What was originally a high-octane action thriller about a former assassin avenging his deceased dog has turned into a beloved franchise with an even more beloved lead. TheJohn Wickseries has undoubtedly evolved from its simple premise, growing in size, scope, and body count. From the Italian mob to the very organization that used to employ him, John Wick has survived countless attempts on his life from dozens of different enemies. The man just can’t seem to get a break: a trend that will undoubtedly continue in his latest adventure,John Wick: Chapter 4.
The sequel comes hot off the tail ofJohn Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum, a film that saw Wick fighting against an entire city’s worth of opposition as he desperately tries to escape New York. Due to his current status as “excommunicado,” Wick leftChapter 3bloodied, injured, and ready to take on the High Table crime conglomerate with a newfound partner in The Bowery King. Here’s everything we know aboutJohn Wick: Chapter 4.
John Wick: Chapter 4: The Plot
According to the official trailer provided by Lionsgate, the plot synopsis is as follows:
“John Wick (Keanu Reeves) uncovers a path to defeating the High Table. But before he can earn his freedom, Wick must face off against a new enemy with powerful alliances across the globe and forces that turn old friends into foes.”
Based on this description, we can expect a similar plot progression compared to the prior threeJohn Wickfilms, with globetrotting action and fantastic stunt work. From the trailer, we get a brief glimpse of a handful of action sequences: John Wick on horseback in a searing orange desert, shooting down fleeing combatants; John Wick peeling out in front of the Arc de Triomphe, firing a handgun out from a doorless car; evena pair of nunchuckscan be briefly seen, as John Wick rearranges someone’s face with them.
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It looks as thoughChapter 4will be the biggestJohn Wickouting yet, not just in the film’s scope but in its casting as well.
John Wick: Chapter 4: The Cast & Crew
It goes without saying that John Wick will be played by returning lead Keanu Reeves. WithChapter 4being a direct sequel toChapter 3, we can also confirm the return of Laurence Fishburne as The Bowery King.
What is especially interesting is the addition of multiple cast members to the series: Bill Skarsgard, Donnie Yen, and Clancy Brown. Fans of martial-arts films will likely recognize Yen as the star of theIp Manfranchise, a series of films that loosely retell biographical events of the titular Wing Chun grandmaster. Whether he’ll be a crucial participant in the plot or just a difficult fight for our hero remains to be seen. However, we can be sure of one thing: fans are eager to see a confrontation between Yen and Reeves. You don’t get a famous martial artist just to have him stand around menacingly.
Skarsgard, on the other hand, is an interesting pick. A recent interview withColliderconfirmed that Skarsgard will play a character known as “The Marquis,” a character who will likely serve as a tertiary antagonist for the film. Seeing as how he’s in charge of “cleaning up all the messes” that John Wick got himself into, he’ll likely be a direct threat to Wick and The Bowery King as they plot to take on the High Table.
Brown has stated that he will be in multiple scenes with Skarsgard, implying a relationship between the two characters. Joining him will also be returning actors, Lance Reddick and Ian McShane, reprising their roles as Charon and Winston, respectively.
We also have the addition ofa brand-new dogto the series. Dogs play a big role in theJohn Wickfranchise, and while it’s unknown exactly what the dog will do, it will play a far more significant role than the dogs inChapter 3.
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As for the film’s crew, Chad Stahelski will once again return to the director’s chair to helmChapter 4. The film’s screenplay will be written by Shay Hatten and Michael Finch, though it’s worth noting that the original creator of the series,Derek Kolstad, will not be involvedwithChapter 4.
Release Date
John Wick: Chapter 4is currently set to release on March 24th, 2023.
Everything Else We Know
In addition to the upcomingJohn Wickfilm, Keanu Reeves is expected to appear as the slick assassin in the upcomingspin-off series,Ballerina,alongside Ian McShane’s Winston. The series will take place in the same continuity as theJohn Wickfilms at roughly the same time.
If you’re looking for a prequel to theJohn Wickuniverse, one that will once again star Ian McShane as Winston, you may look forward toThe Continental,an upcoming series set to air exclusively on NBC’s Peacock.
