Chad Stahelski Wants To Stay Involved With John Wick, Including Future Spin-Offs
Rightly so, director Chad Stahelski is in high demand after the success of "John Wick: Chapter 4." The last film in the action franchise (for now) has already amassed over $150 million worldwide and is standing strong with a rating of 94% over at Rotten Tomatoes. Stahelski is currently in rarified air, with multiple projects lining up quickly that will allow him to take a step back from the intricate world of assassins he helped create.
It was recently announced that Stahelski is set to direct the next Tom Clancy adaptation, "Rainbow Six," starring Michael B. Jordan, a project he's actively developing. "I love Michael Jordan and the creative team behind that," the director told Deadline. "That's gonna be something that's definitely on the slate and we're working on the script now, we'll see where and when that all comes together."
Stahelski is also attached to helm a film adaptation of Sucker Punch's incredibly popular video game, "Ghost of Tsushima," that shares some DNA with the intricate world of assassins from the "John Wick" films. The project could become a truly epic video game adaptation and it's clear Stahelski is excited about getting it in front of cameras:
"The other project I'm super stoked for is 'Ghost of Tsushima.' It's such a diversion from what I've been doing with 'John Wick,' but it still deals with ethics and loyalty, these big themes I find fascinating. I love the idea of a code of honor, chivalry and all that stuff, and the way this twists those thematics around."
With all of these irons in the fire, Stahelski may have to clone himself in order to stay involved in the "Wick"-verse. That being said, he and star Keanu Reeves aren't prepared to say goodbye just yet.
'We're proud of what we've done'
The first four chapters of "John Wick" have already cemented themselves as instant classics in the action genre. In particular, "John Wick: Chapter 4" has raised the bar so high that it will be difficult for any future action film to surpass what they've accomplished. It's exciting to see Chad Stahelski and Keanu Reeves move on to other projects for now, but it's going to be a challenge for them to separate themselves from the franchise that's defined them for almost a decade. Moving on completely is not something either of them are planning to do, and Stahelski made it clear that he and Reeves will never say "we're done."
That's welcome news for the myriad of fans out there that are already clamoring for more "John Wick" mayhem, and Stahelski will be happy to help offer any guidance concerning future spin-offs. "We're proud of what we've done, flattered people want to see more, and we want to continue that and will be there to help out," he said. With the announcement of Peacock's new prequel event series, "The Continental," promising an epic three-night event featuring three 90-minute action-packed episodes, the world of "John Wick" shows no signs of slowing down. "The Continental" takes place in 1970s New York City and will focus on a young Winston (Colin Woodell) and a young Charon (Ayomide Adegun) in the early days of the famed assassins hotel.
That series should be a breath of fresh air for the franchise without encroaching on anything that occurred over the course of the mainline "John Wick" movies. That may be a slight deterrent for some fans, which is why director Len Wiseman's spin-off "Ballerina" plans on bringing back Wick for a prominent role.
Expanding the world of John Wick
Ultimately, Lionsgate will decide what new and exciting directions to take the "John Wick" franchise in. That opens up a massive opportunity for other filmmakers to take what Chad Stahelski, Keanu Reeves, and their fellow creatives have built over the years and add their own style into the mix. Currently, it's hard to imagine any other film universe out there that could attract as much new talent as the "Wick"-verse. It's established itself as an incredibly vibrant and violent place to exist in, with an established mythology that can keep being explored.
With the upcoming spin-off "Ballerina," Stahleksi is in a position to support new visions if and when he's called upon. "But like with 'Ballerina,' that's Len Wiseman's baby, and Ana de Armas. When he came to us and asked us our thoughts on things like the look and vibe, we were happy to share everything we have," he said. "But we also want him to do his own thing with it."
The legacy of the franchise is firmly intact, but it will be fascinating to see what comes next. There may be some hits and misses along the way, but Stahelski definitely wants to be along for the ride whenever he's needed:
"I'd love to stay involved in all aspects of 'John Wick.' It's fun for me. I love the world. There's a reason we did four and it wasn't anything more than we love the world. It gives us freedom. It gives us a chance to flex those muscles and you can't help but be proud when you create something from nothing and people actually like it."
The next chapter is set to kick off this September when "The Continental" premieres on Peacock.