Details of the fifth film installment in the John Wick universe have finally been revealed, and it may or may not be what fans expect. Chad Stahelski, the franchise director, recently sat down for an interview with Empire and confirmed that John Wick 5 will be very different from the other film installments because the High Table storyline has reached its conclusion. In the interview, he said,

“The saga of John Wick was pretty wrapped up,” Stahelski said. “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 very different, and everybody [will] see the trailer and go, ‘Holy f**k… I gotta go see that.”

While specifics remain under wraps, fans can turn to plenty of John Wick-related content until more news of the film is revealed. Ballerina, starring Ana de Armas, is set after the events of John Wick Chapter 3 and will feature the Baba Yaga himself, Keanu Reeves. Other exciting projects include the Under the High Table TV series and an animated prequel film focused on Wick’s initial exit from his full-time hitman career. Stahelski confirmed that these are the projects that will set up the storyline in the fifth film.

“The John Wick TV show and the animation are big priorities,” confirms Stahelski. “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.”

There’s a lot to look forward to in the next film installment, and the unknown is always exciting in the John Wick franchise, so let’s theorize about what’s in store for Wick in the next chapter of his life.
A ‘John Wick’ Live Action Prequel Sounds Intriguing

But Reeves’ Age Could Be a Problem

Lionsgate

Everyone has their origin story, and John Wick’s is long overdue. John Wick (2014) was the first time audiences were introduced to the complex character and were taken on a journey of grief and vengeance with him. Each film reveals a layer of Wick’s origin, but it would be smart of the studio and the creatives to focus on how he became an assassin with a reputation that precedes him. In the 2014 film, Viggo Tarasov (Michael Nyqvist), the main antagonist of the film, is the first one to mention Wick’s nickname, Baba Yaga, which incites fear in the world of organized crime. He says, “He was the one you sent to kill the f*****g Boogeyman.”

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​​​Wick is a legend, a myth, which makes fans curious to see visually how he became the figure that crime bosses fear. Reeves’ age is one issue the creatives could run into if they consider an origin story. However, technology has come far, and more projects have been experimenting with de-aging techniques. One example that comes to mind is the flashback sequences in Disney+’s Ahsoka featuring Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker.
According to Corridor Crew, content creators on YouTube, the VFX vendor ILM was behind the de-aging effects on Christensen, as well as other Star Wars ​​​​​​projects, and they break down how it was achieved. ILM combined different techniques, such as filming with multiple cameras set at the same speed in infrared filming, creating detailed 3D modeling. If Stahelski heads down the prequel route, then ILM would be something to consider.
The Ambiguous Ending of ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ Sets up ‘Chapter 5’

Lionsgate

The ending of John Wick: Chapter 4 could lead into the fifth film to reveal that Wick is alive. Fans have pointed out that there’s no official confirmation of his death at the end of the movie, meaning Stahelski could easily set up the original story after the events in Chapter 4​​​​​​. He wouldn’t have to worry about de-aging techniques and could introduce a new antagonist.
However, loyal fans think that Wick’s ending in Chapter 4 was perfect, and it was a beautiful and satisfying conclusion to his journey, so this might be a case of leaving well enough alone and going back to explore his beginnings and how he came to be this myth that’s feared and respected. John Wick: Chapter 4 is streaming on The Roku Channel.