Keanu Reeves may be ready to suit up as John Wick one more time, but only on one condition, the action has to match what his 60-year-old body can actually handle.
According to In Touch, Reeves is being “perfectly honest” with the creative team behind John Wick: Chapter 5 as development slowly moves forward.
A source told the outlet, “The script is being written and Keanu is being perfectly honest about what he’s willing and not willing to do stunt-wise. There’s no faking this. He’s being totally honest about what he can and can’t do, and he had put his body through hell for these movies.”
Reeves has never been one to shy away from the punishing stunts and physically demanding sequences that define the franchise, but after four films and years of wear and tear, he’s drawing some boundaries.
It’s not about stepping back from action entirely, but about being smart about what’s possible now. If John Wick: Chapter 5 is going to happen, the wild set pieces that fans love need to be tailored to fit what Reeves is actually capable of at this point in his career.
Lionsgate officially announced the film back in April at CinemaCon, with franchise director Chad Stahelski once again at the helm. But even with that announcement, the movie isn’t a sure thing just yet.
Stahelski has admitted that developing the next chapter is tricky, saying, “cracking the story is a bit of a conundrum.” After all, John Wick did seemingly die at the end of Chapter 4.
Still, Lionsgate is eager to make it happen. Stahelski even joked that the studio “would very much will [John Wick 5] into existence” if they could. But for Reeves to come back, the team has to find a version of the movie that both works narratively and respects the limits Reeves is setting.
The franchise has always centered on Reeves doing the real stunts, which added a level of authenticity that helped elevate John Wick above the usual action fare. But, maybe it’s time to evolve the formula. He’s already mentioned his knees may not survive another gauntlet of stair falls.
That doesn’t mean the next John Wick film has to go soft. If anything, reimagining the action to suit an older, wearier Wick could give the movie something fresh and interesting. What does an aging assassin’s last stand look like when it’s not just bullets and broken bones, but strategy, restraint, and experience?
If the team can crack a story that respects what the franchise has built and what Reeves is ready to give, it could be something special. But if they can’t? Maybe it’s okay to let the Baba Yaga finally rest.
