Samurai John Wick Spinoff in Development

The John Wick universe may be expanding in a surprising new direction: a unique samurai Western spinoff.

In a Variety profile on emerging screenwriters, Austin Everett casually revealed he's written an original samurai Western set within the John Wick world. Everett, who adapted the novel *Traveler* by Joseph Eckert, stated, "That’s probably as much as I can say," before clamming up entirely.

While details are scarce, this small hint is enough to excite fans. Although the franchise has been firmly rooted in the modern era, the prospect of applying its signature style to a different historical period is an intriguing concept.

However, some are questioning the rapid expansion of the John Wick franchise. While the main films have grown more profitable, the disappointing box office performance of the Ana de Armas spinoff, *Ballerina*, contributed to a $94 million quarterly loss for Lionsgate—even with a cameo from Keanu Reeves.

*Ballerina* ended its global theatrical run with $132 million against a reported $90 million budget. In contrast, *John Wick: Chapter 4* earned $447.3 million on a $100 million budget. This raises questions about potential franchise fatigue and whether the brand truly thrives only when Keanu Reeves' Wick is the central figure.

Despite this, Lionsgate is pressing forward. Two more spinoffs are in the works: an anime prequel exploring John Wick's 'Impossible Task,' and a side-story following Donnie Yen's character, Caine. Plans are also underway for *John Wick: Chapter 5*, starring Keanu Reeves again, though it remains in early development. In June, director Chad Stahelski mentioned he was still crafting a story that could logically follow the decisive ending of *Chapter 4*.