The world of John Wick continues to expand with more spinoffs and films in the development pipeline. The Continental: From the World of John Wick spinoff series premiered in September 2023, and Ballerina, the spinoff film starring Ana de Armas, is set to release in June 2024. With Keanu Reeves’ franchise future currently unclear, the filmmakers behind the universe of John Wick are clearly looking for ways to get more out of the popular franchise.
Although John Wick 5 is currently being written, story details are being kept under wraps, making the future of several key John Wick characters cloudy. One such character is the Bowery King, played by Laurence Fishburne, who has been a fascinating ally for Reeves’ Wick throughout the film franchise. Luckily, John Wick franchise producer Basil Iwanyk recently expressed his interest in giving the Bowery King a proper spinoff. Here’s what he had to say:
Basil Iwanyk: I like the Bowery King a lot, and I like that world. We scratched the surface of who he is and who these men are and women, and why they do what they do. I think there’s something really cool about these people who make conscious choices to be in the shadows. And be the people that we look through every day when we walk down the street or we go, “Oh, this person wants money from me?” I think that’s a world that we haven’t touched yet, which I think could be really cool and really edgy and rough, dark. I don’t know, that is something that I’ve always been really intrigued with.
All the Bowery King group, they leave an impression on every movie that they’re in. Because there’s also the guys in The Continental, they’re like knights or samurai, it’s very formal. And the Bowery King people are crazy and fun and informal. And I think that’s a great… I don’t know, I have no idea what that world is, we’re making this up as we go along. But man, that world intrigues me a lot.
Why The Bowery King Should Get A Spinoff
Surprisingly, the Bowery King wasn’t one of the first-mentioned upcoming John Wick movies and spinoffs, but the character certainly deserves his time to shine. The Bowery King seemingly has a wealth of resources, an endless well of knowledge, and the ability to show up when people like John Wick need him most.
A Bowery King spinoff would also give the John Wick franchise the chance to capitalize on one of its best, and best-known, actors. Fishburne is widely recognized for his work in The Matrix, Ant-Man and The Wasp, and many other films, and with Keanu Reeves’ future as John Wick unclear, it’s easy to imagine Fishburne being a bankable face for upcoming franchise projects. Laurence Fishburne also discussed his love for the Bowery King in an interview with Screen Rant, suggesting the actor would be open to reprising his role.
Outside of the Bowery King himself, a spinoff focused on the character would also shine a light on the unique world he inhabits. The Bowery King is surrounded by skilled fighters and, as Iwanyk mentioned, their group as a whole is an interesting contrast to the structure of the Continental. One of the biggest strengths of the John Wick franchise is its world, and it would be a wasted opportunity not to dive into its most interesting corners.
Key Release Date
Ballerina
Release Date:2024-06-07
