Contains spoilers for John Wick: Chapter 4John Wick: Chapter 4 had the perfect ending to the popular action franchise, but despite the protagonist's fate, there's a lot of talk about John Wick: Chapter 5. The fourquel saw John Wick (Keanu Reeves) once again running for his life, this time across five different countries, but it finally came to an end when he was forced into a duel with Caine (Donnie Yen), who used to be one of his allies. Caine fatally wounded John, but right before the titular assassin died, he seemed at peace, and he was then buried in New York with the headstone reading, "Loving Husband."
Despite the fact that John Wick, who has become one of the most beloved action heroes ever, dies at John Wick: Chapter 5 is in development, alongside a ton of other John Wick spinoff movies and shows. It's hard to see how the franchise can continue, especially with John as the protagonist once again. John Wick: Chapter 5 could risk undoing John Wick: Chapter 4's perfect ending, and director Chad Stahelski seems to agree.
Is John Wick 5 Happening? No One Seems To Really Know Or Agree
Everyone involved in the franchise has conflicting comments about whether John Wick: Chapter 5 is happening. While Lionsgate announced it, Chad Stahelski, who has directed every John Wick movie, doesn't seem to want it to happen. Stahelski's response to the John Wick: Chapter 5 news is that John Wick: Chapter 4 ended the series. He says, "Now we’ve done the four, and completed the circle, so to speak, I think it’s pretty good closure for the series. And then there’s the competitor, or the real director in me who goes, ‘F*** it, let’s just see if we can do it.’ It’s very appealing. I just don’t have the ‘why’ yet."
Stahelski has also spoken about a I Am Legend 2 is using the alternate ending of the original in order to continue, John Wick 5 could do the same.
John Wick 5 Is A Bad Idea - But Probably Will Happen
Because the title character obviously died in the final act of the previous movie, John Wick: Chapter 5 shouldn't happen. John Wick 5 would have to either be a prequel or reveal that John Wick faked his death, but both ideas would have major consequences and undermine the ending of John Wick: Chapter 4. John was at peace with his fate right before he keeled over, as he believed he was going to his deceased wife, Helen. John didn't have to run anymore, and it was the perfect definitive ending to a movie franchise that got better with each subsequent release.
It's unlikely that John Wick: Chapter 5 will be better than John Wick: Chapter 4 if Stahelski doesn't return to direct, especially as the film will have to jump through hoops to explain how it exists. Nevertheless, regardless of the movie's quality, John Wick: Chapter 5 will likely still happen, as the franchise is a huge moneymaker for Lionsgate. Thanks to John Wick: Chapter 4 grossing $430 million, the relatively low-cost franchise has made over a billion dollars (via the John Wick spinoff Ballerina.
