John Wick 5: The Shocking Return of Keanu Reeves After His ‘Death’!

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In the final scene of “John Wick: Chapter 4”, Keanu Reeves‘ iconic character seemed to meet his end, causing fans worldwide to express their sorrow. However, many viewers held back their complete grief because Wick didn’t appear to actually die on screen – there was no final breath or body shown. All that was left were a tombstone and distant shots of Winston and the Bowery King looking thoughtful. But at CinemaCon 2025, Lionsgate confirmed that fans were wise to stay doubtful, as “John Wick 5” is indeed in development with Keanu Reeves returning to play the title character once more. This ambiguous ending now feels less like a conclusion and more like a clever red herring.

Starting in 2014, the John Wick series has proven to be a powerful box office force, with each sequel surpassing its predecessor in earnings. The latest installment, John Wick: Chapter 4, grossed over $440 million worldwide, pushing the franchise’s total global revenue beyond $1 billion. Given its massive popularity, it comes as no shock that Lionsgate is planning to reprise their top action star. However, interestingly, this move by Lionsgate isn’t a breach of the fourth film’s conclusion but rather a necessary continuation for Wick’s tale. The reappearance of Baba Yaga following the fourth film seems entirely fitting, and his revival could be the franchise’s most astute decision yet.

John Wick’s Death in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ Was Simply Misdirection

After Lionsgate made their announcement, fans have been curious if John Wick truly met his end in Chapter 4. The mystery revolves around the ingenious way the scene was constructed. Unlike typical on-screen demises, Wick’s final moments were intentionally unclear. The audience witnesses him injured and collapsed on the Sacré Coeur steps. A flash of white, a montage of memories, and a headstone follow, but there is no doctor declaring Wick dead and no clear confirmation. In hindsight, the ending of the fourth film is an excellent example of storytelling ambiguity.

Directed by Chad Stahelski, the uncertainty surrounding John Wick’s fate has been embraced by the filmmaker himself. In various interviews, Stahelski shared that the idea for Chapter 4 originated from Wick’s death and that, despite having a different conclusion initially planned, viewers seemed to favor the ambiguous ending more. Furthermore, producer Basil Iwanyk disclosed that, despite the main actor’s desire to kill off the title character in the film, the decision not to do so was thoughtful. In a 2023 interview, Iwanyk stated:

Following the production of the second, third, and fourth films, the process has become incredibly draining for Keanu, both physically and emotionally. By the conclusion, he’s often expressing, “I can’t do this again,” and we find ourselves in agreement. The man is visibly worn down because he pours everything into his roles. He even requested to be definitively killed off at the end of this film. However, we decided to leave a small 10% chance for him to survive.

In the realm of John Wick, death is at most a short-lived hassle. The characters in this universe seem to defy even the odds that seem insurmountable, and if anyone could convincingly feign their own demise, it would be the skilled assassin who can fall from a great height after being shot and yet live on. Looking back, the lack of finality in the fourth movie wasn’t a weakness but rather a hint. Wick’s so-called ‘death’ was simply a clever distraction.

Who Helped John Wick Vanish After ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’?

It seems highly likely that John Wick didn’t fake his death on his own, given the circumstances. The two men seen at his grave, Winston (Ian McShane) and the Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne), are strong candidates for accomplices in this case. They aren’t just casual attendees at the funeral; they hold significant influence in the John Wick underworld, making them capable of pulling off such a complex act.

In another way of putting it, Winston, always the mastermind, might have orchestrated the grave marker as a diversionary tactic. On the other hand, the Bowery King, who boasts an extensive web of underworld informants and resources, could have helped John Wick secure safe passage and a fresh identity. Given their familiarity with operating in questionable territories, a staged death could have been the ultimate move to undermine the High Table.

The fourth installment ended with John Wick finally gaining his liberty, a fact that would have been ideal for him to vanish, as the High Table believed he was deceased. His fabricated demise offered the relentless assassin an unusual chance to genuinely live without being pursued. Alongside Winston and the Bowery King, characters such as Akira (portrayed by Rina Sawayama) and Mr. Nobody (played by Shamier Anderson) have incomplete storylines at the end of Chapter 4 , and they might play significant parts in John Wick’s resurrection.

Why Does John Wick Have to Return in ‘John Wick 5’?

As a die-hard John Wick fan, I can tell you that death wasn’t just an exit for him; it was a way out. After wrapping up Chapter 4, John Wick no longer had any reason to kill. The assassin world had stripped him bare, but to truly be free, he had to seem dead, or at least disappear. The ending of the fourth movie granted him the freedom from the relentless cycle of violence that I, and other devoted fans, knew would never last. John Wick didn’t go out with a bang; instead, he quietly stepped away, almost serenely. But let’s face it, peace was never going to be permanent for our favorite assassin.

Although the exact storyline for John Wick 5 is currently unknown, it’s been suggested that the movie might explore more about the complex structure of the High Table. If John Wick somehow survived his death, it would require a significant event to lure him back into the violent world. The possibility of Baba Yaga eliminating the most dangerous members of the High Table seems intriguing and could draw audiences back into the high-octane action they’ve come to expect.

If the Bowery King and Winston are in danger, that alone might prompt John Wick’s resurrection, particularly if they were involved in his death depicted in the fourth movie. Besides settling scores with characters like Akira who swore revenge, and Caine (Donnie Yen) who might now be pursued, a revived John Wick could take on roles beyond being an assassin—he could act as a mentor, mediator, or even a judge.

Stream John Wick: Chapter 4 for free on The Roku Channel.

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2025-04-12 22:02