Keanu Reeves is confirmed to be back as John Wick in the fifth installment of the popular action franchise. Lionsgate officially announced Reeves' return at CinemaCon in April 2025, with Chad Stahelski returning to direct and Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee producing.

However, John Wick 5 will not be a direct continuation of the previous films. According to Stahelski, the saga of John Wick was largely wrapped up in Chapter 4, so the fifth movie will explore a new story involving the character. This means the High Table, the council of crime lords that has been the primary antagonist throughout the series, will not be the focus. Stahelski has stated that "It's not a continuation, with the High Table,". He wants the audience to be surprised, and has teased that viewers will see the trailer and think, "Holy f***... I gotta see that".

The decision to move away from the High Table is a significant change for the franchise. The High Table has been the driving force behind the conflict in the John Wick films, and many new members were introduced in Chapter 4. However, Stahelski and the creative team believe that continuing with the High Table storyline would feel forced and unnecessary. By leaving these villains in the past, John Wick 5 can explore new territory and offer a fresh perspective on the character.

Exactly how John Wick will return after the ambiguous ending of Chapter 4 remains a mystery. In the previous film, Wick seemingly died after winning his duel with the High Table. However, Stahelski has said that the ending was intentionally ambiguous, and an alternate ending was filmed where John Wick was clearly still alive.

Several possibilities exist for the plot of John Wick 5. The film could be a prequel, exploring Wick's past before the events of the first film. It could also be a direct sequel that ignores Wick's apparent death, or an extended sequel that takes place at a different point in time and steps into a new chapter of Wick's life. Some fans have speculated that the film could involve Wick fighting his way out of the underworld.

Stahelski has indicated that the upcoming John Wick TV show, Under the High Table, and the animated prequel could be used as groundwork for ideas in John Wick 5. These projects could explore different threads and expand the John Wick universe, ultimately informing the direction of the next film.

John Wick 5 does not yet have a release date. In the meantime, the John Wick universe will continue to expand with the release of Ballerina, a spin-off film starring Ana de Armas, set to premiere in theaters on June 6, 2025. Reeves will also appear in Ballerina. Additionally, a spin-off centered around Donnie Yen's character Caine is in development, as well as an animated prequel.