‘John Wick’ Spinoffs That Could Come Next

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John Wick’s universe is expanding, and over four installments, viewers have witnessed Keanu Reeves as John Wick firing off rounds, displaying impressive martial arts techniques, sword fighting, horseback riding, and motorcycle stunts, solidifying his status as one of the most stylish action heroes in today’s cinema. The franchise has re-established Keanu Reeves as a leading star, while also catapulting directors Chad Stahelski and David Leitch, writer Derek Kolstad, and screenwriter Shay Hatten to prominence as sought-after genre filmmakers in the Hollywood scene.

The John Wick movie series has significantly influenced the way modern action films are made, as 87North Productions, led by Chad Stahelski and Kelly McCormick, have adopted the “Wickian” style for productions such as Nobody, Bullet Train, Violent Night, and The Fall Guy.

Despite appearing to meet his end in the film “John Wick: Chapter 4” (2023), Keanu Reeves and Chad Stahelski confirmed at CinemaCon in April that a fifth installment of the John Wick series is being developed, as well as an animated prequel helmed by Shannon Tindle, and a spin-off centered around Donnie Yen‘s character Caine, which will be directed by Yen himself.

However, among these spin-offs, excluding the Peacock streaming miniseries titled The Continental, there’s also From the World of John Wick: Ballerina. This film takes place between the third and fourth installments of John Wick.

The title isn’t particularly catchy, but the movie, helmed by Len Wiseman and featuring Ana de Armas as a assassin connected to John Wick, garnered positive reviews and high audience ratings. However, its disappointing $25 million opening indicates that it’s unlikely to become Lionsgate’s solution for future franchise growth, suggesting they will need to explore other avenues instead.

Fans of the series are well aware that the intricate universe created within the franchise, populated by a multitude of characters who each have their own backstory prior to being entangled in John Wick’s life, opens up endless possibilities for spin-off projects or new franchises. As long as quality is maintained and each new addition brings something fresh to the world, the potential is limitless. With this thought in mind, here are four intriguing ideas for “John Wick Universe Expansions.

    From the World of John Wick: The Manager 

    2019’s film John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum introduced Sofia Al-Azwar (played by Halle Berry), a former friend of John Wick and the manager of the Continental Hotel in Casablanca. Sofia left a lasting impact in the sequel, not just through her two battle-hardened Belgian Malinois, but also with the spectacle of Halle Berry engaging in action sequences. Although her part in John Wick’s narrative is relatively small, it raises intriguing possibilities for a standalone story, given the hints dropped about her past.

    Essentially, she conceals a daughter somewhere undisclosed, which increases the pressure on her helping Wick in his quest for the Elder of the High Table. The end result of her decision to aid Wick is uncertain, but a tale featuring Sofia, her dogs, and their global chase against time to rescue her child seems captivating. It’s also long overdue that Berry takes the helm of an action series.

  • From the World of John Wick: Bowery King

    Among the captivating new elements in the John Wick universe is The Bowery King, portrayed by Laurence Fishburne, who governs The Soup Kitchen – a covert group of spies and informants disguised as homeless individuals.

    The Bowery King functions separately from The High Table yet reaches out to them when needed, and he’s established unique regulations for his covert network. His intelligence system avoids online or traceable mobile data, instead relying on homing pigeons, well-placed agents, and old-fashioned but efficient espionage methods. Little is known about the Bowery King’s past, but his love for Shakespearean performances lends an aura of grandeur to him.

    In the fourth installment of the series, The Bowery King broadened his influence to Paris, potentially opening up an engaging plotline for a standalone movie. Delving into the backstory of this character, specifically uncovering how he established such a vast intelligence network in 1970s or 1980s New York City, could offer a captivating, gadget-free spy tale within the genre.

    A movie that could capitalize on Fishburne’s skills, revolving around the Bowery King’s current struggles to expand The Soup Kitchen, while simultaneously weaving a prequel narrative about a young man battling the entire intelligence community and gaining the title of Bowery King, would offer a unique, yet equally suspenseful, approach to the franchise’s action style.

  • From the World of John Wick: The High Table

    The heart of the John Wick saga revolves around an entity called The High Table, a powerful alliance of twelve international crime lords. These individuals have connections with politicians, royals, military forces, police departments, and highly skilled agents at their disposal. Furthermore, they utilize The Continental, a worldwide network of hotels catering to assassins, to hire killers for eliminating adversaries and potential threats to The High Table.

    Despite the High Table primarily functioning as the main adversary across the series, it’s largely a mysterious organization that often appears through its agents, with The Elder (Said Taghmaoui) being one of them, killed by Wick in Chapter 3. As for who exactly sits at this table and where they are located remains unknown. However, what we do know is that the High Table predates the Roman Empire.

    Displaying the creation of The High Table within the franchise may seem financially prohibitive and off-putting to viewers, but it appears that there’s much intrigue in delving into an earlier era of The High Table instead.

    One possible alternative could involve another animated film, similar to the upcoming “John Wick” prequel. This film might be set in medieval Europe and focus on a conflict between The High Table and The Round Table, offering an engaging narrative that audiences can connect with. Essentially, it would be a modern take on Arthurian legend within the realm of “John Wick,” providing a novel blend of action and visual style. Moreover, there’s an intriguing prospect of Keanu Reeves lending his voice to Ser Jon of Wyck, a potential ancestor of John Wick in this alternate universe.

  • From the World of John Wick: Mr. Nobody

    Unlike the action series “Nobody,” starring Bob Odenkirk for 87 North, Mr. Nobody (played by Shamier Anderson), also known as The Tracker, is a cryptic figure seen carrying a backpack in “John Wick: Chapter 4” (2023). His role is to eliminate John Wick. Interestingly, he owns a Belgian Malinois dog, similar to Sofia’s. It’s intriguing to speculate if there might be a common history between them. Perhaps, the “John Wick” universe could expand with a spin-off story about who trains all these combat dogs.

    Despite limited details, the character known as Mr. Nobody is prominently featured, earning his name due to his high pricing for services. According to Anderson, this could be because he needs to support his ailing mother. Initially focused on Wick, Mr. Nobody appears to respect him, even cheering him on during Wick’s fight against Caine. In many aspects, Mr. Nobody seems to embody the true heir to John Wick’s legacy, a young assassin who is relatively new to the game, shares a deep affection for dogs, and possesses extensive knowledge of the High Table’s rules. Moreover, Shamier Anderson has the potential to make a significant impact as an up-and-coming star in this role.

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2025-06-10 01:55