Movies

‘John Wick 5’ Confirmed By Lionsgate

BBG News

Lionsgate executive Jenefer Brown has revealed that a fifth John Wick movie is in development.

Despite the apparent death of the title character in “John Wick: Chapter 4” (released in 2023), leaving the action franchise’s future uncertain, it appears another movie is being developed as suggested by the studio head.

In a chat about the series’ future with ComicBook.com, Brown expressed: “Our world keeps developing and expanding in truly amazing manners.

As a dedicated cinephile, I’m thrilled to share that our next offering is the long-awaited spin-off, “Ballerina,” a unique departure that has us eagerly anticipating its global debut. Additionally, we’re hard at work on the fifth installment of the beloved “John Wick” franchise. Given the success and demand, I have no doubt that there will be more spinoffs to come, potentially even a TV series or video game!

The Lionsgate executive commented, “We’ve mentioned we’re working on a fifth John Wick movie… It remains to be seen if he’s actually (dead). We can’t wait to see what happens next.

After dismissing the idea of another film featuring the character following his death, the surprising news emerges about Reeves, at 60 years old.

During an interview with ComicBook.com, he mentioned that the character has passed away, as he was killed in “John Wick: Chapter 4”.

Keanu Reeves, star of The Matrix, maintained that he had no part in conversations regarding a potential revival for the character of the assassin.

When queried about plans to rejuvenate the John Wick series, Reeves responded: “At present, there’s no such plan in motion.

Previously, producer Erica Lee stated that for another fifth movie to happen, everything needs to fall into place.

She shared with ScreenRant: “I believe we established an incredibly high standard in [John Wick: Chapter 4], and we left no stone unturned. My vision for the next film is to literally set the house ablaze. To tie everything together effectively, it needs to be a brilliant concept, and all factors must align perfectly. There’s immense pressure to get this right, so I’m simultaneously eager, excited, and apprehensive about the outcome.

This summer, the standalone film “Ballerina” featuring Ana de Armas as Eve Macarro is due to be released. However, Ana has pointed out that her character Eve Macarro differs significantly from John Wick.

In an interview with Collider, she stated, “I believe there are elements of combat in John Wick‘s style, and distinct moves that he performs. However, this film allows us to view these fight sequences through Eve’s perspective. As a result, we get a glimpse into John’s training background, which is shared by assassins and ballerinas. Yet, Eve Macarro remains unique, she’s not just another John Wick!

20 Sequels That Were Drastically Different From the Original

Mad Max 2 (1981)

If you haven’t watched the original “Mad Max” film, you might find it surprising how different it is from the more recent “Mad Max: Fury Road” or “Furiosa”. The initial movie was a small-scale Australian independent production and depicted the breakdown of society rather than its aftermath in a post-apocalyptic setting. It contained far less science fiction, fewer action scenes, and almost no hint of the elaborate production design and character development that are now synonymous with “Mad Max”. In fact, Max’s family remains alive for most of the movie.

Many of the elements that have become iconic in the “Mad Max” franchise were actually introduced in the sequel, “Mad Max 2”, which is set after the world has been destroyed and follows Max as he roams the wasteland searching for gasoline. The action scenes are more intense, the stunts are more daring, and the characters are even more unhinged. (I’m particularly referring to Lord Humungus.)

Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)

While he and his signature hockey mask are now forever linked with the Friday the 13th franchise, Jason Voorhees didn’t begin attacking Camp Crystal Lake visitors until its first sequel. In the original Friday the 13th, Jason’s mom, Mrs. Voorhees, turned out to be the killer. She targeted Camp Crystal Lake counselors because they failed to save her son, who drowned in the lake many years before. (Spoiler alert: He got better.)
Jason’s hockey mask didn’t make its first appearance until Part III, though, so in Friday the 13th Part 2 he stalks people while wearing a bag with a single eye hole over his head. I get that you’re angry, Jason, but would your mother really want you going out in public dressed like that?

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)

The first “Star Trek” film drew significant influence from movies like “Star Wars” and particularly “2001: A Space Odyssey,” rather than the original TV series. Director Robert Wise, who wasn’t a fan of “Star Trek,” chose to create something more in line with his preferences – grand, epic, and thought-provoking, featuring large-scale visual effects by Douglas Trumbull from “2001.” The film was successful financially but met with rejection among both casual and dedicated “Trek” fans. For the sequel, it was decided to blend big-screen effects with something akin to the original show, leading to the naval-style adventure “The Wrath of Khan,” which featured the return of Ricardo Montalban’s character, Khan Noonien Singh, seeking revenge against Captain Kirk and the Enterprise. This resulted in the most critically acclaimed “Star Trek” production within the franchise.

Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)

In my perspective, it’s hard to imagine a well-known series discarding all its characters to start anew with different protagonists and antagonists. However, that’s exactly what happened with the third installment of Halloween, as it left behind the relentless slasher Michael Myers and his main victim Laurie Strode for a separate, albeit spooky, Halloween-themed story. This tale revolved around a doctor (Tom Atkins) attempting to thwart a conspiracy involving malevolent Halloween masks. Had this film succeeded, it would have possibly sparked an entire series of unrelated Halloween sequels, all tied together only by their October 31 setting. Unfortunately, the third Halloween failed to impress, and later, the fourth Halloween brought Michael Myers back for more conventional slasher action.

Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)

In the original Rambo film titled “First Blood,” Sylvester Stallone portrays John Rambo, a Vietnam veteran grappling with numerous emotional struggles. Rather than ending in victory, the movie concludes with him being taken into custody, having surrendered to the police after a heartfelt speech about the atrocities of war and his personal torment upon returning home. The second installment, “Rambo: First Blood Part II,” essentially transforms Rambo into a superhero, as he appears to have overcome his mental issues, is released from prison, and goes back to Vietnam to rescue American prisoners of war, all without wearing a shirt. Interestingly, “First Blood” was successful, while “Rambo” became a sensation, earning over $300 million globally, inspiring numerous sequels and countless imitators.

Return to Oz (1985)

The key difference between “The Wizard of Oz” and “Return to Oz” isn’t just the passage of time or different creative teams. While “The Wizard of Oz”, though it has some frightening elements, is a vibrant family adventure, “Return to Oz” is a chilling tale that feels more like a nightmare. In “The Wizard of Oz”, Dorothy revisits the magical land of Oz, but in “Return to Oz”, she’s sent back after being subjected to electroshock therapy in a sanatorium. Unlike “The Wizard of Oz”, which is cherished by many as a classic childhood tale, “Return to Oz” has a cult following made up of dedicated fans of the Oz books and horror enthusiasts who find joy in a movie for children that’s this unsettling.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986)

In the sequel to his critically acclaimed horror film, “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre,” director Tobe Hooper was commissioned by Cannon Films after collaborating on multiple projects. The studio anticipated a grim and gritty follow-up akin to the original, but Hooper aimed for something more gory and humorous. Initially, the executives were taken aback when they saw his work, as it deviated from their expectations, as Hooper himself explained in an interview for the Cannon documentary “Electric Boogaloo.”

Later, the studio embraced the comedic elements, even emulating the poster style of the recent teen comedy, “The Breakfast Club,” to market the film. The poster depicted Leatherface’s family as if they were having a breakfast club meeting, albeit with quite different menu items compared to Molly Ringwald and Judd Nelson. At first, audiences were puzzled by “Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2” due to its unexpected tone, but over time, its distinct humor has cultivated a dedicated cult following.

Aliens (1986)

According to James Cameron himself, he won the opportunity to make an “Alien” sequel by writing the word “alien” on a piece of paper and adding “$” with two vertical lines to represent multiple aliens. This innovative approach secured him the job, leading to one of the most memorable sequels ever made (and not his last). Unlike Ridley Scott’s “Alien,” Cameron’s “Aliens” is less minimalist and confined; it’s more grandiose and dramatic, which is characteristic of Cameron’s style. True to its title, “Aliens” features a whole battalion of xenomorphs instead of the solitary H.R. Giger creature from the original film.

Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)

The original “Gremlins” movie was so dark for a kids’ film that it led to the creation of the PG-13 rating to fill the gap between slightly edgy PG films and fully adult R-rated ones. However, unlike its predecessor, “Gremlins 2: The New Batch” stirred up no such controversy. For this sequel, director Joe Dante moved away from scary kid-horror towards a tone more similar to a live-action Looney Tunes cartoon. In fact, he even brought in legendary animator Chuck Jones to create new Looney Tunes segments for the movie. The Gremlins in this installment were less intimidating and significantly funnier (one Gremlin mimicked the Dustin Hoffman movie “Marathon Man”). Furthermore, the film’s rebellious spirit was reflected in self-referential appearances by figures such as wrestler Hulk Hogan and film critic Leonard Maltin.

Troll 2 (1990)

The movie labeled as “Troll 2” is not a traditional sequel to the original “Troll.” In reality, it was initially titled “Goblins,” but an American distributor rebranded it as “Troll 2,” despite no connection to the first film. Interestingly, this film lacks any troll characters.

Regardless of its misleading title, “Troll 2” revolves around malevolent goblin-like creatures who torment a family visiting the town of Nilbog, which is actually the reverse of “Goblin.” It seems they didn’t bother to change the location name to Owtllort.

Admittedly, this title change was minor compared to other issues that plagued the film’s production, and it eventually gained notoriety among fans of bad cinema due to its numerous flaws.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

James Cameron often creates sequels that deviate from the original film. For instance, in Aliens, he added his unique touch to Ridley Scott’s Alien. Similarly, with Terminator 2: Judgment Day, he utilized his successful box office history to secure a substantial budget, transforming the sci-fi franchise from a modest indie production into a major blockbuster spectacle.

Terminator 2, or T2 as it’s often called, featured larger special effects, more chases, and multiple terminators compared to The Terminator. It wasn’t just Arnold Schwarzenegger’s cyborg in disguise; Robert Patrick’s liquid metal T-1000 was also present. T2 significantly redefined the series, and subsequent sequels have attempted to emulate its grandeur, with the exception of Terminator Salvation, which is set in the dystopian future of the saga and could also be included on this list.

Highlander II: The Quickening (1991)

The sequel to the hit movie “Highlander,” named “Highlander II,” deviated significantly from its original concept. Instead of continuing the popular fantasy action storyline about immortals fighting throughout time, it transformed into a sci-fi tale set in a dystopian future. In this sequel, the protagonist (Christopher Lambert) was portrayed as an old man who was revealed to be an alien exile from the planet Zeist, along with other immortals. This new narrative was met with strong criticism and disapproval by audiences. Subsequent home video releases even edited out every reference to Zeist and aliens due to its poor reception.

Army of Darkness (1992)

The original “Evil Dead” was a typical horror film. “Evil Dead II” combined gore with slapstick humor reminiscent of the Three Stooges. “Army of Darkness” resembles a meeting between the Three Stooges and Ray Harryhausen’s work (as a compliment). While there are still hints of intense fear, Sam Raimi primarily used the third “Evil Dead” movie to torment his main actor, Bruce Campbell, and entertain viewers with extraordinary special effects and ridiculous physical humor. It’s a lot of fun – and quite different from the (equally enjoyable, but much darker) films that preceded it.

Batman Forever (1995)

In contrast to Tim Burton’s grim and Gothic Batman films, Joel Schumacher’s Batman Forever transformed Gotham City into a vibrant metropolis adorned with neon lights, populated by peculiar gangs, featuring eccentric characters like Jim Carrey’s maniacal Riddler, Tommy Lee Jones’ two-faced villain who seemed to enjoy cackling (and there was a lot of it in Batman Forever), Nicole Kidman as a seductive psychiatrist with an obvious crush on Batman, and Val Kilmer replacing Michael Keaton as the Dark Knight. The Batman costumes became increasingly extravagant, and even included a love song during the closing credits (Seal’s “Kiss From a Rose”). This film was so flamboyant and excessive that it almost seemed like a parody of Tim Burton’s Batman. Interestingly, it outperformed Burton’s Batman Returns at the box office, earning $70 million more.

Mission: Impossible II (2000)

As a dedicated cinema enthusiast, when John Woo hopped aboard the Mission: Impossible bandwagon, he truly stamped his signature on it. Tom Cruise transitioned from a sharp-suited, undercover operative unmasking espionage plots to a dashing action hero with long locks, dual pistols, and a knack for spinning through high-octane sequences in slow motion, all while being accompanied by a flutter of doves. Most Mission: Impossible aficionados consider M:I-2 as the weakest installment in the series. And indeed, if we judge it based on the series’ norms and standards, it might well be. But from the perspective of an authentic American John Woo action movie, it delivers quite a punch.

The Chronicles of Riddick (2004)

Originally released prior to “The Fast and the Furious,” the movie titled “Pitch Black” initially served as a small-scale horror film and an ensemble production, featuring a group of stranded space travelers on an alien-infested planet. Following the unprecedented success of “The Fast and Furious,” Vin Diesel and director David Twohy seized the opportunity to escalate their vision (and budgets) for a sequel, transforming it from a survival sci-fi horror into a grand space war epic in the form of “The Chronicles of Riddick.” Despite being marketed as a standalone film, it was indeed a sequel to the 2000’s “Pitch Black.

The Devil’s Rejects (2005)

In the second installment, “The Devil’s Rejects,” the narrative takes a drastically different turn compared to its precursor, “House of 1000 Corpses.” While the original is a typical slasher with a group of teenagers being hunted by a twisted family of murderers, the sequel transforms this family into anti-hero characters. The story unfolds as they are relentlessly pursued by law enforcement for their past crimes. Despite its unyielding grimness, I find “The Devil’s Rejects” to be quite effective. However, due to the significant shift in tone and focus compared to “House of 1000 Corpses,” it is not surprising when someone who enjoys the first film expresses dislike for its sequel.

Cars 2 (2011)

Sure thing!

Originally, Cars was a movie about intelligent, chatterbox cars that mostly revolved around them racing. It also had some elements of Doc Hollywood mixed in. The sequel, however, transformed the comedic relief character Mater the Tow Truck (played by Larry the Cable Guy) from a sidekick to a co-lead. But why is Mater a spy? And why do the Cars need to use the bathroom or eat wasabi in this movie? What purpose do spies serve among talking cars, or food for that matter? I’m still left wondering about these questions.

Cars was about sentient talking cars racing, with a bit of Doc Hollywood added. In the sequel, Mater (the comedic character) became more important and was made a spy, but I don’t understand why he needed to be one or what role food plays in this world of talking cars.

Split (2016)

In an unusual move, this film was designed to keep viewers unaware that it was a sequel, revealing the twist at its climax. This intricate plotline was orchestrated by M. Night Shyamalan, renowned for his shocking twists. It wasn’t until you reached the end of ‘Split’ that you discovered the villain, “The Horde,” shares a fictional universe with Bruce Willis’ character David Dunn from Shyamalan’s 2000 superhero film ‘Unbreakable’. While ‘Unbreakable’ was more of a suspenseful drama, ‘Split’ leans towards horror. The characters from both movies were later brought together in the sequel, ‘Glass’, wrapping up this interconnected trilogy.

Bring It On: Cheer or Die (2022)

Following numerous sequels to the original “Bring It On” movie that maintained its quick-witted humor, producers decided to shake things up with “Cheer or Die” (the seventh film in the series), taking a turn towards horror. In this movie, characters from a high school cheerleading squad are mysteriously eliminated one by one on Halloween night. For the next installment of “Bring It On”, let’s explore an entirely new direction – how about a “Bring It On” sci-fi film? This time, our cheerleaders will venture into deep space, and we can call it “Bring It On: In Space, No One Can Hear You Cheer (or Scream)”.

I tried to keep the original tone while making the text easier to read.

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2025-03-12 16:26

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