Chad Stahelski, the co-creator of theJohn Wickfranchise, opens up about the challenges of developingJohn Wick: Chapter 5. The sequel was announced by Lionsgate at CinemaCon 2025, with both Keanu Reeves and Stahelski confirmed to return. Recently, the franchise returned to the big screen withtheBallerinaspinoffstarring Ana de Armas, sparking conversations about the upcoming sequel that is currently in development.
In an interview withThe Hollywood Reporter, Stahelski revealed the challenge they’re facing. The franchise’s co-creator admitted thatit was “a bit of a conundrum” to follow up the satisfying ending inChapter 4, but they already have a “pretty good story” that they are “actively working on” to develop into a complete script. Read his comments below:
I’m not going to lie to you, it’s a bit of a conundrum. Me and Mike Finch — the writer on4who’s also writing5— we’ve got a pretty good story that I think is cool. Once we have a 50-page book, and if we’re feeling it, we’ll sit with Keanu and shape this thing. Look, everybody seems to want it. It’s a matter of whether we crack it. We’re actively working on it. It’s just … is it going to be satisfying?
The Creative Process For John Wick: Chapter 5 Hasn’t Been Smooth
Stahelski has previously clarified thatJohn Wick: Chapter 5’s plot won’t be a continuation ofthe High Table storyline, as it has already ended withChapter 4.Recently, he also stressed that the reason they were hesitant about the sequel is that he didn’t want to disappoint fans of the franchise. Even though the project has been confirmed by Lionsgate, the co-creator’s recent comments seem to indicate thatthe project’s fate is dependent on whether they’ll be able to find a good enough story to tell.
It also sounds like the creative team is working on making a “satisfying” follow-up toChapter 4, which could be a good sign. It means that if the sequel ends up being made, it’ll likely have an authentically strong plot, which makes Reeves’nextJohn Wickmoviehighly anticipated. On the other hand, Stahelski’s comments also reveal that they are still working on the script, and there’sa level of uncertainty around whether their current idea could be turned into a “50-page book.”
John Wick: Chapter 4 Is A Tough Act To Follow
It’s understandable that the director and co-creator of the first fourJohn Wickmovies feels a bit uncertain about the sequel, especially after having closed a massively satisfying chapter withJohn Wick: Chapter 4.Chapter 5isn’t a continuation but the start of a new storyline, exceptthe movie has to deal with massive expectations for a sequel instead of the first in a series, which makes things a little tricky.
With the franchise branching out into other media and spinoffs,the world ofJohn Wickis expanding while staying fresh. It’s a lot easier to continue an unfinished storyline and start a movie around a new character than to explore what’s next for John Wick after he has fought so hard through four films for a little peace. This doesn’t meanJohn Wick: Chapter 5isn’t happening, butit might take more time and creative juice to come to life.
