History of John Wick in Timeline
John Wick is an American neo-noir action thriller franchise centered on John Wick, a retired legendary hitman portrayed by Keanu Reeves, who is forced back into the criminal underworld. The film series began with John Wick (2014) and continued with three sequels: Chapter 2 (2017), Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019), and Chapter 4 (2023). The franchise has expanded to include a prequel comic book series, a prequel television miniseries called The Continental (2023), and a spin-off film, Ballerina (2025).
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1966: Influence of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
In 1966, Sergio Leone's 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly' influenced the John Wick series.
1967: Influence of Point Blank
In 1967, 'Point Blank' influenced the John Wick series.
1970: Influence of Le Cercle Rouge
In 1970, 'Le Cercle Rouge' influenced the John Wick series.
1989: Influence of The Killer
In 1989, John Woo's film 'The Killer' influenced the John Wick series.
2002: Influence of The Vengeance Trilogy
In 2002, Park Chan-wook's 'The Vengeance Trilogy' influenced the film due to minimalist composition and graphic nature.
2005: Influence of The Vengeance Trilogy
In 2005, Park Chan-wook's 'The Vengeance Trilogy' influenced the film due to minimalist composition and graphic nature.
2010: Influence of The Man from Nowhere
In 2010, Lee Jeong-beom's 'The Man from Nowhere' influenced the film due to minimalist composition and graphic nature.
December 2012: Thunder Road Pictures Buys the Script
In December 2012, Thunder Road Pictures bought the script with discretionary funds, with Kolstad agreeing to Thunder Road's plan to make the film straight away. Basil Iwanyk was drawn to the main character of Wick, admiring the emotional weight and action elements.
2012: Development of John Wick film
In 2012, the development phase for the first John Wick film officially began.
May 2013: Stahelski and Leitch to Direct
In May 2013, Chad Stahelski and David Leitch were hired to direct 'John Wick' after Reeves recommended them and they pitched their version of the story to the studio.
September 25, 2013: Start of Principal Photography
On September 25, 2013, principal photography commenced for the first John Wick film.
December 5, 2013: End of Principal Photography
Principal photography for the first film, John Wick, concluded on December 5, 2013, after beginning on September 25, 2013 in New York City.
December 20, 2013: Wrapping up Principal Photography
On December 20, 2013, the principal photography for the first John Wick film was completed.
2013: Keanu Reeves Secures Male Lead
In 2013, Keanu Reeves secured the male lead in John Wick, collaborating with Kolstad on developing the screenplay and story. The film's title was later changed from 'Scorn' to 'John Wick' because Keanu Reeves liked the name.
2014: Release of John Wick
In 2014, the first film of the John Wick franchise, simply titled 'John Wick', was released, marking the beginning of the series.
February 2015: Development of John Wick Sequel
In February 2015, directors Stahelski and Leitch stated that a John Wick sequel had begun development. Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer stated during a conference call that they see John Wick as a multiple-title action franchise.
May 2015: John Wick Sequel Greenlit
In May 2015, it was confirmed that a John Wick sequel was green-lit, and Lionsgate would be selling the film at the Cannes Film Festival.
October 26, 2015: Start of Principal Photography
October 26, 2015 marked the beginning of principal photography for the second John Wick film.
March 2016: John Wick VR Game Announced
In March 2016, John Wick Chronicles was announced as John Wick: The Impossible Task (also known as John Wick: An Eye for an Eye and John Wick: The VR Experience).
October 2016: Third Film in Development
In October 2016, Stahelski stated a third John Wick film was in development.
October 2016: Announcement of third film
In October 2016, the third film in the John Wick series was officially 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. In the game, players assassinate multiple targets inside the hotel as John Wick.
February 2017: Premiere of the Film
In February 2017, the second John Wick film premiered.
June 2017: Development of 'The Continental' TV Series
In June 2017, Chad Stahelski and Derek Kolstad were announced to be developing 'The Continental', a television series for Lionsgate based on the John Wick films. The series would center around the hotel safe-haven and be a prequel to the film series.
June 2017: Kolstad to Write Third Film
In June 2017, it was reported that Kolstad would return again to write the screenplay for the third John Wick film.
July 2017: Announcement of Spinoff Film
In July 2017, Lionsgate announced the development of 'Ballerina,' a spinoff film written by Shay Hatten. The story involves a young woman raised to be an assassin seeking revenge, with Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee as producers.
September 2017: Release Date Announced for Third Film
In September 2017, Lionsgate announced a release date of May 17, 2019 for the third John Wick film.
September 2017: Proof of Concept Uploaded to YouTube
In September 2017, the proof of concept for the 'Ballerina' script, written by Shay Hatten, was uploaded to YouTube.
November 29, 2017: John Wick Comic Book Mini-Series Release
On November 29, 2017, a John Wick comic book mini-series was released by Dynamite Entertainment. It was written by Greg Pak and illustrated by Giovanni Valletta (issues 1 and 2) and Matt Gaudio (issues 3–5).
2017: Release of John Wick: Chapter 2
In 2017, 'John Wick: Chapter 2', the sequel to the original film, was released, furthering the story of the hitman's return to the criminal underworld.
January 2018: Stahelski Returning to Direct
In January 2018, it was reported that Chad Stahelski was returning to direct the third 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: John Wick Comic Book Mini-Series Concludes
On January 31, 2018, the John Wick comic book mini-series, written by Greg Pak and illustrated by Giovanni Valletta and Matt Gaudio, concluded with its fifth issue.
May 21, 2018: Additional Cast Members Join the Film
On May 21, 2018, it was reported that Halle Berry, Asia Kate Dillon, Anjelica Huston, Mark Dacascos and Jason Mantzoukas had joined the cast.
2018: Beginning of production
Production for the third John Wick film began in early 2018.
May 2019: John Wick Hex Announced
In May 2019, John Wick Hex, a tactical role-playing game, was announced.
May 2019: Discussions Arise for Another Film
In May 2019, before the release of 'John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum', discussions for another film in the John Wick series had arisen, as confirmed by Chad Stahelski. Keanu Reeves expressed his willingness to continue with the films as long as they remained successful, and Lionsgate announced a fourth film scheduled for release on May 21, 2021.
May 2019: Release of the third film
In May 2019, the third John Wick film was released.
May 17, 2019: Scheduled Release Date
May 17, 2019 was the scheduled release date for the third John Wick film.
October 8, 2019: John Wick Hex Release
On October 8, 2019, John Wick Hex, a tactical role-playing game, was released. In the game, the player controls Wick in various missions to use his array of skills to take down opponents.
October 2019: Len Wiseman Signed on as Director
In October 2019, Len Wiseman signed on to direct the 'Ballerina' project, with Keanu Reeves and Chad Stahelski as executive producer and producer, respectively.
2019: Release of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum
In 2019, 'John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum' was released, continuing the action-packed narrative of John Wick's saga.
April 2020: Delay of Release Date
In April 2020, Chad Stahelski revealed that the fourth John Wick film would likely not meet its May 21, 2021 release date due to his commitment to 'The Matrix Resurrections'. He also mentioned that a 100-page "scriptment" had been written for the film.
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 Pitched His Development Approach
In May 2020, Chad Stahelski stated that Len Wiseman approached the studio with a pitch on how he would develop the Ballerina project. The studio was also looking for an actress, with Chloë Grace Moretz as the desired prototype.
August 2020: Development of Fifth Film Confirmed
In August 2020, Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer confirmed that a fifth John Wick film was being developed.
March 2021: Production Delay
In March 2021, Lionsgate decided to delay the production of the fifth film, opting to move forward with 'Chapter 4' first.
April 2021: Series to Center Around Young Winston
In April 2021, Kevin Beggs announced that 'The Continental' series would center around a young Winston in the 1970s. The series would explore real-world events, including the Great Garbage Strike and the American Mafia's rise to economic power.
May 21, 2021: Original Release Date
May 21, 2021 was the initially scheduled release date for the fourth John Wick film before delays.
May 23, 2021: The Simpsons Parodies John Wick
On May 23, 2021, the 32nd season finale of The Simpsons, titled "The Last Barfighter", aired on Fox as a parody of John Wick: Chapter 2 and John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, featuring Ian McShane guest starring as Artemis Scott.
June 2021: Casting Announcements and Production
In June 2021, Donnie Yen, Rina Sawayama, Shamier Anderson, Bill Skarsgård, and Hiroyuki Sanada joined the cast of the fourth John Wick film. Principal photography was set to begin on June 28, 2021.
June 28, 2021: Start of Principal Photography
June 28, 2021 marked the commencement of principal photography for the fourth John Wick film.
October 2021: Ana de Armas in Negotiations
In October 2021, Ana de Armas entered early negotiations to play the lead role in 'Ballerina'.
October 2021: Mel Gibson Cast in 'The Continental'
In October 2021, Mel Gibson was announced to star in 'The Continental' series, with Colin Woodell cast as a young Winston Scott. Additional cast members were also announced.
October 2021: End of Principal Photography
In October 2021, principal photography for the fourth John Wick film wrapped up.
November 2021: More Cast Members Join 'The Continental'
In November 2021, Ayomide Adegun, Peter Greene, and Jeremy Bobb joined the cast of 'The Continental' as young Charon, a younger Uncle Charlie, and a new character named Mayhew, respectively.
February 2022: Katie McGrath Cast as The Adjudicator
In February 2022, Katie McGrath was announced to be cast as The Adjudicator in 'The Continental' series.
April 2022: De Armas Stars in Lead Role
At CinemaCon in April 2022, Lionsgate announced that Ana de Armas would star in the lead role of 'Ballerina', with principal photography to commence later that year.
May 2022: Stahelski Confirms Fifth Installment
In May 2022, Chad Stahelski stated that while 'Chapter 4' had some conclusion elements, there would be a fifth installment. He confirmed he and Reeves will remain involved in additional projects, and once Chapter 4 is released months later in Japan, they will discuss and map out the future of the movies.
August 2022: Lionsgate Sells Premiere Rights to Peacock
In August 2022, Lionsgate sold the premiere rights for 'The Continental' series to Peacock, determining it was no longer a fit for Starz.
September 2022: Delay of Principal Photography
In September 2022, it was announced that principal photography for Ballerina was delayed from its previous tentative start.
November 7, 2022: Filming Begins
On November 7, 2022, filming for 'From the World of John Wick: Ballerina' officially began in Prague, Czech Republic.
November 2022: Lionsgate Fields Pitches for AAA John Wick Title
In November 2022, Lionsgate revealed that they had received several pitches for a AAA John Wick title, but were still currently fielding proposals.
November 2022: Filming Scheduled to Begin
In November 2022, principal photography for Ballerina was scheduled to begin imminently. Ian McShane and Keanu Reeves were announced to be reprising their roles as Winston Scott and John Wick, respectively, followed by Anjelica Huston as The Director and Lance Reddick as Charon.
March 2023: 'The Continental' Expected to Release Later in the Year
In March 2023, Joe Drake stated that 'The Continental' series was expected to release later in the year and that episodes were "nearly finished."
March 2023: Development of Additional Projects
In March 2023, producer Erica Lee mentioned ongoing development and discussions with writers and brand management for additional projects within the John Wick universe, prioritizing the franchise. Also in March 2023, Natalia Tena expressed interest in reprising her role as Katia.
March 2023: Potential Spin-off Films Discussed
In March 2023, producer Erica Lee mentioned the studio is working on another film. Donnie Yen expressed interest in a spin-off centered around his character Caine, with discussions about a reprisal that continues the post-credits scene of 'Chapter 4'.
March 24, 2023: Film Release
Partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the fourth film was released on March 24, 2023.
April 2023: 'The Continental' Official Title Announced
In April 2023, the series was officially titled 'The Continental: From the World of John Wick'.
October 6, 2023: Release of 'The Continental: From the World of John Wick'
On October 6, 2023, 'The Continental: From the World of John Wick' was released, concluding its run which started on September 22, 2023.
November 2023: Anime Project Announced
In November 2023, Chad Stahelski announced that an anime-styled animated project was in development, initially conceptualized as a television series.
November 2023: Confirmation of Multiple Projects in Development
In November 2023, Chad Stahelski confirmed that multiple projects were in development and they would explore the criminal organization establishments within the John Wick continuity.
November 2023: Development Underway for Another Spin-off TV Series
In November 2023, Chad Stahelski revealed that developments are underway for another spin-off television series, where he intends to direct a number of the episodes and it will explore cultures through the John Wick franchise. The series will feature the supporting cast from the feature films in starring roles.
November 2023: Work Resumes on Script
In 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.
2023: Release of John Wick: Chapter 4
In 2023, 'John Wick: Chapter 4' was released, adding another chapter to the John Wick film series. Also, the prequel television miniseries 'The Continental' was released.
January 2024: Ongoing Development for New Spin-off Series
In January 2024, Chad Stahelski stated that development for the new spin-off series is ongoing with a tentative debut slated for an unspecified date in the following year and various characters from the films would feature in its story.
January 2024: Stahelski, Iwanyk and Lee to Serve in Oversight Roles
In January 2024, it was announced that Chad Stahelski, Basil Iwanyk, and Erica Lee will serve in oversight roles for the John Wick franchise, with Stahelski's production studio 87Eleven creating a content strategy.
May 2024: John Wick Pinball Games Released
In May 2024, Stern Pinball, Inc. (created in collaboration with Lionsgate) released 3 editions of John Wick pinball games: Pro, Premium and Limited Edition versions.
May 2024: Caine Spin-off Announced
In May 2024, a spin-off film centered around Caine, with Donnie Yen reprising his role, was officially announced. The script, written by Robert Askins, will explore the story following the final scene of 'John Wick: Chapter 4'.
June 7, 2024: Original release date of Ballerina
June 7, 2024, was the original release date that was planned for Ballerina before being delayed.
August 2024: 'John Wick: Under the High Table' Greenlit
In August 2024, the series 'John Wick: Under the High Table' was officially greenlit and will be shopped around to various streaming companies. The show will be overseen collaboratively by Chad Stahelski, Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee, and Keanu Reeves.
September 2024: Trailer Release
In September 2024, the trailer for 'From the World of John Wick: Ballerina' was released.
October 2024: Anime Film Transformation
In October 2024, Chad Stahelski revealed that the anime project would now be released as a feature film, one of the next installments in the John Wick franchise. The plot will take place chronologically before the events of the first movie, depicting Wick's "impossible task."
October 2024: Script Iterations and Storyline
In October 2024, Chad Stahelski stated that the script for the fifth film had gone through various iterations and 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 would be a separate storyline.
April 2025: Announcement of Caine Spin-off
In April 2025, Lionsgate officially announced 'From the World of John Wick: Caine' at CinemaCon. Donnie Yen will serve as director and reprise his role from 'John Wick: Chapter 4', with Mattson Tomlin writing a new draft of the script. Production is scheduled for April 2026.
April 2025: Green-lit and Role Confirmation
In April 2025, Lionsgate officially green-lit the anime project at CinemaCon, confirming Keanu Reeves will reprise the lead role through voice acting. Shannon Tindle directs the film, and the plot will take place chronologically before the first movie.
April 2025: Official Announcement at CinemaCon
In April 2025, the fifth movie was officially announced at CinemaCon. Keanu Reeves will reprise the role, and Chad Stahelski will direct. Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee, Stahelski, and Reeves will serve as producers.
May 8, 2025: Wick Is Pain Documentary Release at Beyond Fest
On May 8, 2025, Wick Is Pain, a documentary film about the franchise, was released at Beyond Fest. The documentary is directed by Jeffrey Doe.
June 6, 2025: Ballerina was released in the United States
Ballerina was released in the United States on June 6, 2025.
June 2025: Eve Macarro Added to Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
In June 2025, as part of a collaboration with the Call of Duty franchise to promote Ballerina, Eve Macarro was added as a purchasable playable character to Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, with Ana de Armas reprising her role. An in-game event themed after Ballerina was also released in the same month.
2025: Principal Photography planned
In 2025 principal photography was planned to commence in Hong Kong for the new installment of the John Wick series.
2025: Planned release of Ballerina
The spin-off film 'Ballerina' is scheduled for release in 2025, expanding the John Wick universe.
February 2026: New AAA John Wick Video Game Announced
In February 2026, Saber Interactive and Lionsgate announced a new AAA John Wick video game for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and PC, featuring an original story and Keanu Reeves reprising his role.
April 2026: Production Scheduled for Caine Spin-off
In April 2026, production for 'From the World of John Wick: Caine' is scheduled to begin, with principal photography commencing on April 25.
Mentioned in this timeline
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