History of John Wick in Timeline
John Wick is a neo-noir action thriller franchise centered on John Wick, a retired hitman portrayed by Keanu Reeves, who is forced back into the criminal underworld. The franchise began with the 2014 film John Wick and expanded with three sequels: Chapter 2 (2017), Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019), and Chapter 4 (2023). The franchise also includes spin-offs such as the comic book series John Wick: The Book of Rules, the television miniseries The Continental, and the upcoming film Ballerina. These productions further explore the alternate history elements within the John Wick universe.
1966: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Released
In 1966, Sergio Leone's film "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" was released, and later cited by Director Chad Stahelski as an influence for the John Wick series.
1967: Point Blank Released
In 1967, "Point Blank" was released and later cited by Director Chad Stahelski as an influence for the John Wick series.
1970: Le Cercle Rouge Released
In 1970, "Le Cercle Rouge" was released and later cited by Director Chad Stahelski as an influence for the John Wick series.
1989: The Killer Released
In 1989, "The Killer" was released and later cited by Director Chad Stahelski as an influence for the John Wick series.
2002: The Vengeance Trilogy (Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance) Released
In 2002, Park Chan-wook's "Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance", the first movie in "The Vengeance Trilogy", was released. This trilogy influenced the John Wick film due to "[their] minimalist composition and graphic nature."
2005: The Vengeance Trilogy (Lady Vengeance) Released
In 2005, Park Chan-wook's "Lady Vengeance", the third movie in "The Vengeance Trilogy", was released. This trilogy influenced the John Wick film due to "[their] minimalist composition and graphic nature."
2010: The Man from Nowhere Released
In 2010, Lee Jeong-beom's "The Man from Nowhere" was released and influenced the film due to "[their] minimalist composition and graphic nature."
December 2012: Thunder Road Pictures buys John Wick script
In December 2012, Thunder Road Pictures bought the script with discretionary funds and agreed to make the film straight away. Basil Iwanyk, head of Thunder Road Pictures, was immediately drawn to the main character of Wick and admired the emotional weight and action elements. Kolstad spent additional months rewriting the script with them. In the original script, the character of John Wick was written with "a man in his mid-sixties" to play the role, but Iwanyk decided to look for someone who is not literally older, but who has a seasoned history in the film world.
2012: Development of the Film
In 2012, the development of the film "John Wick" began, marking the start of the production process.
September 25, 2013: Principal Photography Begins
On September 25, 2013, principal photography for the film "John Wick" commenced, signaling the start of filming.
December 5, 2013: Original shooting schedule for John Wick ends
Principal photography for the first film began in New York City, with an original shooting schedule from September 25 to December 5, 2013.
December 20, 2013: Principal Photography Wraps
On December 20, 2013, principal photography for the film "John Wick" concluded, marking the end of the filming phase.
2014: Release of John Wick
In 2014, the first film in the John Wick franchise, titled "John Wick", was released. This neo-noir action thriller introduced Keanu Reeves as the titular character, a retired hitman drawn back into the criminal underworld.
February 2015: Development for John Wick sequel begins
In February 2015, directors Stahelski and Leitch stated that a John Wick sequel had begun development, which was later titled John Wick: Chapter 2. Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer stated during a conference call that they see John Wick as a multiple-title action franchise. Additionally, it was reported that Kolstad would return to write the screenplay.
May 2015: John Wick sequel green-lit
In May 2015, it was confirmed that a sequel was green-lit, and Lionsgate would be selling the film at the Cannes Film Festival.
October 26, 2015: Principal Photography Begins
On October 26, 2015, principal photography for an unspecified film (likely "John Wick: Chapter 2") commenced.
March 2016: Announcement of John Wick VR Game
In March 2016, the virtual reality game, initially known as John Wick: The Impossible Task, John Wick: An Eye for an Eye and John Wick: The VR Experience, was announced.
October 2016: A third John Wick film is in development
In October 2016, Stahelski stated a third film was in development.
October 2016: Announcement of the Third Film
In October 2016, the third film in the John Wick series was announced.
February 9, 2017: John Wick Chronicles VR Game Release
On February 9, 2017, John Wick Chronicles, a virtual reality game set in the Continental Hotel, was released. Players could assassinate targets as John Wick using various weapons.
February 2017: Film Premiere
In February 2017, the film "John Wick: Chapter 2" premiered.
June 2017: Chad Stahelski and Derek Kolstad Developing The Continental TV series
In June 2017, Chad Stahelski and Derek Kolstad were announced to be developing a television series for Lionsgate based on the characters and setting of the John Wick films, tentatively titled The Continental. It was reported that Reeves would reprise his role, and that the series would be a prequel to the film series that takes place years prior to the events of the films.
June 2017: Derek Kolstad to write the screenplay for the third John Wick film
In June 2017, it was reported that Kolstad would return again to write the screenplay for the third film.
July 2017: Announcement of Ballerina Spinoff
In July 2017, Lionsgate announced the development of a spinoff film written by Shay Hatten and titled "Ballerina", expanding the John Wick franchise.
September 2017: Lionsgate announces release date of May 17, 2019 for the third film
In September 2017, Lionsgate announced a release date of May 17, 2019.
September 2017: Upload of Proof of Concept to YouTube
In September 2017, proof of concept for the Ballerina film was uploaded to YouTube, showcasing the early stages of the project's development.
November 29, 2017: Release of John Wick Comic Book Mini-Series
On November 29, 2017, the John Wick comic book mini-series was released by Dynamite Entertainment. It was the first of the five-book series which tells the story of a young John Wick's first vendetta.
2017: Release of Chapter 2 and Prequel Comic Book Series
In 2017, the second film in the series, "John Wick: Chapter 2", was released. Additionally, the prequel comic book series "John Wick: The Book of Rules" (2017–2019) was launched, expanding the franchise's universe.
January 2018: Chad Stahelski to direct the third John Wick film
In January 2018, it was reported that Chad Stahelski was returning to direct the film and Common, Laurence Fishburne, and Ruby Rose were set to reprise their roles from the second film. Additionally, it was announced that Hiroyuki Sanada had been cast as the film's antagonist.
January 31, 2018: Conclusion of John Wick Comic Book Mini-Series
On January 31, 2018, the five-book John Wick comic book mini-series by Dynamite Entertainment came to a conclusion.
May 21, 2018: Halle Berry, Asia Kate Dillon, Anjelica Huston, Mark Dacascos and Jason Mantzoukas join the cast
On May 21, 2018, it was reported that Halle Berry, Asia Kate Dillon, Anjelica Huston, Mark Dacascos and Jason Mantzoukas had joined the cast of the third John Wick film.
2018: Production Begins
In early 2018, production for the third John Wick film began.
May 2019: John Wick Hex Announcement
In May 2019, John Wick Hex, a tactical role-playing game, was announced.
May 2019: Discussions for Another Film Arise
In May 2019, prior to the release of "John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum", discussions about another film in the series began, with Keanu Reeves expressing his willingness to continue as long as the films were successful. Lionsgate also announced the film during John Wick 3's opening week.
May 2019: Release of the Third Film
In May 2019, the third film in the John Wick series was released.
May 17, 2019: Announced Release Date
In September 2017, Lionsgate announced a release date of May 17, 2019.
October 8, 2019: John Wick Hex Release
On October 8, 2019, John Wick Hex, a tactical role-playing game, was released. Players control Wick in missions using his skills to defeat opponents.
October 2019: Len Wiseman Signs on as Director
In October 2019, Len Wiseman was signed on as the director for the "Ballerina" project, with Keanu Reeves and Chad Stahelski serving as executive producer and producer, respectively.
2019: Release of Chapter 3 – Parabellum
In 2019, "John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum" was released, marking the third installment in the film series.
April 2020: Release Date Delay Revealed
In April 2020, Chad Stahelski indicated in an interview that the film would likely not meet its initially scheduled 2021 release date, due to his commitment to "The Matrix Resurrections". He also revealed a 100-page "scriptment" had been written.
May 5, 2020: John Wick Hex PlayStation 4 Release
On May 5, 2020, the PlayStation 4 version of John Wick Hex was released.
May 2020: Wiseman's Pitch and Actress Search
In May 2020, Chad Stahelski confirmed that Len Wiseman had approached the studio with a pitch for developing the "Ballerina" project. Also, the studio was reportedly looking for an actress for the lead role.
August 2020: Development of Fifth Film Confirmed
In August 2020, Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer confirmed that a fifth film was also being developed, intended to be shot back-to-back with the fourth installment in early 2021.
March 2021: Production Delayed and Chapter 4 Prioritized
In March 2021, Lionsgate opted to delay production of the fifth film and move forward with "John Wick: Chapter 4" first.
April 2021: The Continental series centers around a young Winston
In April 2021, chairman of Lionsgate Television Kevin Beggs announced that the series will center around a young Winston in the 1970s and explore real-world events, including the Great Garbage Strike and the American Mafia's rise to economic power. He announced that the project's plot had been difficult to develop, with the studio having taken various pitches from different creative teams, before the creators of Wayne presented the concept that they settled upon: three 90-minute episodes, making The Continental a limited series.
May 21, 2021: Original Scheduled Release Date
May 21, 2021 was the originally scheduled release date for the film. However, the release was delayed due to production and other factors.
May 23, 2021: The Simpsons Aired John Wick Parody
On May 23, 2021, The Simpsons aired "The Last Barfighter", the 32nd season finale, as a parody of John Wick: Chapter 2 and John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum. Ian McShane guest-starred as Artemis Scott.
June 2021: Cast Additions and Production Start
In June 2021, Donnie Yen, Rina Sawayama, Shamier Anderson, Bill Skarsgård, and Hiroyuki Sanada joined the cast. Principal photography began on June 28, 2021.
June 28, 2021: Principal Photography Begins
On June 28, 2021, principal photography for "John Wick: Chapter 4" officially began.
October 2021: Ana de Armas Enters Negotiations
In October 2021, Ana de Armas entered early negotiations to portray the titular character in "Ballerina".
October 2021: Mel Gibson cast in The Continental series
In October 2021, it was announced that Mel Gibson would star in The Continental series, with Colin Woodell cast as a young Winston Scott. Hubert Point-Du Jour, Jessica Allain, Mishel Prada, Nhung Kate, and Ben Robson were also added to the cast.
October 2021: Principal Photography Wraps
In October 2021, principal photography for "John Wick: Chapter 4" had wrapped.
November 2021: Ayomide Adegun, Peter Greene, and Jeremy Bobb join the cast of The Continental
In November 2021, Ayomide Adegun, Peter Greene, and Jeremy Bobb joined the cast of The Continental as a young Charon, a younger Uncle Charlie, and a new character named Mayhew, respectively.
February 2022: Katie McGrath cast as The Adjudicator in The Continental
In February 2022, it was announced that Katie McGrath was cast as The Adjudicator in The Continental series.
April 2022: Ana de Armas to Star in Ballerina
In April 2022, Lionsgate announced at CinemaCon that Ana de Armas would star in the lead role of the film, with principal photography to commence later that year.
May 2022: Fifth Installment Confirmed with Potential Gap
In May 2022, Chad Stahelski stated that while "John Wick: Chapter 4" has some "conclusion" elements to the story, there would be a fifth installment to the franchise, though he would like to gain additional experience as a director before continuing forward with another movie.
August 2022: Lionsgate sells premiere rights to The Continental to Peacock
In August 2022, Lionsgate announced it had sold premiere rights to The Continental series to Peacock, having determined the series was no longer a fit for Starz. It was then expected to premiere in 2023.
September 2022: Principal Photography Delayed
In September 2022, it was announced that the principal photography for Ballerina was delayed from its previous tentative start and would commence later that fall.
November 7, 2022: Filming Begins
On November 7, 2022, filming for Ballerina officially began in Prague, Czech Republic.
November 2022: Lionsgate Received Pitches for AAA John Wick Title
In November 2022, Lionsgate revealed they were fielding proposals for a AAA John Wick title, having received several pitches.
November 2022: Filming Scheduled to Begin and Cast Reprisals Announced
In November 2022, principal photography for Ballerina was scheduled to begin imminently. Ian McShane, Keanu Reeves, Anjelica Huston, and Lance Reddick were announced to be reprising their roles as Winston Scott, John Wick, The Director, and Charon, respectively.
March 2023: The Continental expected to release later in the year
In March 2023, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Joe Drake stated that The Continental series is expected to release later in the year, also saying that the episodes are "nearly finished".
March 2023: More John Wick projects in development
In March 2023, producer Erica Lee stated that in addition to previous identified projects, there's "... lots of other things. But we're developing a lot of stuff and having a lot of discussions with a lot of writers and brand management and Wick... is my utmost priority."
March 2023: Expansion Film Announced and Spinoff Interests Expressed
In March 2023, producer Erica Lee stated that the studio is working on an as-of-yet untitled film that will further expand the franchise. Erica Lee also expressed interest in a project centered around the backstory of Rina Sawayama's character, Akira. In addition, Donnie Yen expressed interest in reprising his role from Chapter 4 in a potential spin-off centered around his character Caine.
March 24, 2023: Release of the Film
Partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the film was released on March 24, 2023.
April 2023: The Continental officially titled The Continental: From the World of John Wick
In April 2023, The Continental was officially titled The Continental: From the World of John Wick and was released between September 22 and October 6, 2023.
October 6, 2023: The Continental: From the World of John Wick released
The Continental: From the World of John Wick was released between September 22 and October 6, 2023.
November 2023: Work Resumes on Script for Fifth Film
By November 2023, following the resolution of the writers and actors strikes, Lionsgate revealed that work on the script for the fifth film had officially resumed.
November 2023: Announcement of Anime-Styled Project
In November 2023, Chad Stahelski announced that an anime-styled animated project was in development, initially conceptualized as a television series.
November 2023: Developments underway for another spin-off television series
In November 2023, Chad Stahelski revealed that developments are underway for another spin-off television series and he intends to direct a number of the episodes. He also stated that through the television show the various cultures of the world will be explored through the John Wick franchise and the series is being developed to feature the supporting cast from the feature films in starring roles, identifying Caine, Shimazu Akira, The Tracker / Mr. Nobody as characters who may appear.
November 2023: Stahelski confirms multiple John Wick projects in development
In November 2023, Stahelski confirmed that multiple projects were in development, while acknowledging that there are plans to explore the various criminal organization establishments within the continuity; including Italian, French, Japanese, Chinese, Middle-Eastern, Indonesian, and Russian cultures. Later following the resolutions to the 2023 writers and actors strikes, Lionsgate officially announced that work on various spin-off projects had commenced.
2023: Release of Chapter 4 and The Continental
In 2023, "John Wick: Chapter 4" was released, adding to the film series. Also, the prequel television miniseries "The Continental" premiered.
January 2024: Chad Stahelski, Basil Iwanyk, and Erica Lee to serve in oversight roles for the John Wick franchise
In January 2024, it was announced that Chad Stahelski, Basil Iwanyk, and Erica Lee will serve in oversight roles for the John Wick franchise. Stahelski's production studio 87Eleven will create a "comprehensive multiplatform content strategy to guide the short- and long-term creative direction, franchise strategy and strategic growth to ensure that quality, tone and vision remain consistent" in collaboration with Thunder Road Studios and Lionsgate.
May 2024: Caine Spinoff Announced
In May 2024, it was officially announced that a spin-off film centered around Caine was in development, with Donnie Yen reprising his role as the titular character. The script, written by Robert Askins, will explore the continuing story that chronologically follows the final scene of John Wick: Chapter 4.
June 7, 2024: Original Release Date
June 7, 2024, was the original release date for Ballerina, before it was delayed.
August 2024: John Wick: Under the High Table greenlit
In August 2024, the series was officially greenlit with the title John Wick: Under the High Table, and will be shopped around to various streaming companies; with Robert Levine serving as showrunner, writer, and executive producer. The plot of the series will take place chronologically after the events of Chapter 4 and will follow new characters who strive to usurp the High Table, while returning cast members of the franchise seek to maintain the current order. The project will be a joint-venture production between Lionsgate Television, 87Eleven Entertainment, and Thunder Road Studios. Stahelski stated that the show would explore various members of the supporting cast within the John Wick franchise.
October 2024: Anime Project to Be Released as Feature Film
In October 2024, Chad Stahelski revealed that the anime project would now be released as a feature film, taking place chronologically before the events of the first movie and depicting John Wick's legendary "impossible task".
October 2024: Script Iterations and Storyline Separation
In October 2024, Chad Stahelski stated that the script for the fifth film has gone through various iterations, but that it would not move forward until he, Reeves, Iwanyk, and Lee were satisfied with the story. The filmmaker revealed that the project would not continue directly from "Chapter 4", but will be a separate storyline.
April 2025: Fifth Movie Officially Announced
By April 2025, the fifth movie was officially announced at CinemaCon. Reeves will reprise the titular role, and Stahelski will direct.
April 2025: Lionsgate Announces Caine Spinoff
In April 2025 at CinemaCon, Lionsgate officially announced the Caine spinoff film, with Donnie Yen serving as director and reprising his role from "John Wick: Chapter 4". Mattson Tomlin will write a new draft of the script, and principal photography is scheduled to commence later that year.
April 2025: Lionsgate Green-Lights Anime Film
In April 2025 at CinemaCon, Lionsgate officially green-lit the anime film, with Keanu Reeves confirmed to reprise the lead role through voice acting. Shannon Tindle will direct the film from a script written by Vanessa Taylor, taking place chronologically before the first movie.
May 8, 2025: Wick Is Pain Documentary Released at Beyond Fest
On May 8, 2025, Wick Is Pain, a documentary film about the John Wick franchise directed by Jeffrey Doe, was released at Beyond Fest.
June 6, 2025: Ballerina Release Date
Ballerina was released in the United States on June 6, 2025. It was delayed from a June 7, 2024, release.
June 2025: Eve Macarro added to Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
In June 2025, Eve Macarro was added as a playable character to Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 as a collaboration to promote Ballerina, with Ana de Armas reprising her role. An in-game event themed after Ballerina was also released.
2025: Caine Spinoff Principal Photography
In 2025, principal photography will commence in Hong Kong for the Caine spinoff film.
2025: Scheduled Release of Ballerina
In 2025, the spinoff film "Ballerina" is scheduled for release, further expanding the John Wick franchise.
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