Fans will be pleased with another series in the universe
With five films, two games, and one show to its name, the John Wick franchise continues to grow. Director Chad Stahelski, who has been linked to the film series since its inception, discloses his plans for an upcoming project set in the ex-hitman universe.
"John Wick", the first part, came out nearly a decade ago, in 2014. While keeping a relatively modest increase in budget with each installment, the franchise has been increasingly profitable at the box office. This year, the fourth installment of the film saga raked in over 440 million dollars. Hence, it's not surprising that the creators strive to extract as much value as possible from John Wick's character.
Universe expansion
A few more additions to the John Wick universe are on the way. The premier for the planned movie spin-off, "Ballerina", directed by Lena Wiseman, is expected within the next year. In this film, Keanu Reeves shares the screen with the radiant Ana de Armas.
De Armas, already known for her role as a tough, resolute woman skilled in firearms handling from the latest Bond film "No Time To Die" (2021), will be the focal point of this new story. She acts as a young assassin seeking vengeance on those who murdered her family.
On a recent occasion, Chad Stahelski vaguely assured that the fifth film in the series will certainly be made, though production has not yet started. However, he shared more details about another series set within this universe.
The first among these is the 3-episode series "Continental: In the World of John Wick" by Chris Collins and Greg Coolidge, starring Mel Gibson. It premiered in September this year but received lukewarm reviews (a 63 percent freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes) and didn't gather much popularity among fans.
Insights into the new show
In a conversation with ScreenRant, Stahelski discussed his future plans for the franchise. He feels that many of the ongoing storylines have incredible potential and numerous possibilities to be developed in upcoming chapters of the story.
The Continental: From the World of John Wick | Official Trailer | Peacock Original
"Certain characters greatly enhance performances. When I mention supporting characters, I refer not to the cast list, but to their crucial role in enhancing the story we're crafting," he said, valuing lesser-known but essential characters for the overall story arc.
The director highlighted that he aims to expand on the narratives of some characters in future projects. He specifically mentioned characters like Shimazu (Rina Sawayama), Caine (Donnie Yen), Sofia (Halle Berry), and Aurelio (John Leguizamo). Additionally, the creators themselves find the character of the enigmatic Mr. Nobody (Shamier Anderson) quite intriguing.
"I'm fond of the world of the homeless, like the one of Bowery King. I'm unsure about how to interconnect them. I also like worlds we haven't depicted yet, such as China or Hong Kong. I appreciate the entire concept of tongs and triads, and the story related to kung-fu. That's what the new series will likely address," the director revealed.
