Do you want the good news, or the bad news first? Let’s do the bad news. Contrary to speculation, John Wick: Chapter 5 will not begin filming in 2025 (via Collider) or anytime soon. This isn’t to say there won’t be a fifth film; it just comes down to if and when franchise spearheader Chad Stahelski is up to it. As for now, he’s busy directing, writing, and producing a reboot of Highlander, led by Henry Cavill. And that’s just one of literally 11 movies and series that Stahelski has in development or production as a director — and none of those are John Wick: Chapter 5. So anyone who is curious if Chapter 4‘s ending was a fake-out or not will likely have to wait several years.
There is good news, though. John Wick Presents: Ballerina will be released next summer, and considering that movie will feature Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, and the late Lance Reddick, it will likely feel as close to a core installment as a spin-off can get. (Ballerina will take place between Chapters 3 & 4, if you’re wondering how certain people are alive). Not to mention, a television series is in the works that’s intended to follow the events of John Wick: Chapter 4, making it a bit more of a crowd-pleaser than The Continental, which was met with a mixed reception at best. So there’s that, and even the bad news has a silver lining — Chapter 5 is mainly being delayed for just the right reason.
And Now We Wait
John Wick is effectively Stahelski’s baby, and he just wants to get it right. If it happens at all, Chapter 5 has to devise something very clever to address the end of Chapter 4. Then again, the franchise has become increasingly fantastical and absurd, while still excellent, so maybe it doesn’t matter. Whatever the case may be, though, we definitely want to see more of the fascinating Shamier Anderson character from Chapter 4, The Tracker, one of the few surviving supporting characters. Plus, we love his relationship with his trusted animal friend, which mirrors John Wick’s at the beginning of the franchise. Anderson told us before the release of Chapter 4:
I also think the puppy — who doesn’t love a dog? Knowing that that’s his beacon, his north star, why John Wick is essentially back for revenge, it’s his puppy. And then in this film, I get to have my own puppy, a Belgian Malinois.
Related
7 Ways The Beekeeper Ripped Off John Wick
Jason Statham’s latest, The Beekeeper, is an entertaining action spectacular. However, it does look a lot like the John Wick franchise.
So who knows how he will be incorporated moving forward? Maybe The Tracker can become the next Baba Yaga. Wick himself seems done. He’d accomplished his mission, working his way up the High Table to the Marquis, who received a bullet to the head. However, all three John Wick sequels were major moneymakers (especially the third and fourth films), and the title character is arguably as important to Reeves’ career as The Matrix‘s Neo, so don’t count him out. And, considering it would still be coming from Stahelski, fans can rest assured they wouldn’t get an installment that breaks a four-movie winning streak. Watch this space.
