Is John Wick 5 starring Keanu Reeves really happening, or Is It an April Fools' joke?

Keanu Reeves is one of the most beloved actors in Hollywood, with three fan-favorite franchises under his belt. One of his most iconic characters is John Wick, and despite John Wick: Chapter 4 giving the impression that John died, there's a fifth film on the way.

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Lionsgate announced the exciting news that Reeves's legendary hitman is returning at CinemaCon, the convention of theater owners, on April 1. This begs the question: Is this an April Fools' joke?

Despite the possibility that we are all getting trolled, Deadline reports that Reeves will put back on his signature black suit, and franchise filmmaker Chad Stahelski will direct and produce. Thunder Road producers Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee will also return to produce.

But that's not all. They also announced an animated version and a spin-off for Donnie Yen’s Caine character. 

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The blind assassin was introduced in the fourth film, forced out of retirement by the High Table after they threatened his daughter’s safety to make him kill John Wick.

How the fourth movie ended

If we've learned anything from franchises, it's that dead characters can always come back. Take Fast and Furious, for example. In John Wick: Chapter 4, John Wick collapses on the stairs after his duel with Caine, seemingly succumbing to his wounds.

We then see Winston and the Bowery King standing at his grave, marked John Wick – Loving Husband. While that seems pretty final, the movie never explicitly shows him taking his last breath or being buried.

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John Wick's success

Reeves is also reprising his John Wick role in Ballerina, the spin-off starring Ana de Armas as a fellow assassin seeking revenge. The film is set between Chapter 3 and Chapter 4 and features Reeves in a supporting role. The movie is in post-production and set to release on June 6, 2025.

Financially, making a fifth film makes sense. John Wick: Chapter 4, released on March 24, 2023, grossed over $440 million worldwide, continuing the franchise's impressive streak of each film outperforming the last. Overall, the series has now surpassed $1 billion in global box office earnings.

But in January, Reeves didn't sound too ready to reprise the role. While promoting Sonic the Hedgehog 3, he told CBS News when asked about the future of John Wick,  "You can never say never." "My knees right now are saying, 'I can't do another John Wick," he continued. 

Right now, there is no John Wick 5 listed on Reeves' IMDb, so until April 2nd, there is always a chance we are getting pranked.