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. The John Wick series 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 of John 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 left Chapter 3 bloodied, injured, and ready to take on the High Table crime conglomerate with a newfound partner in The Bowery King. Here's everything we know about John 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 three John Wick films, 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; even a pair of nunchucks can be briefly seen, as John Wick rearranges someone's face with them.
It looks as though Chapter 4 will be the biggest John Wick outing 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. With Chapter 4 being a direct sequel to Chapter 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 the Ip Man franchise, 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 with Collider confirmed 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 of a brand-new dog to the series. Dogs play a big role in the John Wick franchise, and while it's unknown exactly what the dog will do, it will play a far more significant role than the dogs in Chapter 3.
As for the film's crew, Chad Stahelski will once again return to the director's chair to helm Chapter 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 involved with Chapter 4.
Release Date
John Wick: Chapter 4 is currently set to release on March 24th, 2023.
Everything Else We Know
In addition to the upcoming John Wick film, Keanu Reeves is expected to appear as the slick assassin in the upcoming spin-off series, Ballerina, alongside Ian McShane's Winston. The series will take place in the same continuity as the John Wick films at roughly the same time.
If you're looking for a prequel to the John Wick universe, one that will once again star Ian McShane as Winston, you can look forward to The Continental, an upcoming series set to air exclusively on NBC's Peacock.