John Wick's world keeps getting grander, and the stakes keep getting higher.
Before you head to the theater to watch "John Wick: Chapter 4," you'd better learn all you
can about the assassin and his war with the High Table.
The release date for the fourth "John Wick" feature has changed multiple times for several
different reasons.
It was originally announced during the opening week of "John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum"
that the fourth outing of the Baba Yaga would drop in cinemas on May 22th, 2021.
But due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Keanu Reeves's obligations to "The Matrix Resurrections,"
the film was delayed until May 27th, 2022.
Then in December 2021, the pandemic caused another delay, this time to March 24th, 2023.
This move might very well have been a blessing in disguise, as the May 27th, 2022 date would've
put the movie up against "Top Gun: Maverick," which was a massive success raking in over
$1 billion at the box office.
Lionsgate announced the new date in a video on YouTube featuring the Accountants — the
ladies that work the switchboards and rotary phones in the "John Wick" franchise.
These tattooed workers with sleeveless pink shirts are in charge of sending out messages
to the many killers within the mysterious network's database regarding which unfortunate
soul has a price on their head.
The new date can be seen on the chalkboard and old-school computer monitor.
The entire affair caps things off with the message "Be Seeing You."
Fans can confidently mark their calendars as "John Wick: Chapter 4" will finally arrive
in theaters on March 24, 2023.
And when it does arrive, it will be the longest film in the franchise, with Collider reporting
it will clock in at 2 and a half hours.
"Any last words, Winston?"
"Just have fun out there."
It looks like John Wick will take the war to the High Table in the fourth installment
of the franchise.
After growing tired of being the one on the run from swarms of bloodthirsty death dealers,
John will be looking to do what he does best against the mysterious leaders of the strange
assassin-filled underworld.
As the official plot synopsis tells us, he'll travel "from New York to Paris to Osaka to
Berlin" in his quest for vengeance.
And part of his plan will be challenging a shadowy marquis to a duel to the death.
If he wins or loses, either way, he'll be free from the High Table.
Director Chad Stahelski talked about the fourth film in the franchise in an interview with
IndieWire and hinted at how things could turn out for the titular character.
"John may survive all this s---, but at the end of it, there's no happy ending.
He's got nowhere to go.
[…] He's f---ed for the rest of his life.
It's just a matter of time."
He also told Empire that the film will be more epic than the previous movies, will focus
on multiple storylines, and said it will feel like a combination of Greek myth, Japanese
movies about the blind samurai Zatoichi, and "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly."
Whatever happens in "John Wick: Chapter 4," fans can rest assured that there will be plenty
of action, with Stahleski promising it will outdo its predecessors regarding the franchise's
bloodiest entry.
Keanu Reeves will be back as the titular unkillable killer in "John Wick: Chapter 4," and he'll
be accompanied by a stacked roster full of talent.
Familiar returning faces include Ian McShane as the silver-tongued Winston and Lance Reddick
as the stoic Continental concierge Charon.
Laurence Fishburne is back as the Bowery King, and these fan favorites will be accompanied
by a slew of newcomers played by some pretty big names.
"It" star Bill Skarsgård is taking on the role of the Marquis, a character director
Chad Stahleski has described as,
"The one in charge of cleaning up all the messes from the first three movies."
Then there's legendary action star Donnie Yen, bringing his skills to the franchise
as Caine, a blind martial artist and ex-assassin who lost his eyesight to protect his daughter.
He also seems to have a complicated relationship with Wick, as he's been described as his friend
but will also battle our dog-loving hero.
Of course, Yen isn't the only martial arts star on board.
We've also got Scott Adkins of films like "Accident Man" playing a character named Killa.
We've also got Hiroyuki Sanada as Shimazu, who fans will no doubt recognize from Japanese
movies like "The Twilight Samurai" and "Ring," as well as American films like "Mortal Kombat"
and "Bullet Train."
He'll be joined by singer/model Rina Sawayama making her cinematic debut as Akira.
Sawayama is evidently pretty psyched about the film, telling NME that the fourth flick
is:
"100% the best 'John Wick' that's ever been, and I'm not being biased — like honestly,
the scale is insane this time."
Shamier Anderson from "Invasion" is also joining the "John Wick" fold as the Tracker, who Stahleski
describes as
"...a character that's in the gray area between the two worlds — the Wick world and the
real world."
And in true "John Wick" fashion, the Tracker seems to be a big fan of dogs.
Plus, character actor extraordinaire Clancy Brown, with credits ranging from "The Shawshank
Redemption" to "SpongeBob SquarePants," will be bringing his gravitas to the role of the
Harbinger, and Natalia Tena of "Harry Potter" fame will be playing a woman described by
Stahleski as someone who's like John's stepsister.
Chad Stahelski has been a stuntman in the industry for many years, even doubling for
Brandon Lee on "The Crow."
Stahelski later worked with Keanu Reeves as a stunt coordinator on "The Matrix" movies.
But his directorial debut came with "John Wick" in 2014, and he helmed the two sequels
"John Wick: Chapter 2" and "John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum."
It's pretty safe to assume that his work with the "John Wick" franchise is his biggest claim
to fame, and he triumphantly returns to the director's chair for "John Wick: Chapter 4."
Stahelski has come a long way throughout his career, and there is no denying he has found
great success with the "John Wick" movies.
He discussed his thoughts with The Hollywood Reporter on the fourth feature and how his
experiences have contributed to its quality.
"So I just tried to put all the things I've gotten better at in the last two-and-a-half
years into this movie.
I hope that will make the movie better instead of just trying to do bigger explosions and
bigger s—.
If I tell a better story, which I think I've done, and do my job a little bit better in
every avenue, I think the movie will be better."
After the initial sneak peek dropped in July 2022, fans were treated to a full-length trailer
in November, promising a film that seems both emotional and action-packed.
Death, revenge, and the possibility of redemption hang over the trailer.
"You're going to die."
"Maybe not."
And after that opening scene, we learn John has a way of escaping the High Table's wrath.
According to Ian McShane's Winston, he can challenge Bill Skarsgård's Marquis to a duel.
If he wins, he's free.
If he dies, well, that's kind of a freedom too.
We're then given a glimpse of Natalia Tena's character, someone who's said to be like John's
stepsister, so we're assuming she has some sort of connection to the underworld's most
powerful figures.
We're also excited to witness all the incredible action on display.
There's an epic staircase shootout, an angry attack dog, John chasing people through the
desert on horseback, and not one but two vicious duels with Donnie Yen, one where he's having
a swordfight with Hiroyuki Sanada and one where it's a katana and pistol battle with
John Wick.
With each new "John Wick" movie, the scope and stakes get bigger, and we learn more about
the mysterious world of criminals and assassins.
That means John Wick will be doing some sightseeing in "Chapter 4," and he'll drop by some pretty
impressive landmarks.
When speaking with Collider, director Chad Stahleski explained how they shot scenes near
the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe.
They even got to film a scene inside the Louvre, but don't expect any crazy fights amongst
all the artwork.
Even a great filmmaker like Stahleski has his limits when it comes to getting approval
to shoot explosive action scenes in classy locations.
Speaking of cool action scenes, it looks like "Chapter 4" will really be upping the ante
when it comes to car chases.
We've seen John burn some serious rubber in the past, but according to Keanu Reeves, the
streets are about to get even more intense.
Speaking with Total Film, the actor said,
"We took the car-driving to the next level, which I really enjoy.
There's 180s, forward-into-reverse 180s, reverse-into-forward 270s, drifting.
[...] So it was really fun to get a chance to learn those skills and to play.
'John Wick: Chapter 4' is our opus.
Oh my god, it's crazy, man!
It's banana cakes!"
Nobody expected "John Wick" to become an unstoppable franchise.
Now, it's given birth to a total of four films, the upcoming "Continental" prequel series,
and the much-anticipated "Ballerina" spinoff.
But will there be a proper fifth film coming down the pipeline?
Well, according to Total Film, "Chapter 4" and "Chapter 5" were originally supposed to
film back to back.
However, the movie business is ever-changing, and that didn't pan out.
But chances are pretty good we'll see John back in action.
"A man has to look his best when it's time to get married…or buried."
Director Chad Stahelski implied he'd be returning to the franchise after directing Michael B.
Jordan in the upcoming action thriller "Rainbow Six."
He told Total Film,
"You might have to give me and John Wick just a little break.
Ask me in a couple of months."
As for Reeves, the humble star has this to say about a potential fifth film:
"You have to see how the audience responds to what we did.
The only reason we've had a chance to make these movies is that people have liked what
we have done.
So I think we have to wait and see how the audience responds to it.
Hopefully, they'll like it."
In the meantime, you can expect to see the titular hero going toe to toe with Ana de
Armas, as the two will share a fight scene in the spinoff flick "Ballerina."