07-05-2025
'John Wick 5' Will Completely Change the Franchise
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According to Chad Stahelski, who has helmed all of the "John Wick" films so far, the upcoming "John Wick: Chapter 5" is going to be a game changer in terms of the direction of the film series. Speaking to Empire, the filmmaker says "John Wick: Chapter 5" will be "really different" from what we've come to expect.
Read More: 'John Wick' Fan-Favorite Star Returning for Spinoff
"The saga of John Wick was pretty wrapped up," Stahelski said to Empire. "So the only way to do a '5' is to have a new story that involves John Wick. It's not a continuation, with the High Table. John dealt with his grief. It will be really different, and everybody [will] see the trailer and go, 'Holy f--k... I gotta see that.'"
Keanu Reeves as John Wick in "Ballerina"
Keanu Reeves as John Wick in "Ballerina"
Lionsgate
According to Stahelski, "John Wick: Chapter 5" won't be the only place where fans will see this change. The world of "John Wick" is expanding quickly, including a live-action TV show and an animated prequel film.
The show, "John Wick: Under the High Table," will take place after the events of "John Wick: Chapter 4" and introduce fans to a new generation of young assassins. Meanwhile, the prequel anime will tell the story of how Wick first got out from under his obligations to the High Table before the events of the first "John Wick" film.
Both of these projects, says Stahelski, will lead into "John Wick: Chapter 5".
"The John Wick TV show and the animation are big priorities," Stahelski told Empire. "Our idea is to try some things and explore some threads and use those two properties to catapult us forward into the ideas for 'John 5'."
Those aren't the only "John Wick" spinoffs on the way, either. "Ballerina" stars Ana de Armas as one of the ballet dancers/assassins introduced in "John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum" on her own mission of vengeance. The film premieres June 6, and Keanu Reeves will be showing up to lock horns with the titular assassin.
In the meantime, Donnie Yen will direct and star in "Caine", the spinoff featuring his character introduced in "John Wick: Chapter 4" and taking place after the events of that film. The film is said to be a Hong Kong-style action film in the vein of movies that made Yen famous. Rina Sawayama's Akira, also introduced in "John Wick 4," was recently confirmed to be appearing in the feature as well.
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