It seems John Wick’s story is far from over, as Keanu Reeves is returning as the titular hitman in John Wick 5, with the franchise set for further expansion with two more upcoming projects: An animated prequel film and a standalone movie centred around Donnie Yen’s character, Cain.
Via an announcement made during CinemaCon 2025, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chairman Fogelson revealed that development of the fifth entry in the franchise has begun, with Reeves on board alongside franchise director and producer Chad Stahelski, as well as Thunder Road producers Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee.
“Keanu, Chad, Basil and Erica would not return unless they had something truly phenomenal and fresh to say with these characters and this world,” Fogelson said, while Iwanyk and Lee added that “It’s so important to get this story right and give John’s story the proper next step. It’s exciting to take the first step on that road.”
While it makes sense that another mainline John Wick entry would be in the works, considering the massive success of 2023’s John Wick: Chapter 4, which marked the franchise’s highest-grossing film by raking in more than US$440 million at the global box office, the existence of John Wick 5 is still surprising due to how the fourth film ended. (Warning: Spoilers for John Wick: Chapter 4 to follow)
At the end of John Wick: Chapter 4, Wick appears to succumb to his wounds after defeating Bill Skarsgård’s Marquis Vincent Bisset de Gramont in a Wild West-style duel. The movie also ends with a shot of Ian McShane’s Winston and Laurence Fishburne’s Bowery King paying their respects in front of Wick’s gravestone, although in true Hollywood movie fashion, audiences do not actually see Wick’s body or any other concrete confirmation of his death, leaving room for his eventual return, though specific details hasn’t been revealed as of yet.
John Wick 5 isn’t the only project Reeves has on his plate, as the actor is also set to lend his voice in an animated prequel film, which explores the origins of Wick as he completes the “Impossible Task” by killing all his rivals in a single night and earn the right to leave the High Table be with the woman he loves. The film is set to be directed by Shannon Tindle (Ultraman: Rising) and written by Vanessa Taylor (Game of Thrones, Divergent).
In addition, Donnie Yen will return once more as the blind assassin Caine in a standalone feature film similar to that of the upcoming Ballerina, with Yen directing and executive producing the currently untitled film, which begins production in Hong Kong later in the year. Lionsgate described the new film as “stylistically modeled on the uniquely designed action films that Yen helped make famous”, and it will follow the events of the fourth mainline film, which saw Cain being freed from the High Table.
“From the moment Chad and Donnie pitched the idea of a Donnie Yen-style action film in the mode of John Wick, I was all in,” Fogelson said. “Donnie is not only an incredible, charismatic star, but a smart, cinematic director who knows how to deliver massively entertaining action for a global audience. We’re thrilled that he’s in the director’s chair to tell Caine’s story.” The film was also described as a “modern day kung-fu classic that explores the John Wick world”.
Despite not having release windows yet, the three upcoming John Wick projects, alongside Ballerina, which premieres on 5 June, are set to expand the already successful franchise and hopefully elevate it to new heights.
Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.
