The John Wick saga is about to unleash its fourth installment, with Keanu Reeves once again returning as the titular super-assassin. However, even though John Wick 5 is also in development, it was almost possible the series would have ended after John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, and it would have never resolved its cliffhanger conclusion, according to director Chad Stahelski.

While many fans are awaiting John Wick: Chapter 4’s arrival, Stahelski has revealed in a new interview with Total Film that both he and Reeves were “done” with the franchise and just wanted to end the films before having to push it too far. He told the magazine:

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This is perhaps not surprising considering the comments made by Stahelski at the time of the movie’s release. Back then, he said:

“After number three, Keanu and I were both fairly done. We kind of wanted to just end on a cliffhanger.”

“Honestly, I challenge you right now, here’s a question to you: How do you fcking want me to end it? Do you think he’s going to ride off into the sunset? He’s killed 300 fcking people and he’s just going to [walk away], everything’s okay? He’s just going to fall in love with a love interest? If you’re this guy, if this guy really exist[ed], how is this guy’s day going to end? He’s f*cked for the rest of his life. It’s just a matter of time."

Will John Wick: Chapter 5 Happen Now, or Is It All Dependent on Chapter 4?

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When John Wick: Chapter 4 was originally announced, it was believed to be filming back-to-back with Chapter 5. However, things seemed to change sometime during filming, and instead of Chapter 5 heading into production, we ended up with a number of spin-off projects quickly moving ahead. These include the event series of The Continental, which will tell a prequel story of the assassin’s hotel of the title and will feature Ian McShane as well as a younger counterpart of his character Winton. Additionally, Ana de Armas will be taking the lead role in Ballerina, a spin-off movie that will also so McShane and Reeves once again reprising their roles.

Regarding the possibility of moving straight into John Wick: Chapter 5, it seems that both Reeves and Stahelski may be suffering from Wick fatigue. Reeves told Total Film:

Stahelski added, slightly ominously:

“You have to see how the audience responds to what we did. The only reason we’ve had a chance to make these movies is that people have liked what we have done. So I think we have to wait and see how the audience responds to it. Hopefully they’ll like it.”

John Wick: Chapter 4 will arrive in cinemas on Mar. 24.

“You might have to give me and John Wick just a little break. Ask me in a couple of months. In the next week, I’m praying to the movie gods that I finish this one.”