While theJohn Wickuniverse feels like its own richly imagined world, one fascinating theory posits it may be part of another Keanu Reeves franchise. Telling the story of a legendary hitman seeking revenge against the men who killed his dog, this ultra-violent series filled with deadly assassins stands as one of themost popular action franchises of all time.
The Matrixwas a cultural phenomenonwhen it wasreleased back in 1999, so it’s not surprising that viewers are still making new connections all these decades later. Although the idea thatNeo and John Wickare one and the same might sound ridiculous at first, when looking at the evidence, there’s a strong case to be made for it.
The Evidence For John Wick Existing Inside The Matrix
TheReddit user r/yung_saacproposed a compelling theory thatJohn Wickactually takes place insideThe Matrix. This idea was inspired by a moment inJohn Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellumwhen John echoes Neo’s iconic line fromThe Matrix, “I need guns. Lots of guns,” hinting at a deeper connection between the two universes.
While many would view this moment as a clever homage, it can actually be interpreted as pointing to larger connections between John Wick and Neo. The theory states that following the end ofThe Matrix Revolutions, Neo wasn’t actually killed, but instead put into yet another simulation, but this time it was a world populated by hitmen and assassins.
By placing Neo’s consciousness into another simulation and turning him into John Wick, it makes sense that he would have some lingering memories of his past life, which explains why he repeatedThe Matrix’siconic guns quote. Wick’s unmatched skills as the deadly Baba Yaga also stem from his time fighting back against the machines inThe Matrix.
That’s not even to mention that John Wick is practically unkillable. The fact thatWick survived countless brutal attacks, gunshots, and even falling off a tall rooftop while crashing through multiple fire escapes hints that the world he lives in could very well be a simulation.
The way Wick seamlessly moves through his fights in a way that makes it appear he’s literally bending reality to his will gives credence to the idea that he’s actually Neo with his past memories suppressed. The addition of Morpheus’s actor, Laurence Fishburne, who plays The Bowery King inJohn Wick, also adds new layers of meaning to this theory.
The Matrix Resurrections Supports The John Wick Connection Theory
The Matrix Resurrectionsstrengthens this theoryas it depicts another iteration of Neo. This legacy sequel saw Neo and Trinity resurrected by the machines, but instead of putting them in their old lives, they gave them new identities to make them docile. With Neo reborn as the game developer Thomas Anderson, the machines found a way to suppress him.
The concept of reprogrammed Neo gets to the very heart of this theory, and if the machines already did this once, what’s stopping them from doing it again? By giving Neo a tragic backstory where he’s always grieving the death of his wife, he’s so distracted by being John Wick that he forgets all about being the savior of humanity.
The cyclical violence of John Wick’s life, which sees one problem lead to another in an endless spectacle of carnage and bloodshed, could just be the machines keeping him busy and eternally delaying the war between man and machines. While Wick believes he’s pursuing revenge, the truth is he’s stuck inside an endless loop from which he’ll never wake up.
The Matrix Resurrectionseven features Reeves looking almost identical to Wick, as he’s traded Neo’s clean-shaven, signature look for Wick’s long hair and beard. This is like the lines between these two worlds are becoming increasingly blurred, asNeo and Wick come ever closer to the realization that they are actually two versions of the same man.
How Could We Ever Know If John Wick Was Definitely Happening In The Real World?
The Theory Holds Up Very Well
Perhaps the most intriguing thing aboutThe Matrixis its uncertainty and the fact that we were never fully sure what’s real or a simulation. This can be seen through the popular ‘matrix in a matrix’ fan theory, which proposes there are many levels to its simulation, or even through those who believe that our world is actually a computer simulation.
The complexities of these ideas meanit’s impossible to know for sure ifJohn Wickis definitely happening in the real world. Like the best fan theories, it’s possible to imagine that this proposition is true, and looking for all the clues and connections in both franchises can be a fun way to re-experience them anew.
Both Neo andJohn Wickare all-time great movie characters, and it makes sense that Keanu Reeves fans are eager to spot the similarities between the two and find ways to combine the series in some ways. While it’s unlikely that theJohn Wickfranchise is leading toward an epic twist that reveals the franchise’s dual nature, anything is possible.
