As it continues to make a boatload of cash at the box-office, over $244 million worldwide on a $100 million budget, “John Wick: Chapter 4” has been the topic of a lot of online conversations, especially about its ending.
I have no issue with more “John Wick” movies being made, but if you’ve seen ‘Chapter 4’ …
SPOILER ALERT.
You already know that our beloved assassin-killing protagonist dies at the end. But I’m not surprised by director Chad Stahelski’s assertion, via THR, that he’s open to making a fifth film.
“It’s very flattering for them to come back and, you know, say ‘We want more’ and it’s not just a cash grab. It’s legitimately the audience wants more,” Stahelski said. “I think we all need that little bit of time to go, ‘Whew. Let’s see what’s next.’ … If Keanu and I, a few months from now sit down at a whiskey bar in Japan again and go, ‘Yep, we’ll never do another one of those,’ and then all of a sudden go, ‘Yeah, but I got an idea,’ we’re open to it.”
Only at the movies can the dead come back from six feet under, but, as they say, money talks.
Stahelski did leave ‘Chapter 4’ with a slightly open-ended conclusion. In the very last scene of the film, Laurence Fishburne's character laughs at Wick's gravesite. Plenty of wiggle room to expand on that.
The character of John Wick has essentially turned into a supernatural being where he can get shot, stabbed, mauled, to extremes, and still survive. There have been numerous moments throughout the series when he should have died, but miraculously got back up and continued his kills.
Obviously, Lionsgate would love to see more films, seeing as ‘Chapter 4’ has made them an inordinate amount of money. The studio does have a backup plan though and it’s already underway. They’re prepping the release of “Ballerina,” which is part of the ‘Wick’ universe, as well as the upcoming prequel series, “The Continental.”
For now, Keanu and company must be on a real high from all the great reviews ‘Chapter 4’ has been getting. That last hour alone is worth the price of admission, but, at this point, these ‘Wick’ movies are starting to feel like overkill.