It’s already been confirmed thatJohn Wick 5will not bring the High Table backas the sequel’s main villain, with John’s story taking a much different route to separate it from the previous movies. While it hasn’t yet been announced who will be taking the High Table’s place,John Wick 5will likelyinclude some returning characters, perhaps even as the main villain.
Especially with the recentBallerinaandThe Continentalspinoff projects, it’s clear thatthe world ofJohn Wickis interested in expanding beyond the main saga. This is a smart idea that should keep the franchise alive for much longer than expected, and returning characters are a brilliant way of bridging the gaps between these spinoffs. Theending ofBallerinacould end up tying intoJohn Wick 5, for example, which may offer an interesting insight into what direction the upcoming sequel is going to take.
7Caine
Introduced In John Wick: Chapter 4
Although Caine isn’t strictly a villain, he could still be a fantastic opponent for Wick in the fifth movie.John Wick 4clearly showed that Caine has a dynamic history with the titular hitman, so it would be very fitting if he also turned out to be Wick’s final nemesis.His inclusion would be a smart way of working around the High Table’s absencewithout getting rid of them entirely; Caine would be their enforcer.
It’s hard to imagine how the upcoming sequel will deal with Wick’s supposed death atthe end ofJohn Wick 4,but there’s no way Reeves’ protagonist is going to be able to outrun his past sins forever.He will surely have to deal with the consequences of his actions eventually, and making him fight Caine would be a very thematic way of bringing Wick’s story to a satisfying ending.
6Killa Harkan (Or His Followers)
Scott Adkins’ one-off antagonist Killa Harkan was an undeniable highlight ofJohn Wick 4, but unfortunately, the character was seemingly killed off before he could return. Thankfully,nobody is ever really dead in these movies;the fact that Reeves is coming back should be enough to prove that.
Harkan would be anatural fit forJohn Wick 5, continuing the franchise’s ongoing theme of Wick’s past coming back to haunt him. He may have escaped the clutches of the High Table by faking his death inJohn Wick 4, but there are still countless figures with a vendetta against the assassin. IfJohn Wick 5really does want to keep Harkan dead, his colleagues and followers could prove to be an equally formidable foe.
5Mr. Nobody
John can take down plenty of talented assassins, but very few have come closer to killing the iconic hitman than Mr. Nobody. The figure was introduced inJohn Wick 4asa talented bounty hunter who chases Wick across the worldas the High Table continually increases the price on his head, taking advantage of the situation to make as much money as possible.
Although Wick and Nobody had an unspoken agreement to protect each other in Paris duringJohn Wick 4, there’s nothing to suggest this truce has to last into the future. If the price was right, there’s no doubt that Mr. Nobody would turn on John Wick again, and he’s one of the most dangerous killers he has ever encountered.
4The D’Antonio Family
Introduced In John Wick: Chapter 2
Bringing the D’Antonio family back forJohn Wick 5would be an excellent way of wrapping up the character’s storyline for good, as it wasSantino D’Antonio’s deaththat kickstarted John’s feud with the High Table. He spent the majority of his life afterward running away from the High Table’s many enforcers, butthe D’Antonios never truly got their revenge.
It’s never been explained who succeeded Gianna and Santino as the leaders of this dangerous crime family, which is the perfect excuse to bring them back.This whole franchise has always been about atonement and sacrifice, which is why John had to die in the previous installment. The most likely explanation for him now being alive again is that he’s got unfinished business, and the D’Antonios are the most likely candidate.
3The Cult
Introduced In Ballerina
The Cult may not have been introduced in the main saga ofJohn Wick, but their involvement inBallerinahas immediately made them one of the franchise’s most dangerous villains. Plus,the events ofBallerinaclearly give the cult a reason to have John in their crosshairs;he protected Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas) and aided her in the destruction of their village. This seems like something that’s bound to come back to haunt John.
If Eve’s story is continued in a prospective sequel, it seems inevitable that they’ll have some involvement in future stories - but if not, it’s equally possible thatJohn Wickwill leave them behind as a one-off villain.
SinceBallerina 2remains unconfirmed,it’s hard to say how important the cult will be in the overall future ofJohn Wick. If Eve’s story is continued in a prospective sequel, it seems inevitable that they’ll have some involvement in future stories. If not, it’s equally possible thatJohn Wickwill leave them behind as a one-off villain. The former is certainly the more exciting option, enabling countless ways for the main movies to interconnect with the franchise’s spinoffs.
2Ruska Roma
Introduced In John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum
The Ruska Roma have always been a strong ally for John Wick, but the fifth movie could finally see the crime organization reach its breaking point and seek revenge for all the trouble that Wick has brought to their doors. Not only was The Director violently punished for aiding John inParabellum, butthe assassin almost brought the Ruska Roma to an all-out war withthe cult inBallerinaby refusing to kill Eve.
It seems like John has caused more harm than good to the Ruska Roma in recent years, so it wouldn’t be surprising at all if The Director finally decided to cut ties with her old friend inJohn Wick 5. This would be a brilliant way of bringing the story full circle, forcing Wick to fight against those who raised him.
1The Tarasov Family
Introduced In John Wick
IfJohn Wick 5wants to reach even further into the franchise’s history to find the perfect villain, the Tarasov family could be an interesting candidate. AlthoughJohn killed most of the senior members at the end of the first movie, the family probably still exists in some form, and their hatred for him won’t have grown any colder over the years.
As mentioned,John Wickhas always been a franchise that prioritizes strong character development and rich, thematic storytelling above all else; it would make sense forJohn Wick 5to bring back a returning villain to close his story with purpose and meaning. The Tarasovs would certainly do this, as everything that John has done throughout the franchise can ultimately be traced back to his feud with this family. There are so many possibilities, but this definitely feels like the most poignant and thematic.
