'John Wick' Updates: Keanu Reeves Is Returning for 'John Wick 5,' Animated Prequel & Spinoff in the Works!
John Wick 5 is officially a go, and Keanu Reeves is reprising his role!
Lionsgate confirmed the big news at CinemaCon on Tuesday morning (April 1).
There is also an animated prequel movie on the way, as well as a standalone spinoff movie about Caine from director and star Donnie Yen, via Variety.
Keep reading to find out more…
Also coming in the John Wick universe is the upcoming Ana de Armas-led Ballerina, out on June 6.
Her character Eve Macarro is a ballerina who is training to become an assassin, and audiences saw an extended preview of the feature at the event.
“For Bond, I only had three weeks of training. Ballerina was a whole other level,” she said at the convention. “This is by far the most physical and challenging thing I’ve ever done.”
Keanu will appear in Ballerina before he returns for John Wick 5, reuniting with director and producer Chad Stahelski.
Plot details, additional cast members and a production timeline and release schedule are still to be announced.
The Caine movie will see Donnie Yen reprise his role from John Wick: Chapter 4. He will also direct and executive produce the untitled film, which begins production in Hong Kong later this year.
The film will continue the character’s story arc following the events of John Wick: Chapter 4 as Caine has been freed from his obligations to the High Table.
Lionsgate described the new film as “stylistically modeled on the uniquely designed action films that Yen helped make famous.”
“The John Wick films have set an immensely high standard for action filmmaking and I greatly appreciate Lionsgate giving me the opportunity to further elevate the franchise. I am both thrilled and deeply inspired to make this happen.”
As far as the animated prequel movie, Keanu will lend his voice to his signature character. The story is aimed at “more mature audiences,” and will travel back in time before the first film.
Per Variety, “It recounts the origins of Wick he completes the Impossible Task — the killing of all of his rivals in one night — to free himself from his obligation to the High Table and earn the right to be with the love of his life, Helen. (Unfortunately, we all know how that turned out.)”
Shannon Tindle, who most recently co-wrote and directed Netflix’s Ultraman: Rising, is directing.
“I’ve always been fascinated with anime. It has always been a huge influence on me, especially with the John Wick series,” 7Eleven Entertainment’s Chad Stahelski said. “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.”