John Wick: Chapter 4 marks the beginning of the franchise's expanded cinematic universe. Later this year The Continental, a three-episode miniseries set in the eponymous New York hitman hotel, will air, starring Mel Gibson, with Colin Woodell as a young Winston. Then there’s Ballerina, in which Ana de Armas stars as a Ruska Roma dance assassin.
Directed by Underworld’s Len Wiseman, the series will feature one appearance from Keanu Reeves’ John Wick. "It’s a cool story," Reeves tells Total Film in the new issue of the magazine, featuring John Wick on the cover. "Len Wiseman has a vision, but is also embracing, affectionately, the world of John Wick. Ian McShane is in it as Winston. So I felt that there was a cool handoff of stewardship, and it was fun to put the suit on again, however briefly. There’s a reason for [John] to be in Ballerina; it’s very organic. And working with Ana was great. She really loves action, and she’s really good at it."
Aside from the spin-offs, there’s also the small issue of the future of the main John Wick movies. At one stage there were reports that John Wick Chapters 4 and 5 would film back to back. A follow-up to 4 is still officially unconfirmed though, but not out of the question. "You have to see how the audience responds to what we did," says Reeves. "The only reason we’ve had a chance to make these movies is that people have liked what we have done. So I think we have to wait and see how the audience responds to it. Hopefully they’ll like it."
Since making his feature directing debut with the first film in 2014, as a features director Chad Stahelski has worked exclusively on the John Wick series, though not for lack of trying to get other projects off the ground, including a long-mooted Highlander reboot. If the filmmaker has his way, he’ll finally turn his attention to a non-Wick project next – Without Remorse follow-up Rainbow Six, starring Michael B. Jordan. "You might have to give me and John Wick just a little break," Stahelski says. "Ask me in a couple of months. In the next week, I’m praying to the movie gods that I finish this one."
John Wick: Chapter 4 opens in cinemas around the world on March 24. That's just a snippet of our huge interview with Keanu Reeves and the rest of the John Wick team, featured in the new issue of Total Film, which hits stands (and digital devices) this Thursday, February 2. Check out the covers below:
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