The John Wick universe may be expanding in a surprising new direction with a potential spinoff: an original samurai Western.
In a Variety feature on emerging screenwriters, Austin Everett, the adapter of Joseph Eckert's novel "Traveler," briefly mentioned that he has written an original samurai Western set within the John Wick world. "That's probably as much as I can say," he added before slipping back into obscurity.
This vague hint, while minimal, is enough to ignite speculation among fans. While the franchise has remained firmly rooted in the modern era, the prospect of applying its signature style to a different historical period is an exciting concept.
However, some are questioning the wisdom of the franchise's rapid expansion. Although each main series film has outperformed its predecessor, the Ana de Armas-led spinoff Ballerina underperformed, contributing to a $94 million quarterly net loss for Lionsgate—despite a cameo from Keanu Reeves as John Wick.
Ballerina concluded its global box office run with $132 million against a reported $90 million budget. In contrast, John Wick: Chapter 4 earned $447.3 million on a $100 million budget. This raises questions: Is audience fatigue a risk? Does the franchise's success depend on John Wick himself as the central star?
Lionsgate appears undeterred and is pushing forward with the universe's growth. Two additional spinoffs are in development, including an anime prequel exploring John Wick's 'Impossible Task' and a side-story focusing on Donnie Yen's character, Caine. There are also plans for a full John Wick: Chapter 5, starring Keanu Reeves again, though it remains in the distant future. In June, director Chad Stahelski stated he was still crafting a story for the sequel that would logically follow the climactic ending of John Wick: Chapter 4.
