John Wick: Chapter 4 is the fourth installment of the popular action thriller franchise starring Keanu Reeves as the titular assassin. The movie follows John Wick as he faces new enemies and allies in his quest for revenge and survival. The ending of the movie leaves the audience with a shocking twist and a cliffhanger that sets up the next chapter of the saga. Is John Wick really dead? Let’s find out.
The Plot of John Wick: Chapter 4
Recent Updates and Rumors
The movie was originally scheduled to be released on May 21, 2021, but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is now expected to hit the theaters on May 27, 2022. The movie is directed by Chad Stahelski, who also helmed the previous three films. The screenplay is written by Shay Hatten and Michael Finch, based on a story by Derek Kolstad, the creator of the franchise.
The movie features several returning cast members, such as Ian McShane as Winston, Lance Reddick as Charon, Laurence Fishburne as the Bowery King, and Jason Mantzoukas as the Tick Tock Man. It also introduces some new faces, such as Donnie Yen as an old friend of John Wick, Hiroyuki Sanada as a dangerous adversary, Shamier Anderson as a mysterious character, and Rina Sawayama as a female lead.
The plot details of the movie are still under wraps, but some rumors and leaks suggest that the movie will take John Wick to different locations around the world, such as Berlin, Paris, Tokyo, and New York. The movie will also explore the origins and secrets of the High Table, the shadowy organization that rules the underworld. John Wick will have to face new threats and challenges, such as the Adjudicator, the Elder, and the Continental Hotel.
How Does It Tie to the Previous Installments?
The movie picks up right after the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, which ended with John Wick being betrayed by Winston, the manager of the New York Continental Hotel. Winston shot John Wick multiple times and pushed him off the roof of the hotel, seemingly killing him. However, John Wick survived the fall and was taken away by the Bowery King, the leader of a network of homeless assassins. The Bowery King, who was also wounded by the High Table, offered John Wick a chance to join him in a war against the High Table. John Wick agreed, saying “Yeah”.
The movie also continues the story of John Wick’s past, which was hinted at in the previous films. John Wick was once a member of a Russian crime syndicate, led by Viggo Tarasov. He fell in love with a woman named Helen, who helped him escape the life of violence. However, Helen died of a terminal illness, leaving John Wick a dog and a car as her last gifts. John Wick retired from the underworld, but was forced to return when Viggo’s son, Iosef, killed his dog and stole his car. This sparked a series of events that led John Wick to become the most wanted man in the world.
The Ending of John Wick: Chapter 4
Summary of the Final Duel
The movie culminates in a final showdown between John Wick and his nemesis, Hiroyuki Sanada’s character, who is revealed to be the head of the High Table. The duel takes place in the Tokyo Continental Hotel, which is the headquarters of the High Table. John Wick fights his way through the hotel, facing various assassins and guards. He finally reaches the penthouse, where he confronts his enemy.
The fight is intense and brutal, as both combatants use their skills and weapons to try to kill each other. John Wick manages to gain the upper hand and stabs his opponent in the chest. However, before he dies, Hiroyuki Sanada’s character activates a bomb that he had planted in the hotel. He tells John Wick that he has doomed himself and everyone in the hotel. He says that he will see him in hell, and then dies.
John Wick realizes that he has only seconds to escape. He runs to the window and jumps out, hoping to survive the explosion. The screen cuts to black, and then the credits roll.
Possible Post-Credits Scene
After the credits, there is a post-credits scene that shows the aftermath of the explosion. The Tokyo Continental Hotel is reduced to rubble, and there are bodies and debris everywhere. The camera pans to a pile of rubble, where a hand emerges. The hand belongs to John Wick, who is still alive, but badly injured. He crawls out of the rubble, and looks around. He sees a phone lying on the ground, and picks it up. He dials a number, and says “Hello, Winston. I need a favor.”
Is John Wick Really Dead?
Speculations and Fan Theories
The ending of John Wick: Chapter 4 leaves the audience with a big question: Is John Wick really dead? The movie does not give a definitive answer, but there are some clues and hints that suggest that John Wick is still alive.
One clue is that John Wick has survived seemingly impossible situations before, such as falling off a building, being stabbed, shot, and beaten. He has shown remarkable resilience and endurance, as well as luck. He also has access to resources and allies that could help him recover and escape, such as the Bowery King, the Continental Hotel, and Winston.
Another clue is that the movie is part of a planned five-film series, which means that there is still one more movie to go. It is unlikely that the franchise would kill off its main character before the final chapter, especially when he is so popular and beloved by the fans. The movie also sets up some potential plot threads and conflicts for the next movie, such as the war against the High Table, the fate of the Continental Hotel, and the relationship between John Wick and Winston.
Therefore, many fans and theorists believe that John Wick is not dead, but alive and ready for more action.
Insights from the Director/Producers
The director and producers of the movie have not confirmed or denied the status of John Wick, but they have given some hints and teasers about the ending and the next movie. In an interview, Chad Stahelski said that the ending of John Wick: Chapter 4 is “a big surprise” and “a game-changer”. He also said that the movie is “the biggest, most ambitious, and most epic” of the series, and that it will “blow people’s minds”.
The producer, Basil Iwanyk, also said that the movie is “a massive event” and “a culmination of everything that has happened in the previous movies”. He also said that the movie will “leave people wanting more”, and that the next movie will be “the final chapter” and “the ultimate conclusion” of the saga.
What’s Next for the John Wick Franchise?
Potential Future Storylines
The next movie, John Wick: Chapter 5, is expected to be the last movie of the franchise, and will wrap up the story of John Wick and his world. The movie will likely continue the war against the High Table, and explore the consequences of the explosion in Tokyo. John Wick will have to face new enemies and old friends, and decide his fate and legacy.
Some possible future storylines are:
- John Wick teams up with Winston, who reveals that he betrayed him to save him from the High Table, and that he has a plan to take down the organization from within.
- John Wick reunites with the Bowery King, who has gathered an army of underground rebels and allies, and leads a revolution against the High Table.
- John Wick discovers the truth about his past, and his connection to the High Table. He learns that he is the son of the Elder, the mysterious leader of the organization, and that he has a brother, who is the new head of the High Table.
- John Wick faces a new threat, a rogue assassin who is hunting him down for personal reasons. The assassin is revealed to be Sofia, the former friend and ally of John Wick, who blames him for the death of her daughter.
Cast and Crew Updates
The cast and crew of John Wick: Chapter 5 have not been officially announced, but it is likely that most of the main actors will reprise their roles, such as Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, Lance Reddick, Laurence Fishburne, and Jason Mantzoukas. It is also possible that some of the new actors from John Wick: Chapter 4 will return, such as Donnie Yen, Hiroyuki Sanada, Shamier Anderson, and Rina Sawayama.
The director of John Wick: Chapter 5 is expected to be Chad Stahelski, who has directed all the previous movies. The writers of John Wick: Chapter 5 are unknown, but it is possible that they will be Shay Hatten and Michael Finch, who wrote John Wick: Chapter 4, or Derek Kolstad, who created the franchise.
Release Date and Other News
The release date of John Wick: Chapter 5 has not been confirmed, but it is expected to be sometime in 2023. The movie was originally planned to be filmed back-to-back with John Wick: Chapter 4, but the plan was scrapped due to the COVID-19 pandemic and scheduling conflicts. The movie will likely start production after John Wick: Chapter 4 is released.
The movie will also be accompanied by a spin-off TV series, titled The Continental, which will focus on the history and inner workings of the Continental Hotel, the neutral ground for assassins.
The TV series will be produced by Lionsgate and Starz, and will feature different episodes set in different locations and time periods. The series will also have some crossover with the movies, and will feature some familiar characters and actors. The series is expected to premiere in 2022.
That’s all I have for you about John Wick: Chapter 4 and the John Wick franchise. I hope you enjoyed reading this article, and that you are excited for the next movie. Thank you for using Copilot. Have a nice day. 😊