John Wick: Chapter 4 director Chad Stahelski reveals he and star Keanu Reeves are satisfied with how the neo-noir action film ended.
John Wick: Chapter 4 helmer Chad Stahelski insists that he and star Keanu Reeves are satisfied with the much-talked-about ending of the acclaimed neo-noir action film as questions about Chapter 5 remain.
Speaking at Deadline’s Contenders Film event in Los Angeles, Stahelski branded Chapter 4 as a “love letter” to the industry, with the latest John Wick sequel writing a seemingly fitting end to the titular film series and character. When addressing if there’s a chance of Reeves’ central character returning for John Wick 5 despite seemingly meeting his demise at the conclusion of Chapter 4, he said he and Reeves are “very proud” of how the film ended and “feel good” about where they left the story. However, Stahelski left the door open for a sensational return for Wick, though it would have to be under the right circumstances. “Honestly, to be fair, if either one of us woke up tomorrow and had a really good in or an idea, we’d be down for it. It’s just, you don’t want to force it. We’re pretty good right now and don’t want to mess it up,” he said.
John Wick Director Outlines Franchise’s Future Beyond Chapter 4
Though the bloody ending to Chapter 4 seemed like a fitting end for Wick, it left some ambiguity, with Lionsgate later announcing that it’s developing John Wick 5. Although Stahelski has expressed doubt over whether John Wick 5 will happen, he is confident it can work if Reeves commits to returning, with Lionsgate insistent that the movie won’t happen without his presence. A screenplay is currently being written for the next sequel.
The prompt to make John Wick 5 came after Chapter 4 became the biggest critical and commercial success of the film series. The latest installment earned over $440 million at the global box office against its $100 million budget, with the movie’s action sequences, story and ending largely receiving positive feedback. Chapter 4 was made after Stahelski and his team felt the ending to Chapter 3 – Parabellum was unsatisfying, deciding to give audiences more clarity with its story.
As fans await news of whether John Wick 5 will come to life, the eponymous film franchise is living on through various spinoff projects. The Continental, a three-episode miniseries that aired via Peacock, chronicled the rise of a young Winston Scott during his eventual takeover of the titular hotel chain. Meanwhile, Ballerina, which stars Ana de Armas as the title character hunting down her family’s murderers, is currently slated to hit theaters on June 7, 2024.
John Wick 5 Won’t Happen Without Keanu Reeves, Lionsgate Confirms
More spinoffs are expected from the John Wick franchise, with Stahelski recently revealing another TV series is in the works. Considering Stahelski admitted the original 2014 John Wick movie received unfavorable test screening reviews, the franchise has come a long way from a potential early dead end.
Fans can stream John Wick: Chapter 4 on Amazon Prime Video and Starz.
