John Wick is one of the most iconic action franchises out there, but even if John Wick: Part 5 happens, the future of the Lionsgate movies is uncertain — and there’s one existing action hero who could replace Keanu Reeves’ if it comes to it. Reeves made his debut as the assassin John Wick in 2014, winning the hearts of critics and general audiences alike. The success of the first John Wick movie spawned multiple sequels, as well as the less-loved TV series The Continental. John Wick: Part 4 could have served as a definitive ending for the film series, but it seems like Lionsgate isn’t ready to let go yet.
Despite John Wick 4‘s ending, John Wick 5 is starting to seem increasingly more likely. Additionally, the John Wick universe is expanding with spinoffs like The Continental. It’s very possible the series will continue, even if it changes drastically. However, given recent developments, it’s just as likely to conclude sometime in the near future. Either way, the perfect replacement for the John Wick franchise already exists; the hidden gem actually released in movie theaters two years ago.
Nobody Is The Perfect Replacement For The John Wick Franchise
John Wick may have a hold on the action genre, but one 2021 movie has the potential to become its replacement: Nobody. Starring Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul alum Bob Odenkirk, Nobody debuted to stellar reviews, receiving an 84% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and a whopping 94% from audiences. Nobody also fared well at the box office considering the circumstances — it released as the industry was still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic — and it’s easy to see why audiences enjoyed Odenkirk’s first outing as an action hero.
Nobody follows Odenkirk’s Hutch Mansell, a former assassin whose deadly skills are reawakened when his home in the suburbs is broken into. The incident leads to a number of revelations, with Hutch’s family eventually finding themselves in the midst of all the danger. Odenkirk gives a compelling performance as the movie’s lead, and he could easily hold his own if Nobody were to become a full-fledged action franchise. Although the first movie didn’t add anything particularly groundbreaking to the genre, it served as a promising and action-packed beginning to a story that could take over when the John Wick craze fades.
Why John Wick’s Franchise Future Is In Doubt
Although John Wick doesn’t need a replacement just yet, the franchise’s future is feeling less certain. There are a few reasons for that, but the most obvious goes back to John Wick 4‘s ending. The most recent installment of the series concluded with Reeves’ titular hero supposedly perishing during a face-off with Donnie Yen’s Caine. It’s possible the Baba Yaga faked his own death. However, if Reeves’ character truly is gone, it’ll be difficult for John Wick: Part 5 to keep the franchise going. The lead character — and the actor who plays him — is the main draw, so it’s hard to see the series faring nearly as well without him.
And while John Wick‘s franchise future could lean into spinoffs, prequels, and sequels, that approach may not be as promising as it once seemed. After all, The Continental attempted to explore the world of John Wick from a different perspective, but the 2023 series didn’t capture the heart of the films. The Continental reviews are so much worse than the John Wick movies, suggesting that a future without the title character isn’t so bright. With that in mind, the world may soon be in need of a new action hero.
Is Nobody 2 Happening? What We Know So Far
If Nobody hopes to compete with — or even replace — John Wick, it will need to return with an equally compelling sequel. Fortunately, Nobody 2 is already in the works. Nobody 2 producer Kelly McCormick told Collider that, if everything goes as planned, production on the sequel should begin sometime in 2024. Writer David Leitch has been working on the script, and Odenkirk seems confident and eager to return.
The ending and post-credits scene of Nobody certainly leaves the door open for another go-round. Hutch hasn’t addressed his inner conflict fully by the time Nobody comes to a close, and the character will need more screen time to make the decision the story is building to: should he forego his life as an assassin for his family or try to embrace both personas? This is an internal struggle that sets Nobody apart from John Wick, and it could become the action genre’s next big focus.
