Get ready for more thrilling action as Keanu Reeves is officially set to reprise his iconic role as the nunchuck-wielding hitman in the upcoming film “John Wick 5”. This exciting announcement was made by Lionsgate at the CinemaCon event on Tuesday morning. Fans of the franchise can also look forward to an animated prequel film and a standalone adventure centered around Caine, directed and starred by the martial arts legend Donnie Yen.
These new projects complement the highly anticipated Ana de Armas-led film “Ballerina”, which is scheduled to hit theaters on June 6. De Armas made a special appearance at the annual convention for movie theater owners in Las Vegas, where she showcased an extended look at “Ballerina.” In a gripping action sequence, her character, Eve Macarro, a ballerina training to become an assassin, battles multiple adversaries in an abandoned bar, displaying impressive skills by taking down foes with gunfire and martial arts.
While Ana de Armas previously showcased her physical prowess in the 2021 “James Bond” sequel “No Time to Die”, she revealed that her training for “Ballerina” was on an entirely different level. She dedicated approximately four months to rigorous workouts, firearm training, and extensive collaboration with a professional stunt team. “For ‘Bond,’ I only had three weeks of training. ‘Ballerina’ was a whole other level,” de Armas shared from the Colosseum stage at Caesar’s Palace. “This is by far the most physical and challenging thing I’ve ever done.”
Keanu Reeves will also make an appearance in “Ballerina” before returning for “John Wick 5.” This installment reunites him with franchise director and producer Chad Stahelski, as well as producers Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee. While plot details, additional cast members, and a production timeline remain undisclosed, the fifth chapter of the franchise promises to build on the success of the previous films, which began with the 2014 release of “John Wick.”
The original “John Wick” film earned $86.1 million globally and became a sleeper hit in home entertainment. Each sequel surpassed its predecessor at the box office: 2017’s “John Wick: Chapter 2” earned $174.3 million, 2019’s “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum” reached $328.3 million, and 2023’s “John Wick: Chapter 4” set the record as the highest-grossing entry with $440 million. “Keanu, Chad, Basil, and Erica would not return unless they had something truly phenomenal and fresh to say with these characters and this world,” said Fogelson.
In addition to “John Wick 5,” a standalone film featuring Donnie Yen reprising his role as Caine from “John Wick: Chapter 4” is in the works. Yen will direct and executive produce this untitled project, which is set to begin production in Hong Kong later this year. Writer Mattson Tomlin, known for his work on the upcoming “The Batman Part II”, has joined the team to write the screenplay, which was initially drafted by Robert Askins.
Although the details of the plot are being kept under wraps, the film will continue Caine’s story arc following the events of “John Wick: Chapter 4.” After being freed from his obligations to the High Table, Caine’s journey promises to deliver captivating action sequences. Lionsgate described this new film as “stylistically modeled on the uniquely designed action films that Yen helped make famous.” Fogelson expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “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.”
Lionsgate is also developing an animated prequel film in which Keanu Reeves will lend his voice to the titular character. This story, aimed at more mature audiences, will delve into John Wick’s past, recounting the origins of his character as he undertakes the Impossible Task—eliminating all his rivals in one night to free himself from his obligations to the High Table. Shannon Tindle, an animation veteran, will direct the project, while Vanessa Taylor is set to pen the screenplay.
Fogelson remarked on the endless possibilities within the “John Wick” universe, stating, “There is no John Wick story fans are clamoring for more than the Impossible Task.” With the combined efforts of Iwanyk, Lee, Stahelski, and Reeves, the animated prequel promises to expand the rich narrative of the franchise. Stahelski emphasized the potential of animation to broaden the scope of the “John Wick” world, stating, “I feel John Wick is the perfect property for this medium—anime holds the potential to expand our world, our characters, and our action in ways unimaginable before.”
