Samurais in the World of John Wick? Writer Teases a New Spin-Off

The John Wick universe might be getting a new spin-off in the style of a samurai western. This was hinted at by screenwriter Austin Everett, who adapted Joseph Eckert’s novel "The Traveler."

Everett revealed that he has written an original samurai western set in the John Wick universe, adding, “That’s probably as much as I can say.” No other details about the project have been shared so far.

Until now, the John Wick universe has remained rooted in the modern day, so the idea of bringing the franchise’s style to another time period has caught the attention of fans.

However, the success of spin-offs has been mixed. For example, the film Ballerina starring Ana de Armas grossed $137.2 million on a $90 million budget, resulting in a loss for Lionsgate—even with Keanu Reeves’ cameo as John Wick. (You can read our review here.) In comparison, John Wick: Chapter 4 earned $447.3 million on a $100 million budget, raising questions about whether the franchise can thrive without John Wick himself.

Still, Lionsgate is actively expanding the universe. Two spin-offs are currently in development: an anime prequel exploring John Wick’s "impossible task," and a standalone story centered on Donnie Yen’s character, Caine. In addition, John Wick: Chapter 5 with Keanu Reeves is planned, though no release date has been announced. In June, director Chad Stahelski said he’s still searching for the right story to continue, taking the fourth film’s ending into account.

By the way, we recently published a feature ranking the top 30 Keanu Reeves movies—from the lowest-rated to the most iconic.