The John Wick spinoff shows and movies in the works, and the franchise is far from over. Even though the future seems to be filled with John Wick stories, the next few years will be critical to the franchise. John Wick needs to prove that it's strong enough to survive without Keanu Reeves.

There has been a John Wick spinoff in the past - The Continental - but it didn't do much to prove that the concept works without Keanu Reeves. The Continental was somewhat of a lackluster addition to the John Wick universe. It scored 68% on Rotten Tomatoes, and it just wasn't indicative of all the elaborate rules, assassinations, and high-octane action the franchise is capable of. Future installments in the franchise will have to prove that even without Reeves leading the way, John Wick is still capable of delivering the heart-racing thrills and intense fight scenes it's known for.

Ballerina & The High Table Show Will Have To Prove John Wick Can Continue Without Keanu

Ballerina & Under The High Table Are Proofs Of Concept For More Spinoffs & Sequels

Two of the John Wick spinoffs are particularly important for the future of the franchise: Ballerina and John Wick timeline after John's death, and also the first show since The Continental.

Both Ballerina and Under the High Table need to prove that Keanu Reeves isn't the only thing the franchise has to offer. Ballerina has to show that the style of John Wick - its flashy visuals, fast-paced choreography, and brutal efficiency - is transferable to a new star. Under the High Table has to prove that the intricate world of John Wick still has new mysteries to solve and surprises in store. If those two projects can't accomplish their goals, the rest of the planned spinoffs won't have nearly the momentum they'll need to continue the John Wick franchise.

The John Wick Franchise’s Future Is Still Uncertain Over A Year After Chapter 4

The Franchise Doesn't Seem To Know What To Do Without John Wick

Even with so many spinoffs and sequels in the works, the future of John Wick isn't very clear. John Wick: Chapter 4 heavily implied that John was dead, yet John Wick 5 has been confirmed. It's not clear how that sequel will work with John dead, or if it will resurrect him. Additionally, some of the spinoffs will take place at a time when John is still alive, yet there's currently no word on whether Keanu Reeves is returning to the franchise or not, either for cameos or prequels. John Wick seems somewhat rudderless at the moment, and it's largely due to John's sendoff.

John Wick’s Perfect Sendoff Has Put The Franchise In A Difficult Position

The Face Of The John Wick Franchise Is Changing

Though it served as the perfect farewell to John Wick as a character, his death has caused quite a few problems for the John Wick franchise. Keanu Reeves is literally the face of John Wick, and without him, the franchise will have a lot less recognition. Reeves was also one of the franchise's main draws, and it remains to be seen if anyone else can have the same charisma and appeal that he did. On top of that, the only John Wick story that didn't feature the titular assassin was a mediocre show, which has already degraded expectations for other spinoffs.

Even though the future of John Wick seems uncertain, there's still a way out for the franchise. Ana de Armas is a massive star in her own right, and if it can work out the marketing, her character in Ballerina could replace John as the franchise's central figure. Additionally, the fact that Under the High Table takes place after John Wick: Chapter 4 already makes it more exciting than The Continental, and it will only be a matter of executing upon that premise. It's certainly not a guarantee, but the John Wick movies and shows could prove that the franchise is bigger than Keanu Reeves.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes