John Wick Spinoffs – Movie Breakdown: 4 Killer Ideas That Could Take the Franchise Even Further

The John Wick universe isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

With Ballerina now in theaters and a Donnie Yen-led Caine spinoff officially confirmed, it’s clear that Lionsgate is committed to expanding the Wick franchise beyond Keanu Reeves' legendary hitman. But let’s be honest—the possibilities for this action-packed universe go far beyond just ballet assassins and blind swordsmen.

Whether you're still buzzing from Chapter 4 or ready to dive deeper into the Continental’s underworld, these four spinoff ideas could seriously ignite the next phase of the John Wick legacy—and fans would eat them up.

1. The Rise of Shimazu – Osaka Continental Origins

One of the breakout characters from John Wick: Chapter 4 was Shimazu Koji, the Osaka Continental manager played by Hiroyuki Sanada. With quiet wisdom and a samurai’s sense of honor, he brought gravity and style to the franchise—and let’s face it, we didn’t get nearly enough of him.

A prequel following Shimazu’s journey—from Yakuza ties to Continental leadership—would be a stylish, Eastern-influenced action series exploring how different branches of the assassin network operate globally. Plus, a deeper dive into his relationship with his daughter Akira (Rina Sawayama) would only add emotional depth.

If Netflix’s “The Night Comes for Us” had a baby with “John Wick,” this would be it.

2. The Adjudicator Files – Power, Politics, and Blood

We've seen The High Table pull the strings behind every move in the Wick universe, but we’ve barely scratched the surface of how it all works. The Adjudicator, introduced in Chapter 3, was cold, calculating, and terrifying without ever lifting a finger.

Imagine a series following various Adjudicators as they travel the world to enforce High Table law—balancing deadly diplomacy with ruthless executions. Think of it as House of Cards meets John Wick—a behind-the-scenes power game in a world where alliances are sealed with blood.

This angle adds a cerebral edge to the franchise and opens up new avenues for psychological drama and slow-burn violence.

3. Charon’s Last Stand – The Hotel Before the Chaos

The late Lance Reddick’s Charon was more than a concierge—he was a fan favorite and a symbol of unshakeable loyalty. A limited prequel series focused on Charon’s early days at the New York Continental could be a love letter to the character and Reddick’s legacy.

Set years before John Wick ever checked in, we could watch Charon defend the hotel from rogue agents, political assassins, and possibly even betrayals from within. A noir-style thriller with elegance, gunplay, and moral dilemmas—and yes, plenty of continental rules.

Bonus: Cast a young Winston and explore how their bond was forged under fire.

4. The Orphanage – A Deadly Ballet of Beginnings

Ballerina scratched the surface of the Ruska Roma, the underground crime family that raised young girls into assassins. But imagine a series that fully explores the inner workings of this brutal orphanage, where girls are trained in both dance and death.

Told from the POV of a new recruit, this spinoff could dive into the trauma, competition, and transformation that turns orphans into killers. The world is already built—now it’s time to show us how that cold-blooded machine was made.

Think Black Swan meets The Raid—emotional, violent, and haunting.

Why the John Wick Universe Still Has Firepower

Let’s face it: Keanu Reeves is John Wick. But the world he inhabits is so rich, so rule-driven, and so uniquely cinematic that it practically demands expansion.

Between The Continental, Ballerina, and Chapter 5 in development, Lionsgate clearly sees the potential. But to keep this franchise fresh and firing, they need to go beyond flashy action and dig into the characters, lore, and politics that made the Wick world so compelling in the first place.

From samurai hotel managers to emotionless adjudicators, each corner of this underworld tells a story worth watching.

Final Thoughts

If John Wick is the storm, these characters are the thunder that follows. With the right creative teams and the same gritty world-building we’ve come to love, these spinoffs could make this universe even more legendary.

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