Bringing back Keanu Reeves for John Wick: Chapter 5 is a risky move, as the fourth outing already gave the title assassin his perfect finale.
Warning: Major Spoilers Below For John Wick: Chapter 4!The fourth entry was arguably the best of the franchise, but a potential John Wick 5 with Keanu Reeves is more of a risk than it might sound. For four movies, audiences witnessed John Wick (AKA The Baba Yaga) laying waste to scores of assassins, but despite the mounting bodycount, he appeared no closer to being free of his former life. Wick constantly survived against incredible odds, so few believed he would actually die.
That said, director Chad Stahelski once revealed he tried to kill John Wick in the third movie, believing the character could never escape the mess he had created. John Wick: Chapter 4’s ending saw him go through hell to make his appointed duel with the Marquis de Gramont (Bill Skarsgård), but while he ultimately won, Wick soon died of his wounds. While there’s enough ambiguity in the final graveyard scene to suggest he might have faked his demise, John Wick: Chapter 5 risks undoing a perfect ending.
John Wick 5 Can’t Undo John’s Death Without Ruining His Franchise Arc
The John Wick movie franchise began with the character long retired and mourning the passing of his wife Helen (Bridget Moynahan). Seeking revenge for a home invasion gave him purpose, but it soon spiraled out of control and he ended up facing the wrath of the High Table itself. While Wick may have been exceptionally skilled at killing, he was ultimately consumed by grief and claimed his sole reason for staying alive in Chapter 3 was just to remember Helen. In a sense, Wick gave his happy ending in Chapter 4, as his “good death” reunited him with Helen and wrapped up his character arc.
While John Wick: Chapter 4’s finale could be retconned to reveal his survival in a potential fifth installment, this is a risky proposition. Wick really had little left to live for by the end of Chapter 4, and the only real sense of peace he achieved in the series was in his final moments when he remembers his wife. The character went out on his own terms, and while it’s possible John Wick: Chapter 5 will happen – especially after the box office success of Chapter 4 – it’s hard to see it crafting a better finale for him.
Keanu Reeves Can Still Return Without Reversing John Wick 4’s Ending
There are two upcoming John Wick spinoffs on the way; The Continental TV series charts the origin story of the titular hotel for assassins, while Ballerina casts Ana de Armas as a Russian assassin. Reeves will make a special appearance in the latter – which takes place between Chapters 3 and 4 – and that might be the actor’s best future with the franchise. Instead of resurrecting Wick, the reputation and memory of the “Boogeyman” can linger on in the underworld of the franchise. He could even appear via flashbacks, though again, Lionsgate would likely prefer Reeves back for John Wick: Chapter 5 instead.
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