Originally slated for a May 2021 release the same week as The Matrix: Resurrections, the other major Keanu Reeves franchise, John Wick: Chapter 4 has been in the works for longer than anticipated. The last instalment John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum came out back in May 2019 and it didn't take long for the fourth film and a spin-off Ballerina to be announced, starring Ana de Armas (No Time to Die, Blonde, Knives Out).
The trailer reintroduces us to some familiar faces such as Ian Mcshane's Winston and fellow Matrix star Laurence Fishburne's Bowery King. During the third film, Winston and the Bowery King were told to resign from the mysterious High Table due to their affiliation with John Wick. Whilst Winston is able to resume his position as manager at The Continental, Wick and the Bowery King team up to take down the High Table at the end of the film, a plot Chapter 4 will most definitely explore.
The audience is also introduced to new characters with famous faces. In a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment, I spotted Natalie Tena, known for her roles in the 'Harry Potter' films and Game of Thrones. It is unclear in the trailer what her role in the story will be, but she shortly appears after Winston tells Wick that his family sits at the Table. Could Tena be playing a relative of Wick? We also see Bill Skarsgård's Marquis de Gramont, who appears to be challenged by Wick. Skarsgård is best known for playing Pennywise in the 'IT' films, supernatural Hemlock Grove and most recently starred in Barbarian, released a few weeks ago. It also appears that Donnie Yen's Caine will be a major player in the film, clearly an antagonist to Wick. Yen is best known for his many martial arts roles in films and starred in 2016's Rogue One, XXX: Return of Xander Cage (2017) and the live-action Mulan (2020).
As expected from the franchise, we see some incredible fight choreography even in this two-and-a-half-minute trailer, especially from Reeves and Yen. I like that they continue to use neon lights like in Parabellum particularly rather than a dull and gritty colour palette. I expect the film won't disappoint upon its release next year. But is it the end for John Wick? Evidently not as Lionsgate has already confirmed a fifth film, suggesting that Wick probably won't take down the High Table just yet.