Though John Wick: Chapter 2 hasn’t even released yet, the filmmakers are already looking ahead to what might come next for the titular hitman. A third entry seems all but confirmed at this stage but beyond that, it sounds like Lionsgate may also be looking to take the action series to the small screen.
While doing press for the highly anticipated release earlier this week, director Chad Stahelski noted that while Chapter 2 is not a prequel, they’re definitely interested in doing one and “basically almost have” the story written. However, he doesn’t seem to feel that the big screen would be the best medium to tell that tale. Instead, it’d be better suited to television, and Lionsgate is interested in the idea.
Here’s the quote in full:
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 a John 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.
Honestly, we’d be all for seeing the character come to television, even despite the fact that it wouldn’t be Keanu Reeves playing him. As long as the original creative team (minus the actor) remain involved, it could work out really well and help develop the hitman even further before the eventual third outing arrives.
It’s funny to think that John Wick may very well end up spawning a whole franchise, given that the first film released with very little buzz back in 2014 and no one really expected much from it. However, it proved to be a massive sleeper hit and John Wick: Chapter 2 looks every bit as good.
Will it be able to match up to its predecessor though and deliver an action-packed ride that’s just as stylish, smart and confident? We’ll find out soon enough, as the sequel drops on February 10th.
