John Wick Lives. John Wick: Chapter 5 Has Been Announced as the Franchise Continues to Expand
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Phil Roberts 
Lionsgate has announced John Wick: Chapter 5, an anime prequel, and the eagerly awaited Caine spin-off starring Donnie Yen.
The Baba Yaga lives! Lionsgate has stunned audiences at CinemaCon 2025 by announcing multiple projects from the John Wick universe. The saga is already expanding this year with Ana de Armas’s hard-hitting Ballerina. But today, at CinemaCon, the studio officially announced the return of Keanu Reeves in John Wick: Chapter 5. That’s right, Keanu Reeves returns for John Wick 5, with Chad Stahelski directing and producing alongside Thunder Road producers Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee.
If that isn’t enough, Lionsgate has officially greenlit an anime prequel to John Wick. The movie explores Wick’s story prior to the events of the first film, focusing on his completion of the Impossible Task, which involves eliminating all his rivals in a single night. To escape the High Table’s wrath and earn the right to retire with his wife, Helen, Wick must defeat his enemies. Keanu Reeves will voice John Wick in the animated project, which Shannon Tindle, co-director of Ultraman: Rising, will direct from Vanessa Taylor’s screenplay.
CHAD STAHELSKI
Chad Stahelski was quick to share his excitement about the anime prequel. He said, “I’ve always been fascinated with anime. It has always been a huge influence on me, especially with the John Wick series. To have the opportunity to develop a John Wick anime seems to be the perfect progression for the John Wick world. I feel John Wick is the perfect property for this medium — anime holds the potential to expand our world, our characters, and our action in ways unimaginable before.”
DONNIE YEN RETURNS!
The long-proposed spin-off film featuring Donnie Yen’s lone assassin, Caine, is rounding out the franchise’s expansion. Caine quickly became a fan favorite in the recent installment, as he faced off against Baba Yaga. Fans will be excited to see him back, exploring his own story in the world of Wick. Yen is officially returning to reprise his role from John Wick: Chapter 4, with filming expected to begin in Hong Kong later this year. In addition to acting, Yen will also direct the film. He has directed several films, including 2023’s Sakra and the upcoming 2024 release The Prosecutor, making his role as director of the Caine spin-off a natural fit for the multi-talented star. Robert Askins will write the screenplay.
At the end of 2024, Donnie Yen opened up about returning to the role and shared his enthusiasm for the character.
“Working on John Wick: Chapter 4 was an extraordinary experience,” said Yen. “The reason these films resonate so deeply is because, like myself, Chad, Basil, and Erica push themselves to create action, fights, and stunts that are not only thrilling, inventive and artistic, but also expressive of character, story, and emotion. Caine is an incredible character with a haunted past, and I am excited to return to the role.”
RELEASE
So, there you have it. The John Wick saga is back with a vengeance, and a host of new projects that are sure to keep us entertained for years to come. Like many of our readers, we refused to believe the Baba Yaga had succumbed to his injuries at the end of the previous adventure. So, the news of his epic return has sent a rush of excitement through the hallways of Future of the Force HQ.
But where will the next installment take him next? Will Caine make an appearance alongside Keanu Reeves after his solo outing? That information is classified and only known to the members of the High Table. But, you can bet your last golden coin that we will be here to bring the latest updates.
Are you excited for more adventures from the world of John Wick? Leave a comment below and let us know what you think.
Meet Phil Roberts! He’s the dedicated owner, daily content manager, and editor-in-chief of The Future of the Force. Phil is a budding novelist who turned his passion toward writing about the franchises he loves back in 2016. He’s a huge fan of all things Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Phil is a BFI-accredited journalist and a distinguished member of the Film Critics Association UK.
If he’s not catching a movie at the cinema, you can bet he’s streaming something just as awesome!
