John Wick: Chapter 5 (2025): The Next Chapter of the Baba Yaga
Lionsgate has officially confirmed that John Wick: Chapter 5 is moving forward, with Keanu Reeves returning to reprise his legendary role as the fearsome assassin known as Baba Yaga. The project will be helmed once again by franchise mainstay Chad Stahelski, alongside producers Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee. Studio executives emphasized that Reeves, Stahelski, and the production team would only continue if they had a "truly phenomenal and fresh" story to tell that expands the world in an innovative way.
Unusually, Chapter 5 will pivot from the High Table conflict that dominated the first four films, moving into uncharted territory while retaining John Wick at the center. Chad Stahelski noted that the original story arc has reached its natural conclusion, making this installment an opportunity to explore a new direction—potentially introducing fresh adversaries and shifting the narrative into broader, perhaps more personal stakes. While exact plot details are being kept under wraps, the franchise’s signature global action scale is expected to return.
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Filming is tentatively scheduled for 2025, pending Reeves’s physical readiness. Reeves has openly admitted that his body—especially his knees—is feeling the toll of the role, saying, “My knees right now are saying, ‘I can’t do another John Wick.’” Nevertheless, both Reeves and Lionsgate confirm that he remains attached and motivated, provided the script delivers a character-driven experience worthy of the role’s demands.
The announcement comes alongside Lionsgate’s ongoing universe expansion, which includes the 2025 theatrical release of Ballerina—starring Ana de Armas—with Reeves making a cameo appearance. The franchise’s expansion also includes an upcoming animated prequel focusing on the legendary “Impossible Task,” as well as a live-action spin-off centered on Donnie Yen’s assassin character Caine, scheduled to film in Hong Kong next year.
Industry insiders suggest that Chapter 5 may begin production in late 2025 or early 2026, aiming for a release date in 2026 or beyond. This would ensure ample time for action choreography, stunt preparation, and Reeves’s physical recuperation, which Stahelski has said is being taken seriously.
The supporting cast has not been finalized, but it's expected that stars like Ian McShane (Winston) and Laurence Fishburne (Bowery King) may return, alongside potential new characters introduced in this fresh storyline. Reeves’s return, combined with the new creative direction, has sparked excitement among fans and industry observers, many of whom believe an emotionally rich, character-driven arc could revitalize the franchise.
In essence, John Wick: Chapter 5 represents both a continuation and a transformation. It signifies the end of one arc and the beginning of another—one where Wick navigates new enemies and unravels deeper layers of his own code. With Reeves on board, the world still to explore, and a storytelling promise that goes beyond vengeance, the next chapter could be the most ambitious yet in the Wick saga.
