“We’re all going to take a tiny rest here and then scratch at ideas about whether there’s a credible way to get into five. But there’s no guarantee,” says Lionsgate Motion Picture Group president Joe Drake.
Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Joe Drake has announced that despite initial expectations, a fifth installment of the John Wick franchise is now being considered due to the tremendous success of John Wick: Chapter 4 at the global box office. Directed by Chad Stahelski and featuring Keanu Reeves reprising his role as the iconic assassin, the film garnered an impressive $73.8 million in domestic box office sales, along with positive reviews and an A CinemaScore from audiences. The international reception was equally remarkable, with a debut of $67.6 million from 71 markets, resulting in a global opening of $141.4 million, setting a new record for the series.
The John Wick franchise was an unexpected hit that caught many off guard. The first movie was a fun and wild action film that revived Keanu Reeves’ career. After that, each sequel expanded the world and strengthened John Wick’s status as one of the greatest action characters ever. In John Wick: Chapter 4, he tries to settle things with the High Table and finally find peace. Unfortunately, this peace is short-lived as John appears to die right after his victory. However, news about John Wick 5 suggests that the franchise will continue for at least one more chapter.
John Wick: Chapter 5 Is Confirmed
John Wick: Chapter 5 is confirmed to be in development, even after the ending of John Wick: Chapter 4. Shortly after the fourth movie was released, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group president Joe Drake revealed they would start brainstorming ideas for the next installment. He mentioned that the ending of John Wick: Chapter 4 could be seen in various ways, suggesting it might not be the final conclusion it seemed to be.
The Latest News
The latest information confirms that John Wick 5 is being written alongside other spinoffs. Films like Ballerina are set to release soon, and The Continental series has recently premiered, expanding the franchise beyond its mainline movies. Despite this, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chair Joe Drake emphasized that the original film series remains a top focus. “We started working right as the writer’s strike began and resumed as soon as it ended,” Drake stated, though no further updates have emerged since the November 2023 announcement.
The Story
No specific story details for John Wick: Chapter 5 have been disclosed, and reviving the character after his seemingly fitting demise will undoubtedly pose a challenge. The John Wick series has been consistently successful, paralleling franchises like Mission: Impossible in its ability to improve with each new installment. Each sequel has satisfied fan expectations while expanding the storyline meaningfully. However, as history with other franchises has demonstrated, recognizing the right time to conclude can be crucial to preserving a franchise’s legacy.
Reviving the character in John Wick: Chapter 5 almost guarantees the franchise won’t have a satisfying ending. John’s death while completing his impossible mission was a fitting conclusion. Bringing him back for another film makes a second death seem cheap, and it’s hard to imagine a more effective ending. However, it’s important to remember that the John Wick series has defied expectations from the start. What began as a small action movie became one of the greatest action franchises ever. Therefore, it’s possible the franchise could surprise us again by successfully bringing John back from the dead.
John Wick: Chapter 5 Cast
For John Wick 5, it’s important that Keanu Reeves comes back to play the main role. John Wick is one of his most loved characters, and it’s hard to imagine the movies without him. Reeves talked about the possibility of John Wick: Chapter 5, saying, “The only reason we’ve been able to make these movies is because people have liked what we’ve done. So we have to wait and see how the audience feels about it.” People have liked the movies a lot, but it still leaves the question of whether the last ending was good enough.
If Reeves decides to come back for John Wick 5, there are other characters from the series who might return too. In John Wick: Chapter 4, Winston and the Bowler King visit John’s grave, hinting they might have helped fake his death. John also gained two new allies in the fourth movie: Donnie Yen’s Cain and Shamier Anderson’s Tracker, who could return. Additionally, since Reeves is in the Ballerina spinoff, Ana de Armas, who stars in that movie, could also appear in John Wick: Chapter 5.
When Will John Wick Chapter 5 Release?
The original plan to film John Wick Chapter 5 alongside Chapter 4 did not materialize, as reported by Deadline. Director Chad Stahelski remained non-committal about Chapter 5 during the release of Chapter 4, which was understandable given the definitive ending in March 2023.
However, in May 2023, Lionsgate announced that John Wick 5 was in early development as part of their strategy to expand the franchise. Former Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chairman Joe Drake emphasized this during a Q4 meeting, promising “a regular cadence of ‘John Wick'” moving forward.
Despite initial setbacks due to the 2023 writers’ strike, Drake confirmed in November 2023 that work on John Wick 5 had resumed. Although the release is now anticipated for 2026, there is a possibility it may debut in 2027.
