We've been fortunate enough to witness Keanu Reeves handing out headshots like candy twice already, and now a third installment of the JOHN WICK franchise is officially on the way. Summit Entertainment has announced the release date of JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3, which will arrive in theaters, drum-roll please, on May 17, 2019. For the record, the first film hit theaters on October 24, 2014, while the second was released on February 10, 2017.
Although we can be sure to expect the type of hard-hitting action that the franchise is known for, details on the plot of JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3 haven't yet been revealed. Earlier this year director Chad Stahelski told JoBlo that the sequel may not necessarily be bigger than the previous two, but will hopefully be "more creative and different." Stahelski also mentioned a few of the elements he's hoping to explore in the threequel.
We are going to put in something about the High Table, how that all works. We’re going to put in something about where John comes from, and where he wants to go. I don’t want to say too much more, but it will be a nice completion to Mr Wick’s journey.
When asked whether JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3 will serve as the finale of the JOHN WICK trilogy, Chad Stahelski said, "in our minds, yes. But I’ll let the studio answer those sort of questions." It seems that the creative team is hoping that JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3 will wrap up John Wick's story, but if it does well and brings in more money, well, never say never.
In addition to JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3, the franchise is also looking to expand beyond the John Wick saga. One of the ways they're hoping to do that is with a TV series, reportedly titled The Continental, which takes place in Continentals all around the world. Chad Stahelski spilled a few details about the potential series several months ago, saying that it will show "how certain people come into that world, and what happens in relation to those people, which is cool… You can be with the consigliere, concierge, the sommelier — you can be with all these different characters and walk through the world in different aspects; ones that I’m a little limited [from exploring] by staying with my lead guy." Also in the works in a potential spin-off titled BALLERINA, which originates from a female-centric spec action script which Lionsgate picked up earlier this year to potentially include in the JOHN WICK franchise. Said to in the same vein as Luc Besson's LA FEMME NIKITA, but with a little Quentin Tarantino and Matthew Vaughn hyper-stylized pulp thrown in for good measure, BALLERINA will follow a "young woman raised as an assassin who must hunt down the other assassins that murdered her family."
Once again, JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3 will hit theaters on May 17, 2019.