Unleashing the Untold: The True Reason Why John Wick 3's Ending Left Keanu Reeves & Director Devastated

Summary

The cliffhanger conclusion of John Wick 3 paves the way for a subsequent installment in Wick's narrative, which would have been unsatisfying if intended as the concluding chapter of the franchise. Ceasing the franchise with the third film would have also deprived viewers of the highly acclaimed John Wick: Chapter 4.

John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum director Chad Stahelski and star Keanu Reeves wanted to redeem themselves after feeling like they had let audiences down with the ending of the third movie. Released in 2019, the film follows Reeves' character, an assassin on the run with a hefty bounty on his head. The movie received critical and commercial success, concluding with Wick being shot off a rooftop and vowing to take on the High Table. In a recent interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast with Josh Horowitz, Stahelski explains that they were motivated to create John Wick: Chapter 4 as a response to the disappointment felt by viewers over the ending of Chapter 3.

Both he and Reeves ultimately felt the need to surpass themselves and provide a more fulfilling and conclusive experience. Below is Stahelski's complete comment:

"After completing the third film, we believed we were finished. We thought, 'We're finished.' However, a year later, both Keanu and I shared a sense of disappointment in how we concluded the third installment, feeling like we had let everyone down."

It's Good John Wick Didn't End With Chapter 3

Although I believe it was well-received, there was a sense of disappointment among people who are avid fans of John. It seemed as though they were wondering, "What on earth, guys? You delivered an action-packed conclusion, which was impressive. But seriously, what the hell? There were intriguing elements of challenging mythology, and yet you didn't fully resolve them. As our discussions continued, we gradually realized that we hadn't fully explored all the possibilities."

Following a substantial improvement in every aspect of the initial movie, John Wick: Chapter 2, the anticipation for the third installment was immense. Stahelski and Reeves went above and beyond in delivering breathtaking action sequences, surpassing previous levels set by the franchise and further expanding the story's universe. John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum showcased the franchise's unwavering potential, leaving no doubt about its lasting impact.

The lack of browser video tag support resulted in a cliffhanger ending that seamlessly leads into a subsequent chapter in Wick's narrative. Given the film's overwhelming critical and commercial triumph, it seemed almost inevitable that a sequel would ensue. If John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum had truly marked the conclusion of the franchise, it would have been disheartening. Furthermore, Stahelski intimates that the profound mythological elements and sources of inspiration behind the story are unsuitable for leaving Wick's journey predominantly unresolved.

Not only would ending John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum as the franchise finale have been disappointing, but it would have also deprived audiences of the possibility of the fourth film, which could potentially be the franchise's finest. Stahelski and Reeves have once again surpassed expectations with the latest installment, providing a more definitive conclusion to Wick's story while also leaving space for John Wick 5.