John Wick 5 Confirmed But Keanu Reeves Might Not Return

Most of us were fairly sure that Keanu Reeves‘ most beloved character—well, perhaps second only to Neo—had taken his final breath in John Wick 4. However, there appears to be the faintest possibility that the renowned assassin could return unexpectedly in a fifth instalment, potentially reshaping the future of the John Wick franchise. But a John Wick 5 without Keanu Reeves?

Jenefer Brown, the EVP and Head of Global Products & Experiences at Lionsgate, recently informed ComicBook that John Wick 5 is officially in the works. However, she leaves the door for Reeves to reprise his role as the legendary figure cracked slightly open.

“This world continues to grow and expand in incredible ways,” Brown said, adding, “Up next, of course, we have Ballerina, which is our first spinoff movie and [we] can’t wait for that to release to the world. Of course, we’ve announced we’re working on a fifth John Wick film. I think there are more spinoffs to come, a TV series, video game.”

“We’ve shared that we’re developing a fifth John Wick film,” she said when further questioned. “[John Wick] may be [dead]. We are all on bated breath waiting to find out.”

Brown’s decision to neither confirm nor deny John Wick’s passing in the previous movie could suggest that the character has a slim chance of returning in the upcoming sequel—at least, that’s what we’d like to think. After all, how can a franchise continue without its titular character?

It would be a little strange for the company to return to its main plot without John Wick himself, especially given that they have already introduced franchise spinoffs like The Continental TV series and what looks to be their next movie series, From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, that could continue the action-packed universe without him.

Many fans have theorised that the assassin merely staged his death in Chapter 4 to escape the High Table and start a quiet new life—and I’m sure this is a theory that we would all like to believe. Yet there is the small fact that Reeves himself has acknowledged in the past that he believes the character is actually dead.

Whether dead or alive, the next episode in the John Wick drama will undoubtedly be one to keep an eye on. But it won’t be John Wick 5 without Keanu Reeves. Hopefully, some clues will be provided in Ballerina, which will be released in theatres on June 6, 2025.