The John Wick franchise continues to captivate audiences and shows no signs of slowing down, as several exciting new projects were unveiled at CinemaCon 2025. Fans eagerly anticipating the franchise’s future have much to look forward to, including a now confirmed fifth installment starring Keanu Reeves, a spin-off featuring Donnie Yen’s popular character Caine, an innovative animated prequel, and the much-anticipated “Ballerina” spin-off starring Ana de Armas.
John Wick: Chapter 5
The dramatic conclusion of “John Wick: Chapter 4” left viewers with many questions. The film ended ambiguously, with John Wick collapsing following an intense and brutal battle, seemingly marking his end. However, Lionsgate surprised and delighted fans with the announcement of “John Wick: Chapter 5,” confirming that Keanu Reeves would return as the legendary assassin.
Chad Stahelski will again direct, ensuring continuity in the thrilling action sequences and visually striking style the franchise is known for. While the studio remains tight-lipped on specific details, audiences can expect further exploration into Wick’s complex past and his ongoing battle against the powerful High Table. Speculation suggests the narrative could include John making a final stand against the High Table, as the mythology around the assassin’s underground world continues to expand.
Caine Spin-off
Introduced in “John Wick: Chapter 4,” Donnie Yen’s character Caine quickly became a fan favorite for his compelling backstory and unmatched fighting prowess. Yen is confirmed to reprise his role as the blind assassin in an upcoming spin-off and will also direct the film himself.
Production is slated to begin later this year in Hong Kong, promising an authentic and gritty martial arts experience. It’s possible the spin-off will aim to delve deeply into Caine’s past, exploring the tragic circumstances that led to his blindness, his strained yet compelling relationship with John Wick, and his own battles against the High Table. Fans can anticipate a dynamic blend of martial arts action and dramatic storytelling, significantly enriching the character’s complexity and the wider universe.
John Wick Anime Prequel
The announcement of an animated prequel represents an ambitious new direction for the franchise. Keanu Reeves is back to voice John Wick, bringing authenticity and depth to the character in a new medium. Directed by Shannon Tindle and written by Vanessa Taylor, the anime-style film will portray the infamous “Impossible Task,” where John Wick eliminated all his rivals in a single night to escape the assassin’s life and marry his wife, Helen.
This animated format will allow for creative storytelling freedom, presenting visually striking action sequences and deeper character exploration than possible in live-action. Fans can look forward to seeing a younger John Wick at his most lethal, revealing further details about his origins and early life in the assassin world.
It will be produced by Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee, Keanu Reeves, and Chapter 1-5 director Chad Stahelski. Stahelski also notably worked on the upcoming anime “Lazarus” with Cowboy Bebop director Shinichirō Watanabe.
“I’ve always been fascinated with anime,” said Stahelski. “It has always been a huge influence on me, especially with the John Wick series. To have the opportunity to develop a John Wick anime seems to be the perfect progression for the John Wick world. I feel John Wick is the perfect property for this medium — anime holds the potential to expand our world, our characters, and our action in ways unimaginable before.”
Alex Young and Jason Spitz will executive produce.
Ballerina
Scheduled for release on June 6, 2025, “Ballerina” stars Ana de Armas as Eve Macarro, a skilled assassin trained by the Ruska Roma, the same organization responsible for training John Wick. The film’s narrative bridges “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum” and “Chapter 4,” with Eve embarking on a quest for vengeance following the brutal murder of her father.
CinemaCon attendees were treated to an exclusive preview. The showcased footage featured Ana de Armas demonstrating her formidable combat skills in a high-intensity action sequence. In the scene, Eve engages in a fierce battle within a restaurant, utilizing her environment creatively by breaking plates over an adversary’s face and employing improvised weapons during the confrontation. This glimpse highlighted the film’s commitment to delivering the intense, choreographed action that fans have come to expect from the franchise, while also showcasing de Armas’s dedication to performing demanding stunts.
“Ballerina” will feature notable franchise characters, including Keanu Reeves as John Wick, Ian McShane as Winston, Anjelica Huston as The Director, and Lance Reddick as Charon, in one of his final roles. Directed by Len Wiseman and penned by Shay Hatten, the film underwent significant additional filming and fight choreography supervised by Chad Stahelski to ensure it matches the franchise’s high standards for action and storytelling.
“You Ready, John?”
With multiple new projects spanning different storytelling approaches and formats, the John Wick franchise continues to grow into one of cinema’s most exciting action universes. These upcoming installments promise thrilling narratives, deep character development, and the intense, stylish action fans have come to cherish. The future indeed looks bright—and fiercely entertaining—for the world of John Wick.
