The John Wick franchise starring Keanu Reeves has been a major hit with audiences, grossing over $580 million worldwide across the first three films. With the cliffhanger ending of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum in 2019, fans have been eagerly awaiting news on a possible John Wick: Chapter 4 and even Chapter 5. While Chapter 4 has been confirmed and is in development, what are the chances we could see the Baba Yaga back for a fifth film? Let’s take a look at the evidence.
The Financial Success of the Franchise
The John Wick movies have been very profitable considering their modest budgets compared to other action blockbusters. Here is a table summarizing the box office performance of each film:
| Movie | Budget | Box Office |
|---|---|---|
| John Wick | $20 million | $88.8 million |
| John Wick: Chapter 2 | $40 million | $171.5 million |
| John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum | $75 million | $327.3 million |
As we can see, the franchise has grown in popularity with each new installment, doubling its profits from one chapter to the next. This demonstrates substantial interest among audiences globally. With such financial success, the studio has major incentive to produce further sequels.
The Story Isn’t Over
John Wick: Chapter 3 ended on a major cliffhanger, with John Wick considered “excommunicado” and fleeing New York City injured and alone. This sets up an obvious continuation as John will likely plot his revenge and return against the High Table. Even the subtitle “Parabellum” references the Latin phrase “Si vis pacem, para bellum” meaning “If you want peace, prepare for war”, indicating the next chapter will see John prepare for an all-out war. The story feels unfinished at the end of Chapter 3, so fans are expecting at least one more film to provide a resolution.
Keanu Reeves’ Interest
Keanu Reeves has been a major force behind the success of the John Wick films, and the actor has expressed interest in continuing to play the role. In several interviews, Reeves has said he loves playing John Wick and would be on board for as many sequels as the fans want. Reeves is committed to the extensive training and stunt work required to make the action sequences as thrilling as possible, and he remains invested in John Wick’s story. As long as he wants to keep making these films, it’s likely the studio will pursue more chapters.
The Expanding John Wick Universe
In addition to the main film series, the John Wick franchise has been expanding with various spin-offs and adaptations.
- A John Wick prequel titled Ballerina focusing on a female assassin is in development.
- A John Wick TV series titled The Continental is coming to Amazon Prime based on the assassin-run hotel frequented in the films.
- A John Wick video game is rumored after Lionsgate trademarked the title in 2018.
These expanding media properties suggest significant interest in exploring more stories and backstories in the John Wick world. Each new TV show, movie, or game can help build the mythology and fanbase, fueling interest for more John Wick films.
Possibility of John Wick Chapter 5
Given the financial success, the unfinished story, Keanu Reeves’ interest, and the growing media universe, there is a very strong chance John Wick will continue for a fifth film. However, there are some important factors to consider:
The Director’s Vision
Chad Stahelski has directed all three John Wick films. In interviews, he has discussed his broad ideas for where he would take John Wick in future installments. This includes his desire to expand the world with new locations, memorable side characters like The Bowery King, and bigger set pieces. However, Stahelski has stated he needs to feel truly inspired to direct a sequel, rather than being forced into one by the studio. As long as the director is excited about the story and feels he can raise the bar, he’s likely to return, boosting the odds of Chapter 5.
Keanu Reeves’ Busy Schedule
While Reeves clearly loves playing John Wick, his meteoric return to stardom in recent years could make finding time for another sequel tricky. After Chapter 3, Reeves appeared in the rom-com Always Be My Maybe and voiced Toy Story 4. He’s currently filming back-to-back Matrix sequels and has numerous other projects lined up through 2024. Finding a window for intensive John Wick training and a long shoot won’t be easy with all of Reeves’ commitments. This busy schedule could push Chapter 5 several years into the future.
Avoiding Fatigue
Some long-running franchises start to feel tired and formulaic after numerous sequels. The John Wick series will need to avoid audience fatigue by maintaining the quality of the action sequences, finding ways to expand the mythology, and keeping the story compelling. As long as there are fresh ideas and exciting new twists, moviegoers are likely to keep turning out. But if Chapter 4 or 5 feel like they are just going through the motions, interest could start to drop off.
Conclusion
In summary, while nothing is guaranteed, the chances seem quite strong that we will eventually see John Wick back in action for a fifth time. The incredible popularity of the series, the wide open ending ready for more story, and the continuing enthusiasm from Reeves and Stahelski signal that Chapter 5 likely isn’t a matter of “if” but “when”. However, the team will need to make sure they have creative fuel left in the tank and that Reeves can find time in his packed schedule. As long as those conditions are met, fans can probably look forward to even more slick gun-fu and imaginative assassin world-building in John Wick: Chapter 5. The Baba Yaga’s vengeance will continue!