As part of a new deal with Lionsgate, John Wick director Chad Stahelski will officially assume creative oversight over that entire franchise across film, TV, and multimedia platforms.
Additionally, the announcement notes that the previously announced Henry Cavill-attached Highlander reimagining will be Stahelski's next film as director. Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chairman Joe Drake listed the film under the company's 2026 "tentpole" releases back in November.
Interestingly, the announcement hints at franchise plans for Highlander, saying that Stahelski has creative oversight over that too. Per the press release, Stahelski and his production team at 87Eleven Entertainment have a "comprehensive multi-platform content strategy for both franchises." It's in line with Stahelski's previous comments on the property, teasing in an interview last August that it could be the start of something bigger.
As for John Wick, to be clear, it's not as though Stahelski hasn't been involved with John Wick spinoffs previously, having executive produced both last year's Peacock series The Continental and the upcoming Ana de Armas spinoff Ballerina. Today's announcement merely make his creative oversight moving forward official.
“This deal expands on the great creative relationship we already have in place on John Wick and extends it to our Highlander franchise," Drake said in the announcement. "From the outset, Chad has been the creative force defining the world of Wick; as we continue to think about the future for that world, we want Chad, working together with Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee of Thunder Road, as our stewards guiding us and strategizing together at every step. This deal makes it official, and we look forward to his steady hand and creative input not just on the film he is making, but other stories that arise from it. He is a true visionary, and we are thrilled to have him in our corner.”
We'll have to wait and see what these big franchise plans are for Highlander, but John Wick has already continued to expand quite a bit since John Wick: Chapter 4 came out last year. Ballerina is set to come out on June 7, 2024, and Stahelski previously teased both an anime in the works and a TV show that's separate from The Continental.
John Wick 5, meanwhile, remains in the works, with series producer Basil Iwanyk telling me last June that they were indeed in development on a sequel but still ironing out the story.
Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she's not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.
