John Wick: Chapter 4 producer Basil Iwanyk reveals what needs to happen for Keanu Reeves to return to the franchise should a fifth film happen.

John Wick: Chapter 4 producer Basil Iwanyk admitted that there is a possibility for Keanu Reeves to return to the franchise for a potential John Wick 5.

In an interview with Deadline, Iwanyk spoke about the record success of Chapter 4 and what it would take for both Reeves and director Chad Stahelski to return for another film. According to Iwanyk, who produced the other three John Wick films, the decision will likely be made over a bottle of whiskey during a trip to Japan in September.

“Once they get through their hangovers, if Keanu and Chad have figured out something cool, if they’ve an organic way back in that doesn’t feel like bullshit, then there will be a John Wick 5,” Iwanyk said. “These movies are really hard for Keanu and Chad, and everybody. By the time each one is over, most involved have said, never again, this is too hard and we’re not getting any younger.”

Stahelski initially intended to shoot Chapter 4 and 5 back-to-back, though he decided against it due to how taxing it would have been for everyone involved in production. At the time of writing, it is unclear if the John Wick film series will continue, particularly after the conclusion of Chapter 4 which saw the apparent demise of Reeves’ titular assassin. However, Iwanyk left the door open for a possible sequel if interest is there from John Wick fans. “Time goes by, you see it embraced by fans, and after working together every year for 11 years, it’s become a family and in some demented way, and we miss each other,” he said. “But I totally defer to Chad and Keanu to figure out what and if that story is.”

Will John Wick Return for Another Film?

Stahelski has previously addressed a potential fifth John Wick movie, most recently saying that “it’s a business” in response to fans demanding another installment. “When you have something successful, yeah, of course, you want to keep doing it,” he said. “But it’s very easy to be repetitive. The trick is how you be repetitive with individuality. How do you put your authorship or your agency into something that’s obviously been done three times before?” However, while another mainline John Wick film remains up in the air, both Stahelski and Reeves have indicated their interest in continuing to work with the franchise, which currently has two spinoffs in the works.

A John Wick prequel miniseries titled The Continental is currently in the works for Peacock, and will follow the origin of Ian McShane’s Winston Scott, the New York Continental Hotel’s manager, and hotel concierge Charon, played by the late Lance Reddick. Additionally, a spinoff film, Ballerina, is due to release in 2024 and will star Ana de Armas. Ballerina is set between Chapter 3 – Parabellum and Chapter 4, with appearances from Reeves, Reddick and McShane.

Chapter 4 will be available digitally on May 23 and via home video on June 13. The Continental premieres on Peacock on Sept. 22 while Ballerina opens in theaters on June 7, 2024.

Source: Deadline