John Wick fans have been eagerly awaiting news on the next installment in the blockbuster action franchise. A fifth chapter in the saga of the legendary assassin has been confirmed to be in early development at Lionsgate. However, concrete details remain sparse, leaving devotees of the Keanu Reeves-led series with more questions than answers.

Let’s break down what we know so far about the development status, potential plot, release date, and more for John Wick: Chapter 5.

Is John Wick 5 Officially Happening?

While Lionsgate has announced John Wick 5 is in the works, it has not yet gotten the full green light. The studio is keen to continue the lucrative franchise, which has grossed over $579 million worldwide to date.

However, director Chad Stahelski and star Keanu Reeves have not yet committed to returning for a fifth outing. Their involvement would likely be required for the sequel to move forward.

Stahelski has said publicly he doesn’t currently have a take for what the story of John Wick 5 could be. He typically brainstorms ideas with Reeves over drinks when promoting the previous films in Japan. If they land on an idea they feel passionate about, that has led to them making a follow-up in the past.

So while the studio may want a fifth film, whether John Wick will officially return likely hinges on Stahelski and Reeves agreeing creatively on where to take the character next. For now, the pair seem to be in wait-and-see mode.

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Why Hasn’t John Wick 5 Started Production?

A major factor throwing uncertainty on John Wick 5 is the fact that no script or concrete story currently exists. Without a screenplay in hand, the sequel cannot move forward with pre-production.

This is partly due to the Hollywood writers’ strike that has barred any work on developing a script for Chapter 5. The ongoing strike has brought film and TV production to a standstill. Until a new deal is reached, work on a John Wick 5 screenplay remains stalled.

Even once the strike ends, Stahelski and Reeves will need to come up with an idea they want to pursue for the plot. This has taken them months to formulate for previous films, so don’t expect progress overnight.

The lack of a script and production delays due to the strike make it unlikely cameras could roll on John Wick 5 any time soon. A 2024 release seems highly improbable at this stage.

Is There a Trailer for John Wick: Chapter 5 ?

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What Will John Wick 5 Be About?

Major spoilers ahead for anyone who hasn’t seen John Wick: Chapter 4!

The end of the fourth John Wick film depicted the titular assassin seemingly meeting his demise. After being fatally wounded in a duel with his old friend Caine, Wick stumbles to the New York Public Library where he asks Winston to fulfill his final request to be taken to “the Tomb.”

We then see Wick buried next to his beloved wife’s grave, as Winston and the Bowery King pay respects. However, there is some ambiguity about whether Wick definitively died. We never see his body, and his dog appears to react to something off-screen at the funeral.

This leaves the door potentially open for John Wick’s return in Chapter 5. He could have conceivably faked his death with Winston’s help to get free from the assassin underworld once and for all.

However, Stahelski has said the fourth film provides closure to Wick’s emotional character arc. So if he does return in Chapter 5, it may take his story in a wholly new direction rather than continuing old threads.

The fourth film also introduced major new characters like Lance Reddick’s Charon and Donnie Yen’s Caine, who could continue on in sequels. But it seems unlikely they would take over the leading role from Wick.

Until Stahelski and Reeves decide where they want to take things next, the plot remains a mystery. But given the open-ended nature of Chapter 4’s climax, Wick living to fight another day can’t be ruled out.

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When Will John Wick 5 Be Released?

Given the early developmental phase John Wick 5 is currently in, don’t expect to see it hit theaters for quite some time.

2024 can almost certainly be ruled out as a possibility given the lack of a script and the ongoing Hollywood strikes. Even 2025 seems like an optimistic projection at this stage.

The next installment in the franchise to hit screens will be the Ana de Armas-led spin-off Ballerina, currently slated for release in June 2024. So 2026 seems the earliest realistic timeframe for John Wick 5 to follow after that.

Of course, should the stars align and Stahelski and Reeves quickly land on an exciting idea that gets the script wheels spinning, the Baba Yaga could return sooner. But fans should brace for a longer wait.

Who Will Star in John Wick: Chapter 5?

Naturally, Keanu Reeves would be expected to return in the lead role should John Wick defy death and come back for another round. As mentioned, Stahelski has asserted he wouldn’t make a John Wick film without Reeves at the helm.

Other Chapter 4 stars whose characters made it out alive could also return, including:

• Laurence Fishburne as the Bowery King
• Ian McShane as Winston
• Donnie Yen as Caine

Newer faces like Shamier Anderson’s Tracker and singer Rina Sawayama’s Akira could also potentially reprise their roles.

Unfortunately, Lance Reddick’s beloved concierge Charon won’t be back after his untimely demise in Chapter 4. Reddick will appear in the Ballerina prequel though before his character meets his end in the timeline.

Until deals are signed, the casting picture remains fluid. But expect a mix of new blood and returning faces should the fifth film come to fruition.

Is There a John Wick 5 Trailer?

Don’t bother searching YouTube – you won’t find any footage or trailers for John Wick 5 as filming has obviously yet to start.

We’ll have to wait a while before any promotional videos or sneak peeks at the sequel start to emerge. Given the uncertainty around the project actually happening, we may not get a teaser trailer until very close to the theoretical release date.

For now, fans will have to settle for rewatching the epic trailers for John Wick 4 over and over again.

What About the John Wick TV Show?

While we await news on the next John Wick movie, an exciting TV show set in the franchise’s universe is on the way.

The Continental will focus on the origin story of the mysterious assassin hotels glimpsed in the films. Set way back in 1970’s New York City, the prequel series boasts an impressive cast including Colin Woodell, Mel Gibson, and Lance Reddick.

The show is set to premiere on Peacock streaming in the US and Amazon Prime Video internationally sometime in 2023. So John Wick devotees will get their fix by checking out the small-screen take on the criminal underworld next year.

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The Waiting Game Begins

Like the stealthy assassin at its center, concrete details on John Wick: Chapter 5 are difficult to pin down. While Keanu Reeves’ laconic hitman has more stories left to tell, fans will likely need patience to see them play out on screen.

With no script, release date, or even confirmed cast in place yet, the fifth installment remains shrouded in uncertainty. We’ll have to wait for Stahelski and Reeves to decide if they have more to say in the saga of the legendary hitman.

For now, the anticipation continues to build. When John Wick loads his weapons again, his devotees around the world will be eagerly waiting and watching. The Baba Yaga’s bloody work is not yet done.

FAQ

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