Before the pandemic, director Chad Stahelski and team had been planning to film John Wick: Chapter 4 and Chapter 5 back to back. After delays, they ended up dropping the fifth chapter, opting to wrap everything up in the fourth film. So how does Chapter 4 work to continue expanding this world of assassins while also wrapping up John’s story? Do more story threads get dropped? And how do they amp up the stunt sequences throughout the film? Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we wrap up our John Wick series with a conversation about Stahelski’s latest entry, now in theatres, John Wick: Chapter 4.

John’s back breaking the High Table’s rules, starting off right out of the gate in this film by killing The Elder. But why so little involvement by The Bowery King? His resolution at the end of Chapter 3 seemed to indicate that he was going to go after the High Table with John. Maybe that’s just another in the line of plot threads set up upon which they never execute. Or perhaps it was connected to the whittling down of two films into just this one. Who knows? Regardless, we would have loved more Laurence Fishburne. 

That being said, we do get the introduction of many great characters in this new film. They’re great, and the actors portraying them are great. Plus, we have some spectacular action set pieces that are incredible. The staircase sequence is one for the ages, particularly the insane fall down its entire length. 

We discuss some of Stahelski’s influences in the film, as well as several direct homages. And we discuss the impending spinoff film and TV show, while pondering if they’ll find a thread to pick up in order to continue the story again.

We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!

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