LOS ANGELES – June 6, 2025 — The John Wick franchise may be known for its stylized action and relentless pace, but director Chad Stahelski says its body count is just as staggering.
“I would like to think we cracked a thousand,” Stahelski said at the premiere of Ballerina, a spin-off set in the same universe. “I think we’re probably right around there.”
Keanu Reeves, who plays the legendary hitman across the series, isn’t keeping track. “John’s just focused on one thing at a time,” Reeves said. “He doesn’t look at that. He’s just trying to survive.”
Stahelski, who directed the first four films and now oversees the franchise for Lionsgate, also gave a brief update on John Wick 5. “Still working on it,” he said when asked about a production timeline. “It’s all about timing. When it feels right, when we see the movie in our heads—know the themes and the cast—then we pull the trigger.”
In a recent interview with Empire, Stahelski emphasized that the next installment would take a new direction. “The saga of John Wick was pretty wrapped up,” he said. “So the only way to do a fifth film is to have a new story that involves John Wick. It’s not a continuation with the High Table. John dealt with his grief. It will be really different, and when people see the trailer, they’ll go, ‘Holy f—… I gotta see that.’”
Meanwhile, Ballerina, which hits theaters on June 6, marks the directorial debut of Len Wiseman within the John Wick universe. The film stars Ana de Armas as a Ruska Roma-trained assassin seeking vengeance for her father’s murder. The cast also features Reeves, Anjelica Huston, Ian McShane, Gabriel Byrne, Norman Reedus, Catalina Sandino Moreno, and the late Lance Reddick.
Wiseman said he embraces the challenge of directing within the high-profile franchise. “Honestly, I like pressure,” he said. “I think pressure gives me fuel to be even more creative. If there were no pressure, that wouldn’t be interesting.”
Related topics:
