John Wick Is Going Global—And Might Be Digging Up the Franchise's Deepest Lore Yet
John Wick just ghosted New York—again—and action fans are SCREAMING. Chad Stahelski, the stunt-god-turned-director, just teased a high-octane pivot for John Wick: Chapter 5: a shoot that hops across China, Africa, and the Middle East. Translation? The man with the world's deadliest puppy trauma might be uncovering the origin story of the High Table itself.
Plot twist: he might do it posthumously.
From Dog Vengeance to Global Lore: How Did We Get Here?
Let's recap: John Wick: Chapter 4 wrapped with Keanu Reeves possibly six feet under (literally or symbolically—your guess is as good as ours), and now Chapter 5 is aiming for globe-trotting grandeur. Stahelski has his eyes on ancient empires and international intrigue—because apparently assassins have history departments now.
The franchise's trajectory isn't just escalation. It's mutation. What began as a neo-noir revenge tale in New York has exploded into a myth-soaked underworld saga that now spans Rome, Morocco, Japan—and soon, maybe Xi'an and Cairo. It's like Assassin's Creed with better suits and fewer Ubisoft glitches.
Budget? You can bet it's ballooning. (The last entry reportedly cost $100M+.) But it's not just about more zeroes—it's about narrative sprawl. John Wick isn't just running from death. He's sprinting through centuries of bloody bureaucracy.
The Assassinverse Is Expanding—But at What Cost?
This new trajectory isn't random. It's strategy.
Ever since Chapter 2, each film has pushed Wick further from his NYC roots, replacing the clean revenge arc with intricate world-building. With Ballerina already globe-hopping (Ana de Armas was spotted in Budapest), and The Continental miniseries dissecting hotel policies with a body count, Wick's world is no longer his. It's a brand.
And if Stahelski gets his wish, Chapter 5 could go full archaeological noir. Picture this: ancient tombs, cryptic tattoos, assassins guarding scrolls. It's The Mummy meets Heat—but make it Balenciaga.
But there's a catch—China. Stahelski told SlashFilm he's waiting for U.S.–China relations to thaw before locking in locations. Translation: this cinematic fever dream hinges on geopolitics. (Because of course it does.)
Wick's World Is Bigger Than Wick—And That Might Be the Point
If John Wick 5 really digs into the High Table's origin story, it marks a full-circle evolution: from man to myth. And isn't that the endgame? In death, John becomes legend. Or maybe he pulls a fake-out resurrection again, because… Keanu.
Let's not forget—Hollywood loves this trick. The Bourne Legacy sidelined Jason, Skyfall gave Bond a childhood trauma arc, and The Dark Knight Rises gave us “is he dead or sipping espresso in Florence?” ambiguity. Wick might be next.
One anonymous crew member allegedly whispered during a location scout:
“We don't need John alive—we just need him haunting the franchise.”
Cursed. Chilling. Deliciously marketable.
Now Your Move, Baba Yaga Fans
So what's your poison—global spectacle or gritty NYC shootouts?
Would you rather watch John battle the sands of time… or just shoot someone with a pencil again?
