AKTECHSTUDIO

8 Big Clues John Wick Is Still Alive After Chapter 4's Shock Ending

John Wick appears to be dead at the end of John Wick: Chapter 4, but there are tons of clues that hint that he actually survived. The sequel continues to follow John (Keanu Reeves) on his journey to get back to his normal, non-assassin life, but the increasing price on his head makes that more and more difficult. The movie is full of groundbreaking action sequences, but it's also surprisingly emotional, as John is seen killed in a duel with Caine (Donnie Yen). The assassin shares his final words with his old friend Winston (Ian McShane), and he's then buried in New York with a headstone that reads, "Loving Husband."

The John Wick movies have grown in popularity since the first film's modest box office success in 2014. Three movies later, John Wick has become a billion-dollar franchise. John Wick: Chapter 4 made over $432 million alone — a huge achievement for Lionsgate, but it calls into question why the studio would kill off the character at the highest point of the series' popularity. It's a bold move, but in an industry where franchises never die if they're still popular, no matter how unnecessary they are, there's no doubt that John Wick 5 will happen. The studio has even left some clues that the titular assassin is still alive.

While John Wick supposedly dies in a duel with Caine, as he keels over on the steps in Paris, the movie doesn't actually show him die. Not only that but, while Winston and the Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne) are standing at his grave in the cemetery at the end of John Wick: Chapter 4, there isn't a proper burial in the movie. It's unlikely that the day Winston and the Bowery King visit the cemetery is John's burial, as the grass is uncut, and it's as if John has been buried for months. With action movies, if a character dies off-screen, the chances are high that they're probably not dead.

It seems as if nobody is on the same page about John Wick 5, as director Chad Stahelski seemingly doesn't want to make another movie, and Keanu Reeves is yet to properly comment on the sequel, but Lionsgate has outright confirmed it. The studio hasn't verified whether John Wick: Chapter 5 is a prequel, which could very well be the case and keep the emotional John Wick: Chapter 4 ending intact. However, the movie will most likely be a sequel and follow on from John Wick: Chapter 4, and it'll probably reveal how John Wick survived. Nevertheless, while it has been confirmed, Reeves' silence on the sequel speaks volumes.

Director Chad Stahelski revealed that John Wick: Chapter 4 originally featured an alternate ending where John Wick survived, but the scene tested badly during test screenings. As a result, Stahelski made the brave decision to remove it, making the prospect of John Wick 5 much harder for Lionsgate. However, Stahelski is working on a director's cut of John Wick: Chapter 4, and it's possible that he could include the cut scene of John surviving. That would significantly help John Wick 5 swerve its biggest problem. I Am Legend 2 is following on from the first movie's alternate ending, and audiences could see the same happen with the John Wick franchise.

Between Winston and the Bowery King, they have more than enough power to fake John's death in John Wick: Chapter 4. The Bowery King alone has so many resources and connections that he can get his hands on weaponry, vehicles, and bulletproof suits across the world, and Lionsgate even wants a Bowery King spinoff. In that respect, there's no denying that he could have helped John fake his death. However, one thing that undermines this clue is that the Bowery King and Winston expressed genuine sadness when they were standing at John's grave at the end of John Wick: Chapter 4.

During the cemetery scene in John Wick: Chapter 4, Winston and the Bowery King aren't alone at John's tombstone. John's trusty pit bull is there, too. During the scene, the dog's ears perk up, and he looks to the side as if he notices somebody in the distance, or maybe he smells his master's scent. Given that dogs in the John Wick franchise are extremely clever and skilled, it wouldn't be surprising if the pit bull sensed his master. After all, this is the same dog who found John in the Bowery King's lair after he was left in a New York taxicab in John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum.

It's hard to believe that one bullet killed John Wick when it wasn't even a headshot, especially given all the injuries he has sustained and the beatings he has endured. Throughout all four movies, John has sustained over 200 injuries, including getting stabbed multiple times, being thrown through windows, and falling from such great heights on countless occasions. Outside the ending of John Wick: Chapter 4, John has only been shot cleanly once, but thanks to the doctor in John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum, that was taken care of. There's no reason why John couldn't have been rushed to that same doctor after the duel.

Whether it's John's burial or funeral at the end of John Wick: Chapter 4, it's strange that Winston and the Bowery King were the only two characters to pay their respects. While John has made a lot of enemies, he still has several allies. Garage owner Aurelio and police officer Jimmy should have both been at the cemetery. The movie also made it clear that Caine and John Wick knew each other for a long time and were close, so it doesn't make sense that Caine wasn't there either. All the people in attendance at Helen's funeral in the first John Wick movie would surely have known John, too.

In John Wick: Chapter 4, Marquis Vincent de Gramont says, "John is nothing but a ghost searching for a graveyard." That line of dialogue clearly implied that the Marquis believed that John was inevitably going to get killed sooner or later. However, that dialogue could also have been a hint to audiences that this was John's plan all along. Throughout the movie, John could have been planning to fake his death and that he wanted to have a burial so that the High Table believed he was dead and assassins stopped hunting him. The Marquis's comment could have been a clever foreshadowing of John Wick's return.

August 08, 2023 •

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The Case for John Wick 4 Being the End of His Story

John Wick: Chapter 4 -- which will be available on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-Ray, and DVD on Jun. 13 -- is a marvel of action-cinema, an epic adventure that only becomes more powerful as a result of its final moments. After four films of non-stop fighting, John Wick finally lays down his weapons and dies, finding the peace he'd long sought.

It's an emotionally resonant ending, which could be upended by the character's potential return in the recently announced John Wick 5. But just because the world introduced in these films can continue doesn't mean John himself should. In fact, undoing his death would rob the series of its emotional throughline and prevent it from growing into something new. John's apparent death in John Wick: Chapter 4 needs to be the case in any follow-ups, even if that means Keanu Reeves' involvement in the series is severely reduced.

How John Wick: Chapter 4 Closed the Book on John's Character Arc

The conclusion of John Wick: Chapter 4 feels like the inevitable final stage for the titular character, a send-off he would appreciate. Despite his repeated efforts to escape the world of murder and mayhem around him, John is forced to work his way through hundreds of would-be killers, finally finding his final opponent in the form of Caine. The two have a duel, using pistols to settle their respective debts and feuds with The High Table. In the end, John is fatally wounded but still gets the opportunity to kill the Marquis Vincent Bisset de Gramont, freeing Caine from his debt to The High Table representative and saving Winston's life.

John has enough life left in him to walk the stairs of the church and get a view of the sunrise, thinking of his dead wife as he seemingly fades from his injuries. The film doesn't explicitly show John's death, but it's clear what the intention at the moment is -- only further solidified by subsequent shots of John's grave next to his wife. Since the film's release, though, some fans have suggested John could have survived his injuries. And the apparent development of John Wick 5 could be seen as a suggestion that the franchise will go in that direction. But just because the franchise may continue doesn't mean the character will carry on. In fact, John's death is the perfect ending for that character and shouldn't be undone in any follow-ups.

Why John Wick's Death Should Stick

Being the end of John's story, John Wick: Chapter 4 gives the film and its lengthy third act a sense of closure that can't usually be found in blockbuster cinema these days. While the world John inhabited is still there -- and set to be further explored in stuff like The Ballerina and the Peacock prequel series The Continental -- John's lengthy quest for freedom and peace concluded with him finding those things. Undoing John's death wouldn't just fly in the face of the emotional throughline present in the film, but it would also take John beyond his already wild endurance and capabilities. It would effectively turn John into a superhero, incapable of dying by conventional measures -- which would remove any stakes to any future action sequences focused on the character. It'd also likely invite inevitable comparisons to John Wick: Chapter 4, and given the impressive action of that film, it'd be a self-inflicted criticism levied at any film directly trying to top it.

In regard to the franchise's future, John has far more power in death than in life. John's actions in the film saved a scant few of his allies and propelled some (like The Bowery King and Katia) into new positions of power. John's infamous worldwide adventure might convince others they can fight back against The High Table, potentially setting the stage for something like The Ballerina to go in an unpredictable direction.

John could also become something truly unstoppable in death, proof that there are ways to be free of a syndicate that seems to operate in all fields of life. The power vacuum left in John's wake opens the possibility of pure chaos in the world of John Wick, which could allow for any number of established or even new characters to take center stage. This could even open the door for flashbacks to John or imagined conversations with him, allowing Reeves to return without undoing the weight of John's fate. John's death is fitting for the overall narrative of the character's growth. But the practical reasons not to bring him back and the potential for more distinct follow-ups should hopefully allow John to remain buried.

June 12, 2023 •

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John Wick 5 Is Happening: Why We're Worried About The Franchise's Future

John Wick 5 is officially happening, and it has us seriously worried about the franchise's future. The first four John Wick films have all been fantastic, with each one building on the last to create a much bigger world with even zanier action set pieces. However, John Wick 5 may be taking things a bit too far for the Keanu Reeves-led action series. Another John Wick movie could end up hurting the franchise, and the existence of John Wick 5 is setting the series down a path that may doom the franchise's future by tarnishing everything that came before it.

John Wick: Chapter 4 is the most recent entry in the John Wick franchise, with the 2023 film being bigger and better than anything before it. John Wick: Chapter 4 was the peak of the series, and it also contained one of the franchise's most shocking moments: the death of John Wick. Killing off the franchise's main character seems like a pretty clear end to the series, but that may not be the case. More John Wick sequels, spin-offs, and TV series are currently in development, showing that the series will continue despite John Wick's death. Although the series' success makes this understandable, John Wick 5 really shouldn't be done.

John Wick 5 Could Kill The Franchise's Winning Streak

So far, the John Wick franchise has an incredible winning streak, but it could be killed by John Wick 5. Many viewers consider each John Wick movie to be better than the last, with some audiences agreeing that John Wick: Chapter 4 is the best that the series has to offer. Even if some viewers disagree, each John Wick movie has garnered almost universal acclaim, with each entry's story and action being worthy of praise. Movie series rarely have four subsequent entries as well-received as those of the John Wick franchise, with John Wick's unprecedented winning streak being something truly special.

Sadly, it seems likely that John Wick 5 will kill the franchise's winning streak. It is almost impossible to navigate the return of John Wick in a satisfying way, meaning that the reception of the fifth movie will inevitably take a big critical hit. Revealing that John Wick didn't actually die would undermine the perfect ending of John Wick: Chapter 4. Bringing John Wick back would be too nonsensical even for the pretty zany franchise. Focusing on a different character would also be the wrong direction to go, as the movie still has John Wick in its name. There is simply no good way to go about making John Wick 5.

John Wick's Spinoffs Risk Diminishing Franchise Returns

John Wick's various spin-offs and sequels also set up a problem of diminishing franchise returns. A John Wick project can only be made so good, with the franchise inevitably reaching a point where the magic has simply been lost. Even if Ballerina and The Continental are good, they are nothing new, with them most likely retreading on old ground. The John Wick formula will become stale at some point, which is why it was smart to end the franchise when it was on top after John Wick: Chapter 4. However, the series is still going on, with spin-offs and sequels potentially running it into the ground.

That's under the assumption that these spin-offs and sequels are actually good. It's also possible that Ballerina and The Continental don't live up to the quality of the mainline John Wick movies, which is a real risk considering that they are made up of different creative teams. One bad John Wick project could kill the franchise's reputation, ruining the pristine legacy that the first four movies built up. So, whether John Wick's endless litany of sequels and spin-offs are good or not, they will end up hurting the franchise in one way or another.

John Wick Let Himself Die - Lionsgate Should Too

John Wick's death at the end of John Wick: Chapter 4 was a sacrifice, with him dying because he knew that he could only keep fighting for so long. John Wick wanted to go out on his own terms, and this parallels the creative team behind John Wick and their decision to end the series after John Wick: Chapter 4. The movies wanted to go out while they were on top, which was probably a wise decision. After all, it is incredibly rare for a franchise to have four consecutive movies as financially and critically well-received as the John Wick films. John Wick let himself die, and Lionsgate should too.

Despite the character and the creatives wanting to let John Wick die, Lionsgate just won't let it happen. John Wick is one of Lionsgate's biggest franchises, meaning that it wants to keep the cash cow going. However, the John Wick well will inevitably run dry. Lionsgate should instead preserve the legacy and status of their iconic action franchise rather than milking it to death. It's possible that Ballerina could be good, but with John Wick 5 now happening, there is no end in sight, meaning that Lionsgate will presumably keep the series going until it has been run into the ground.

John Wick Already Defied The Odds, He Can Do It Again

Although all signs point to John Wick 5 and the spin-offs being doomed, it's possible that they could work. After all, the original John Wick already defied the odds. John Wick struggled to find a distributor, with Lionsgate being their only bidder. For a while it seemed as if John Wick was going to go directly to home video, skipping a theatrical run entirely. The studio wasn't confident in John Wick, with Keanu Reeves having been in a series of box office bombs like 47 Ronin. However, John Wick ended up being a huge success, defying the odds by becoming one of the most recognizable action franchises of all time.

Since defying the odds is built into the history of John Wick, it could happen again. It's possible that Ballerina and The Continental are both great, upholding the legacy of the franchise. It's even possible that the writers could find a clever way of bringing John Wick back, with John Wick 5 being just as good as the previous movies. Although John Wick 5 seems like a guaranteed failure, its success isn't an impossibility.

June 12, 2023 •

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John Wick 5 Is In Development Confirms Lionsgate

While the cast and crew have played coy about John Wick's future, a fifth movie is confirmed to be in the making.

Per ComicBook, during Lionsgate's Q4 2023 earnings call, Motion Picture Group chairman Joe Drake revealed a follow-up to John Wick 4 is happening. "What is official is that... Ballerina is the first spinoff that comes out next year," said Drake. "We're in development on three others, including [John Wick 5] and including television series, The Continental, will be airing soon. And so, we're building out the world and when that fifth movie comes, will be organic -- will be organically grown out of how we're starting to tell those stories." Drake concluded by stating that John Wick will have a "regular cadence" in the future.

This news comes after both star Keanu Reeves and director Chad Stahelski have dodged questions about returning for another installment with the latter even claiming he refused an offer from Lionsgate to film John Wick 5 right after the fourth entry in the franchise. "I think the greatest part is that, after each John Wick, I took two years off to go live and get better; to travel, to read more, and to get better," Stahelski explained. "I don't know how to do a movie back-to-back and get better for the second one."

The Risk of John Wick 5

The filmmaker also recently responded to fans clamoring for a fifth installment despite John Wick's story seemingly concluding in the fourth movie. "When you have something successful, yeah, of course, you want to keep doing it. But it's very easy to be repetitive. The trick is how you be repetitive with individuality," Stahelski said. Producer Basil Iwanykhas echoed these sentiments, stating that Reeves would only return to the franchise if he was able to figure out "something cool" with Stahelski. "These movies are really hard for Keanu and Chad, and everybody. By the time each one is over, most involved have said, never again, this is too hard and we’re not getting any younger."

The John Wick franchise has grown from humble beginnings, having first premiered in 2014 with a slight buzz around Reeves' return to an action franchise. In the years since, the series has grown exponentially as it earned positive reviews from critics and audiences, going on to earn a collective $1 billion at the box office. Lionsgate has also promised to expand the world of John Wick with spinoff projects including the series The Continental and the Ana de Armas-led movie Ballerina.

John Wick 4 is now available to rent and purchase on digital platforms while the physical release arrives on June 13.

Source: ComicBook

May 26, 2023 •

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John Wick 5 Fan Interest Gets Earnest Response From Director Chad Stahelski

Audiences calling for John Wick 5 get an earnest response from franchise director Chad Stahelski. The Keanu Reeves-led action franchise is known for its visceral action set pieces, with each film finding a way to top the last installment. Stahelski has been at the helm of all four John Wick films and just released John Wick: Chapter 4 in March to stellar reviews and box office returns. And while the fourth film is still playing in theaters, there has already been a demand for more.

While speaking with The Direct, Stahelski opens up about the fan interest surrounding the potential of John Wick 5. The director is humbled by the amount of love the franchise has received. While he would be open to making another sequel, as he's stated before, Stahelski is content to let the franchise rest for a time, with he and Reeves giving John Wick: Chapter 4 their all. Check out Stahelski's comments on John Wick 5 below:

"That's incredibly flattering. You have to be incredibly humble and go, ‘Thank you.’ And that's our response, ‘Thank you so much. Thank you so much for offering. Thank you so much for wanting it. Thank you so much for everything.’"

Will John Wick 5 Ever Happen?

The John Wick franchise has seen each sequel outperform the previous film at the box office. John Wick: Chapter 4 has currently made over $406 million worldwide, which is up from the first film's box office run ending with $86 million worldwide. With numbers like that, it's easy to see why Lionsgate is keen on making more sequels, which they have not been shy about. However, the John Wick franchise has other factors to consider, which Stahelski and Reeves have been open about.

Reeves, who is 58 years old, may not be able to keep up with the action-heavy role that much longer, as he handled most of his own stunts, including driving, shooting, and martial arts. Furthermore, the ending of John Wick: Chapter 4 serves as a perfect sendoff for the character; after the wake of death he's left behind him, John likely couldn't have had a very different ending. Therefore, John Wick 5 could also potentially hurt things from a story perspective, even if audiences are clamoring for more.

The John Wick universe is growing despite a fifth film not being set in stone. The Continental, a limited prequel series following Winston's rise to power as the manager of the eponymous underworld hotel, is set to release three episodes in September. Ana de Armas is also starring in a spinoff movie called Ballerina, which will see her play a female assassin, with Reeves also appearing briefly. Therefore, while John Wick 5 may not happen any time soon, the universe it established has more stories to tell.

Source: The Direct

May 11, 2023 •

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John Wick 4's Longer Cut Gets Brutally Honest Review From Producer

John Wick: Chapter 4 producer Erica Lee says the lengthy original cut was not very good. Franchise star Keanu Reeves returns to the title role for the fourth installment along with director Chad Stahelski. With John Wick: Chapter 4, they deliver some of the most extensive and most impressive action set pieces of the series, which see John dispatching more enemies than ever before. The movie is 169 minutes long, coming in just under three hours. However, it was revealed that John Wick: Chapter 4 had a longer cut, initially running 3 hours and 45 minutes.

While speaking with Collider, Lee opened up about John Wick: Chapter 4's longer cut, revealing that it was "not good." According to the producer, the nearly 4-hour-long cut of the sequel featured some rough spots, making for a boring watch. Check out Lee's comments on John Wick: Chapter 4's longer cut below:

There [weren't] really that many big lifts. We definitely shot a lot, but the movie's hovered around three hours for almost all of post. The 3:45 was so rough and boring in parts, and just a lot of... I mean, it was not good [Laughs]. You didn't miss anything.

There's More John Wick On The Way

After John Wick: Chapter 4's finale, the future of the titular assassin may be in question. Stahelski and Reeves have stated they want to take some time away from the character, with Lionsgate pleased over the fourth installment's box office, hoping for a fifth film. However, whether Reeves returns to the franchise or not, spinoffs are on the way to keep the world alive.

The Continental is a limited prequel series that will explore the origins of the unique underworld hotel and Winston, the manager character originated by Ian McShane in the films. Colin Woodell will play a younger version of Winston, with the series taking place in the 1970s. The Continental is set for three 90-minute episodes, expected to debut on Peacock later this year.

The John Wick franchise is also getting a spinoff with Ballerina, which is expected to release in 2024. Ana de Armas stars in the spinoff as a female assassin seeking revenge for the murder of her family. Reeves is said to make an appearance in the film, along with McShane as Winston and the late Lance Reddick as Charon. The cast of Ballerina also includes Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, and Norman Reedus, with director Len Wisman, known for Underworld and Live Free or Die Hard, at the helm. So while John Wick: Chapter 4 was cut down, the franchise is set to expand, continuing on even if Reeves doesn't return.

April 02, 2023 •

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Here’s What Happened in 'John Wick: Chapter 4's Original Post-Credit Scene

If you stuck with John Wick: Chapter 4 to the very end, then you know there’s a short end-credits scene that changes the game for at least one character in the film series. In the scene, Caine (Donnie Yen) finally gets to approach his estranged daughter after being released from his duties with the High Table. However, as he starts to move in her direction with flowers in his hands, a figure emerges among the crowd: It is Akira (Rina Sawayama), the Osaka Continental Hotel Manager whose father was killed by Caine right in front of her.

The very last scene before the movie cuts to black is Akira revealing a blade in her hand, suggesting that she’ll avenge her father’s death. However, we don’t get to see if she really kills Caine, even though earlier in the movie the blind man tells her that he would be waiting for her revenge. In an interview with Collider, John Wick director Chad Stahelski revealed to our own Editor-in-Chief Steve Weintraub that the scene originally played out a lot differently, and was much less subtle.

It's funny, we shot that, there's a real scene that goes along, like Donnie coming up, you think he's got it, and then Rina goes and gets him, and then there's this whole death scene with Donnie Yen dying. We had a whole thing where you actually see the demise. But we watched it and I kind of felt like, “Well, that's not as cool as not knowing.” Like, does Rina go down that road? You know, we have John Wick and his demise, and we’re like, “Well, let's open the door to the new John,” like, “Who's the new…” And we're like, “Akira.”

She's got the motivation. She gave John the ultimatum. John chose not to honor that, but he chose to honor something much bigger. So, we had this whole scene and we're like, “Well, that doesn't really say what we want.” It was a little too much, and we didn't think it was really nailing it. So, my editor Nathan Orloff had a nice idea and was like, “What if we don't see it? What if you leave the audience to that? What's the choice?” Rina has a choice, she opens the knife, but does she actually, you know, hit Caine with it? And we're like, “That's awesome. Let's just try it.”

Smaller Was Better For the End-Credits John Wick 4 Scene

Stahelski also revealed that having the scene play out more suggestively opened the door for a kind of “new John,” since the movie ends with the title character meeting his end. The director suggested there was no question that Akira could be the next mega-killer in the franchise, and that having a scene with virtually no violence was a nice contrast to everything the audience would have seen up to that point.

“And it had that little punch to it, like, not too much, not too little, and you still don't know: So did she go down that dark road, or did she go, ‘not my battle?’”

We’ll have to wait a little while to discover the answer to that question, since John Wick 5 is yet to be greenlit by Lionsgate, and we’ll visit a different set of characters in the same universe when Ballerina comes along. One thing is sure, though: Akira has already established herself as a great character, and she’ll be a welcome addition if it comes around to it.

John Wick: Chapter 4 is in theaters everywhere now.

March 29, 2023 •

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New Hand-Painted ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ Poster Shows a Colorful Keanu Reeves Ready for a Fight

We are counting down the days to John Wick: Chapter 4. Fans are eager for the return of Keanu Reeves as their favorite assassin as he goes on a run after the events of Chapter 3 – Parabellum. The movie promises a globe-trotting experience for fans as well as its signature action sequences and stunts. The promotion for the feature is in full swing as we got details about the movie from previously held Wick Week and now the makers are revealing posters made by handpicked artists from around the world.

The latest poster comes from artist Yann Coueder, who hand-painted a picture of Reeves in the character. The image sees him pensive as the colorful strokes bring out different facets of his personality. It has been quite an experience to see John from the perspective of various artists as they reimagine the character and highlight different sides of his personality from their own point of view like building on the legend of Baba Yaga to capturing his serene side.

What’s John Wick: Chapter 4 About?

The end of Chapter 3 – Parabellum saw John injured and on a run after the High Table puts a bounty on his head. All the bounty hunters are coming for him and to escape them once and for all he’ll be trotting the globe in the upcoming feature. The movie has shot in locations like New York, Paris, and Berlin among other places, so fans can expect show epic showdown in the most iconic locations. Though John will have help in the new feature as a previously revealed clip shows his new friends and some old friends that now turn into foes. Before dealing with High Table though our favorite assassin has to go through one more nemesis, a member of High Table, Marquis de Gramont, played by Bill Skarsgård. As director Chad Sathleski previously told Collider, “he’s the one in charge of cleaning up all the messes from the first three movies.” So, he’ll undoubtedly be a bit pissed off by John’s disobedience.

The movie features Reeves as John Wick, Laurence Fishburne as The Bowery King, Ian McShane as Winston Scott, along with Skarsgård as John’s nemesis Marquis de Gramont, Hiroyuki Sanada as Shimazu, Shamier Anderson as The Tracker, Lance Reddick as Charon, Rina Sawayama as Akira, Scott Adkins as Killa, Clancy Brown as The Harbinger and many more.

John Wick: Chapter 4 drops on March 24. You can check out the new poster below: