As John Wick: Chapter 4 proves to be a major presence with both audiences and critics, fans are undoubtedly hoping that Keanu Reeves and company will keep the John Wick franchise going. But there’s another notable individual that’s pushing for more Reeves, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chair Joe Drake. And we’d have to assume he’s got a little pull at the studio…
Speaking with Deadline, Drake said of Keanu Reeves as John Wick, “We’re not ready to say goodbye to Keanu with this franchise, it’s what alternative there will be…There’s a lot of different things that we can do…I’ve seen this movie five times in the last week…I can see the way that the audience moves him.”
Indeed, the John Wick franchise is already proving that it can branch out anywhere it wants, with or without Keanu Reeves. The first spinoff film, Ballerina, is already in post-production, with Ana de Armas set to star as Rooney, the titular ballerina/assassin out for her own revenge. Of course, Reeves will be appearing in that film as well, but hopefully his portrayals of Wick won’t be limited to movies without his character’s name on the marquee. There, too, will be the miniseries The Continental, a prequel spinoff that will explore the origins of Winston Scott, played by Ian McShane in the movies. The Continental will come to Amazon Prime later this year.
John Wick: Chapter 4 earned a reported $73.5 million on its opening weekend, easily surpassing the franchise’s previous record holder, John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, which also stands as the highest-grossing movie overall in the series. On this, Drake said, “We liked March as a place to get it open…The history is there for us. There’s a nice runway here as I think the movie can run and run given its CinemaScore.” With no date set for Ballerina, does this mean Lionsgate will aim for a similar release schedule as the one with Reeves and John Wick?
Do you want to see more John Wick movies with Keanu Reeves? How long do you think the franchise can keep going? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
