Keanu Reeves establishes a return “John Wick 5”

Prepare for more “John Wick”.

Keanu Reeves returns for “John Wick 5” while the hitman brandished Nunchuck, announced Tuesday morning in Cinemacon. Meanwhile, the action franchise develops with a prequel film animated as well as an autonomous adventure centered on Caine by director-Star Donnie Yen. These projects are complementary to the next “ballerina” led by Ana de Armas, who opens in theaters on June 6.

De Armas stopped at the Annual Convention for Cinema owners, which currently takes place in Las Vegas, to present an extensive look at “Ballerina”. In the sequence filled with action, his character Eve Macarro, a ballerina who trains to become an assassin, kicks the ass as she faces several opponents in an abandoned bar – pulling a nasty in the face and crushing several plates against another adversary.

Although she made large physical exploits in the “James Bond” suite of 2021 “No time to die”, from Armas said that her training for “Ballerina” was different from everything she has endured in the past. She prepared for about four months, working in the gymnasium and visiting a shooting field (with real weapons) in addition to spending hours with the waterfall team.

“For” Bond “, I only had three weeks of training.” Ballerina “was a whole different level,” said Armas since the Coliseum scene from the Palais de Caesar. “It is by far the most physical and the most difficult thing I have ever done.”

Reeves will appear in “Ballerina” before returning to the screen for “John Wick 5.” The project brings him together with the director and producer of franchise Chad Stahelski and the producers of Thunder Road Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee. The details of the plot, the additional players and a production calendar have not been revealed.

The fifth chapter continues a series that started with “John Wick” in 2014, which won $ 86.1 million worldwide, but has become successful in home entertainment. Each film improved on the last in terms of box office brushes: “John Wick: Chapter 2” of 2017 ended his race with $ 174.3 million, “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabelum” of 2019 climbed to 328.3 million dollars, while “John Wick: Chapter 4” Dollars.

“Keanu, Chad, Basil and Erica will only come back if they had something really phenomenal and fresh to say with these characters and this world,” said Fogelson. Iwanyk and Lee added: “It is so important to understand this story well and to give John the right stage. It’s exciting to take the first step on this road. ”

In an autonomous characteristic, yen, the influential legend of martial arts, will resume its role as blind assassin Caine of “John Wick: Chapter 4.” Yen will also produce and produce the unit film, which will start production in Hong Kong later this year.

Mattson Tomlin, writer of the next “The Batman Part II” and adaptation of the comic strip created by Reeves “Brzrkr”, joined the project. A previous project of the script was written by Robert Askins. Iwanyk, Lee and Stahelski will also produce this spin-off.

Although the line line is maintained under the Wraps, the film will continue the arc in the history of Yen after the events of “John Wick: Chapter 4” because Caine was released from his obligations towards the high table. Lionsgate described the new film as “stylistically modeling on action films designed only that Yen helped to make famous”. Yen, known to the Hong Kong star known for superproductions like “Star Wars: Rogue One” and “XXX: Return from Xander Cage”, helped introduce mixed martial arts to the mainstream cinema with films like “Flashpoint” and the “IP Man” franchise.

“From the moment Chad and Donnie presented the idea of ​​a Donnie Yen style action film in John Wick’s mode, I was all,” said Fogelson. “Donnie is not only an incredible charismatic star, but an intelligent film director who knows how to offer a massively entertaining action for a global audience. We are delighted that he is in the director’s chair to tell the story of Caine.”

Yen added: “The films” John Wick “have established an extremely high standard for action cinema and I greatly appreciate Lionsgate gives me the opportunity to raise the franchise more. I am both delighted and deeply inspired to get there. ”

Stahelski described the film as a “modern kung-fu classic that explores the world John Wick”.

“One of my favorite characters in the world” John Wick “is Caine. Having the chance to dive into his world and discover that all his adventures all excite us,” said Stahelski. “And who better to launch him than Donnie Yen himself. His understanding of culture, the world and, of course, action, makes him the perfect director for this project. ”

Regarding the animated prequel film, Reeves will lend his voice to his signature character. The story, intended for “more mature audiences”, warns the studio, will return in time before the first film. He tells the origins of Wick, he performs the impossible task – the murder of all his rivals in one night – to free himself from his obligation towards the high table and gain the right to be with the love of his life, Helen. (Unfortunately, we all know how it turned out.)

Shannon Tindle, an animation veteran who recently co-written and produced “Ultraman: Rising” by Netflix, directs. Vanessa Taylor, writer and producer known for “Game of Thrones”, “Divergent” and “The Shape of Water” by Guillermo Del Toro, writes the script.

“In the animation and the world of” John Wick “, the possibilities are endless. And there is no story” John Wick “, the fans claim more than the” impossible task “,” said Fogelson. “Shannon’s point of view on this story is incredible, and we are more excited to see what John Wick can do in animation.”

No surprise, Iwanykm Lee, Stahelski and Reeves will also produce the animated prequel. Alex Young and Jason Spitz of 87th Entertainment and Jason Spitz will produce the film.

“I have always been fascinated by the anime. It has always had a huge influence on me, especially with the series” John Wick “, said Stahelski. “I think that” John Wick “is the perfect property for this medium – Anime has the potential to expand our world, our characters and our action in an unimaginable way before.”