John Wick 5 Will Break New Ground With a Fresh Storyline

The Baba Yaga is back, but not in the way you might expect.

Director Chad Stahelski has confirmed that John Wick 5 will forge a new path for the legendary assassin, breaking away from the complex web of revenge and High Table politics that defined the first four films. While Chapter 4 seemed to offer a definitive end to Wick’s journey, the team behind the franchise clearly has more to say and more bullets to fire.

Keanu Reeves is officially set to return, reprising the role that helped redefine modern action cinema. But this time, the story will not be tethered to the secretive crime syndicate that has governed the franchise so far. Instead, Stahelski hints at a standalone narrative that leans into new emotional and narrative territory. That does not mean the world of John Wick is shrinking. In fact, it is doing the opposite.

Lionsgate’s Wick universe is expanding fast. The Ballerina spin-off starring Ana de Armas is scheduled for release on June 6, 2025. An animated prequel is in the works, and Under the High Table, a TV series exploring the deeper political machinery of the assassin underworld, is also in development. According to Stahelski, these projects will plant narrative seeds that will grow in John Wick 5, helping the franchise evolve without relying on past conflicts.

This pivot could be what keeps the franchise fresh. After four increasingly intense entries, giving Wick a new direction might reinvigorate the character and offer audiences a different kind of spectacle. For a series that has always balanced elegance and brutality with surprising emotional depth, a clean slate might be the most exciting move yet.

Sources:
Collider, The Hollywood Reporter