The Baba Yaga isn’t done just yet.
After the soul-shattering climax of John Wick: Chapter 4, fans around the world were left stunned and uncertain. Was this truly the end for the world’s most legendary assassin? Lionsgate has finally broken the silence: “John Wick: Chapter 5” is officially in development, with Keanu Reeves returning once more under the direction of long-time collaborator Chad Stahelski.
While details are still tightly guarded, insiders and production whispers suggest a bold new direction for the franchise—a story not about vengeance, but about legacy, survival, and the weaponization of myth itself.
What We Know So Far
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Director: Chad Stahelski
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Star: Keanu Reeves as John Wick
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Release Window (TBD): Initially expected for late 2025, though internal sources hint at a possible push to early 2026 due to Stahelski’s commitments to the Highlander reboot.
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Production Status: In development, with script finalized and locations in pre-scouting phase.
Plot (Speculative but Informed)
“You can kill the man… but you can’t bury the legend.”
After faking his death at the end of Chapter 4, John Wick has vanished—burned bridges, erased identities, and all. But the myth of the Baba Yaga only grows stronger in his absence, inspiring a new wave of underground rebellion against the crumbling remains of the High Table.
Wick is drawn back into the fold, not for revenge this time—but to protect the fragile world that’s rising from the ashes of the old order. However, a dangerous new faction of elite mercenaries—code-named The Shepherds—emerges from the shadows. Their mission: eliminate every trace of the old blood, including Wick.
Caught between becoming a symbol or staying a ghost, Wick travels from the ruins of continental Rome to the neon-bathed backstreets of Seoul, to confront enemies both new and terrifyingly familiar.
“This isn’t about peace anymore,” Wick whispers.
“It’s about what comes after war.”
New and Returning Characters (Speculative Casting)
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Donnie Yen may reprise his role as Caine, now a reluctant ally of Wick.
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Halle Berry’s Sofia could return with a score of her own to settle.
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Rumors hint at Ken Watanabe or Lee Byung-hun joining the cast as members of the Shepherds—perhaps as former High Table royalty turned fanatics.
Thematic Expansion: From Assassin to Archetype
Chad Stahelski has teased that Chapter 5 will be “not just a continuation, but an evolution.” Expect:
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Mythology building: Exploring the origin of the High Table and Wick’s mysterious past before the assassin life.
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Legacy and consequence: What happens when violence breeds legend, and that legend refuses to die?
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Neo-noir meets global warfare: The style will remain sleek, but the stakes are geopolitical now.
Production Notes
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While Chapter 4 featured breathtaking stunt choreography, Chapter 5 is rumored to dial up the physicality even further with longer takes, minimal CGI, and even Wick using unconventional weapons like monastic chain whips, custom blades, and a return to hand-forged gun-kata.
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Multiple international locations are already being eyed, including:
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South Korea (Busan & Seoul)
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Morocco
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Eastern Europe (Prague or Budapest)
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Music & Style
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Composer: Tyler Bates is expected to return, possibly collaborating with guest artists from different countries to reflect the expanded global setting.
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Visual tone will retain the chiaroscuro neon-noir aesthetic, now with a colder palette—symbolic of Wick’s detachment and internal descent.
The Endgame: Is This Really the Final Chapter?
Stahelski and Reeves have both hinted that Chapter 5 could be the final mainline installment, though spin-offs like Ballerina and The Continental have extended the universe. Whether Wick finds peace, death, or something stranger—Chapter 5 is expected to conclude his personal arc with mythic finality.
“Every legend begins in blood,” the trailer might tease,
“but not every one ends in silence.”
Final Thoughts
With a world that no longer knows who to trust, John Wick must face the ultimate question:
Is freedom worth dying for again… or has he already paid that price too many times?
John Wick: Chapter 5 may not have a release date yet, but with its returning star, visionary director, and deepening mythology, it’s already shaping up to be one of the most anticipated action films of the decade.
