In less than two short weeks, Lionsgate brings the hitman with a heart of gold, John Wick, back to theaters, asJohn Wick: Chapter 2continues this assassin’s story. While we’ll have to wait to see how it performs in theaters, there is already talk ofJohn Wick 3being developed. But that’s not all that’s brewing at Lionsgate. During a recent interview to promote the sequel, directorChad Stahelskiteased that a prequel TV series may happen with the studio.
DirectorChad Stahelskihas revealed in previous interviews that Lionsgate has asked him and writerDerek Kolstadto start coming up with ideas forJohn Wick 3. The filmmaker says thatIan McShane’s Winston andLance Reddick’s Charon, the owner and concierge of the Continental Hotel, will both have bigger roles inJohn Wick 3, hinting that this hub of the assassin’s underworld will be explored even further. During an interview with/Film,Chad Stahelskiexplained that Lionsgate is “very interested” in putting together aJohn Wickprequel TV series.
“Well, we’re not doing a prequel [with Chapter 2]. We wanted to, it just didn’t fit quite where we’re at….We basically almost have a prequel written, but we’d save that for other aspects of the property. Lionsgate is very interested in doing aJohn Wick TV show, and that seems very appealing to us, to give those creative ideas to that entity, because I think in TV you could really expand on what that is, and greater than we could in just a two-hour film. We’d like to wrap-up the story we’re telling now and maybe save all our prequel ideas and impossible task ideas for that medium.”
It hasn’t been confirmed ifJohn Wick 3will “wrap-up” their current story, but we also reported in December that aJohn Wick comic serieswill debut some time this year, although no details about the comic have been released yet. One of the ideas bothChad StahelskiandDerek Kolstadhave been exploring for a prequel TV series would show, “the impossible task John completed to gain his freedom” from the assassin’s underworld in the past, long before he settled down with his wife Helen (Bridget Moynihan). As exciting as this prospect may be, nothing is set in stone. While Lionsgate is best known for their work on the big screen, they have produced hit TV shows such asMad Men,Orange is the New Black,Nurse JackieandAnger Management, just to name a few.
The original movieJohn Wickcame out of nowhere to become a cult classic, which marked the directorial debut ofChad StahelskiandDavid Leitch, who had worked withKeanu Reevesas stuntmen onThe Matrixand other films.David Leitchparted ways withChad Stahelskito directThe Coldest City, whileChad Stahelskihas recently come aboard to directDeadpool 2. It remains to be seen if Lionsgate actually moves forward with aJohn WickTV series, and if it will bring backDavid Leitchinto theJohn Wickfold. IfJohn Wick: Chapter Twois a big hit this weekend, we may be hearing about this TV show sooner rather than later.
