wick movie at the box office, and given the audience approval so far, the series seems to be destined to continue. Besides, Rotten Tomatoes has rated it at a 7.9 on 10! There is no way they will stop at a fourth movie; fingers crossed!
3. Does Chad Stahelski want a break from the John Wick franchise?
Director Chad Stahelski has claimed he wants a break from the John Wick franchise. He has also stated that a John Wick 5 movie depends on whether he and Keanu Reeves can get ‘ideas that stick while having whiskies in a bar,’ putting the franchise’s future in dubiousness.
Stahelski has been majorly focused on the John Wick series since the release of the first movie in 2014. His career as a stunt coordinator for several years gives an edge to the John Wick movies that make them so entertaining. Making an installment without him at the helm could be a wrong move for Lionsgate and bad news for the audience.
However, in an interview with /Film before the release of John Wick: Chapter Four, the filmmaker spoke doubtfully about his involvement in John Wick 5. “Somewhere, maybe somebody will do it. I’m always saying, ‘This is my last one, this will never happen again.’ And I’ll say that now: This is my last one.”
The director has expressed his desire to take a break from the series and focus on something different. “Every time I come back to a ‘Wick,’ there’s been two or three years in between. That’s a lot of time for a human. You know how many pieces of art or music or museums or locations I’ve gone to in three years? Huge. I mean, think of what you do in a year. What would you do in three? Don’t you think all that would influence you? I just don’t think I’d be very good jumping right into something. I need a little bit of time to get better. I’ve got to go practice.”
In another interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Stahelski stated how both he and Reeves are done for the moment with the franchise. “In our minds, Keanu and I are done for the moment. We’re going to give John Wick a rest. I’m sure the studio has a plan. If everyone loves it and it goes kooky, then we’ll take a quiet minute. 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.”
This adds to the uncertainty regarding a fifth installment for the John Wick series, and without the director, Lionsgate, too, need not go ahead with a movie. However, considering the immense popularity of the franchise and the four films being too few for such a success, a fifth movie is highly possible, even if the fourth one underperforms at the box office. A shorter screen time and smaller budget will encourage its production.
But, Stahelski definitely needs a break if a fifth movie is to go on floors and he is to direct, and thus we can only expect a probable John Wick 5 after a few years. Let’s keep our fingers crossed and glued!
4. Where will we see John Wick next?
Despite John Wick 5 being an uncertainty, we will still be seeing much of John Wick on screen. Played by the highly talented Keanu Reeves, Wick has been declared to make an appearance in the JW spinoffs Ballerina and The Continental.
Ballerina is a spinoff of the same franchise, set in the same world as John Wick and starring another deadly assassin (played by Ana de Armas).
The Continental is a part of The Peacock series and delves into Winston’s life in the 1970s. It is in production and stars Mel Gibson, Colin Woodell, and Ray McKinnon.
Keanu Reeves has agreed to star in both productions, giving them a concrete connection to John Wick’s world and more screentime of the skilled assassin for us.
Stay tuned to Cine Dope for the latest updates on the John Wick franchise!
5. About John Wick : Chapter 4
John Wick 4 is an American neo-noir action thriller film and the fourth installment in the John Wick franchise. The franchise is created by Derek Kolstad and stars Keanu Reeves in the role of a retired legendary hitman John Wick.
John Wick must avoid run-ins with The High Table and survive long enough to complete his mission, along with the help of The Bowery King, who was left for dead by The High Table and now is helping John Wick take them down.
John Wick 4 released on March 24, 2023.
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