Search John Wick 5 release date and you’ll get answers. Late 2027. Early 2028. Filming started in April. A subtitle. A returning writer. Almost none of it is confirmed.
Here is the honest state of John Wick: Chapter 5 as of early September 2026: it is real, it is happening, Keanu Reeves and Chad Stahelski are both attached, and essentially everything past that point is open. Lionsgate’s own franchise page still categorises the film as being in early development.
This piece separates the two.
HOLLYWOOD, CA – JANUARY 30: Director/Executive Producer Chad Stahelski, Laurence Fishburne, Ruby Rose and Keanu Reeves attend the Premiere Of Summit Entertainment’s “John Wick: Chapter Two at ArcLight Hollywood on January 30, 2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Todd Williamson/Getty Images)
What is confirmed
The film is happening. Lionsgate confirmed John Wick: Chapter 5 at CinemaCon in April 2025. A fifth film had been mentioned as far back as an August 2020 earnings call, when the plan was to shoot Chapters 4 and 5 back to back, but that approach was abandoned and the current project is a separate effort.
Keanu Reeves is returning. He stars and produces.
Chad Stahelski is directing. He has helmed every mainline entry since Chapter 2 and oversees the wider franchise through a deal with Lionsgate.
The producing team is intact. Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee return through Thunder Road, having produced Chapters 1 through 4 and Ballerina. Stahelski produces through his 87Eleven banner.
There is a core idea. Adam Fogelson, chair of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, said in an April 2026 interview that Reeves and Stahelski have landed on something they’re excited about. Stahelski has separately indicated the fifth film will be substantially different from previous entries rather than a straight continuation.
Two other franchise films come first. Fogelson confirmed that both the Donnie Yen-led Caine spin-off and the announced animated prequel will reach audiences before Chapter 5.
That is the complete list.
What is not confirmed
No release date. None. Fogelson declined to offer one, saying there are a lot of steps involved and he wouldn’t want to put a timeline on it. Any specific date you see 2027, 2028, a month, a weekend is a projection, not an announcement.
No confirmed start of filming. There is no verified evidence that principal photography has begun. Reports in April 2026 suggested production would start that month; those reports were not borne out, and coverage as recently as August 2026 confirms the project remains in development. An older listing referencing “John Wick: Chapters 4 & 5” reflects the abandoned back-to-back plan and does not indicate the fifth film was shot.
No public script. No completed screenplay has been made public or confirmed. Derek Kolstad, who wrote the original John Wick, stated in 2026 that he is not involved in Chapter 5.
No supporting cast. Reeves is the only confirmed cast member. Returning names circulating online Ian McShane, Laurence Fishburne, Lance Reddick’s absence, anyone from Chapter 4 are speculation.
No plot synopsis. Chapter 4 ended with Wick’s apparent death, and how the film addresses that has not been revealed.
No official subtitle. “Hellbound” appears in fan discussion and some aggregator coverage. It is not a Lionsgate title. John Wick: Chapter 5 is the working title used by the studio and trade press.
No trailer or footage. A Fortnite collaboration reported in mid-2026 has been cited as evidence marketing is underway, though that connects to the franchise generally rather than to Chapter 5 specifically.
Why it’s taking this long
Two reasons, and neither is a problem with the film.
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 03: Keanu Reeves attends the John Wick special screenings at Ham Yard Hotel on May 03, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Getty Images for Lionsgate )
The first is narrative. Chapter 4 was constructed as an ending. Wick completes his arc, wins his freedom, and appears to die. Reeves and Stahelski were openly reluctant to continue unless they found a reason that justified undoing that, which is why the gap between confirmation and production has stretched past a year.
The second is physical. Reeves has spoken about how demanding Chapter 4 was on his body. He turned 62 on September 2, 2026. A longer gap between films is likely better for the franchise than a rushed one, particularly if the goal is more films that actually star John Wick.
Stahelski has also been occupied. He spent much of 2026 directing a Highlander reboot with Henry Cavill, and Chapter 5 is expected to become his focus once that finishes.
The wider franchise picture
Lionsgate’s expansion strategy is the real context for the delay.
| Title | Status | Worldwide gross |
|---|---|---|
| John Wick (2014) | Released | $86 million |
| John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017) | Released | $171 million |
| John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019) | Released | $327.3 million |
| John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023) | Released | $447.3 million |
| The Continental (2023) | Peacock miniseries | — |
| Ballerina (2025) | Released | $137.2 million |
| Caine | Filming wrapped | — |
| Animated prequel | Announced | — |
| John Wick: Chapter 5 | Early development | — |
Chapter 4 is the franchise high-water mark. Ballerina, the first spin-off, is where the strategy hit resistance. Ana de Armas’ film opened to roughly $24 million and finished around $137.2 million worldwide against a reported $90 million budget enough to cover production, well short of what a film at that budget needs to be profitable. Reviews were positive. It performed considerably better on streaming than in theatres.
That result matters for Chapter 5, because it suggests the audience is turning out for John Wick specifically rather than the universe around him.
Caine is next. Donnie Yen directs and stars, reprising the blind assassin from Chapter 4, with Rina Sawayama returning as Akira and Bill Nighy, Mason Thames and Dacre Montgomery joining. It shot in 2026 and has wrapped. Yen has described his ambition as making a definitive martial-arts action film within the franchise’s world. Note that the screenplay’s credited writer has been reported differently at different stages Robert Askins when the project was announced in 2024, Mattson Tomlin in 2026 reporting which typically indicates a rewrite. No release date has been officially announced, though 2027 is the widely reported expectation.
The animated prequel covers how Wick earned his way out of his obligation to the High Table in order to marry. Reeves is attached to voice. It’s expected after Caine.
The realistic timeline
Fogelson’s confirmation that both Caine and the animated prequel precede Chapter 5 is the most useful scheduling information available, because it establishes an order rather than a date.
Working from that: Caine in 2027, the animated film after it, and Chapter 5 following. Even on an optimistic schedule, that places the fifth film no earlier than late 2028. A John Wick production runs long the choreography, the international shooting, the extended post-production so a script finalised in 2027 would not reach screens quickly.
That is an inference, not a report. Treat it accordingly, and treat any site quoting a specific date with suspicion.
John Wick 5 questions answered
Is John Wick 5 confirmed?
Yes. John Wick: Chapter 5 was officially confirmed by Lionsgate at CinemaCon in April 2025, with Keanu Reeves returning to star and produce and Chad Stahelski returning to direct. Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee produce through Thunder Road. Lionsgate currently lists the film as being in early development.
When is John Wick 5 coming out?
There is no release date. Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson declined to give a timeline in April 2026, saying there were many steps still involved. The studio has confirmed that both the Caine spin-off and an animated prequel will be released before Chapter 5, which realistically places it no earlier than 2028.
Has John Wick 5 started filming?
No. There is no verified evidence that principal photography has begun. Reports in April 2026 suggested filming would start that month, but coverage through August 2026 confirms the project remains in development with no completed public script.
Who is in the John Wick 5 cast?
Keanu Reeves is the only confirmed cast member. No supporting cast has been announced. Returning characters and casting rumours circulating online are unconfirmed speculation.
How does John Wick survive Chapter 4?
This has not been revealed. John Wick: Chapter 4 ended with the character’s apparent death, and no plot details for Chapter 5 have been released. Chad Stahelski has indicated the fifth film will be substantially different from previous entries.
Is John Wick 5 called Hellbound?
No. “Hellbound” is unofficial fan speculation and has never been confirmed by Lionsgate. John Wick: Chapter 5 is the working title used by the studio and in trade coverage.
Is Derek Kolstad writing John Wick 5?
No. Kolstad, who wrote the original 2014 John Wick, confirmed in 2026 that he is not involved in Chapter 5. No screenwriter has been publicly confirmed.
What John Wick movie is next?
Caine, the spin-off directed by and starring Donnie Yen as the blind assassin from Chapter 4, has completed filming and is expected in 2027. An animated prequel about how John Wick left the High Table follows, with Chapter 5 after both.
Status accurate as of September 3, 2026. This piece will be updated when Lionsgate announces new details.
