John Wick 5 will diverge from the franchise’s previous timeline, avoiding the worst way of bringing back Keanu Reeves. In May, the most recent addition to the John Wick franchise hit theaters, garnering overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics and audiences alike. After the success of John Wick: Chapter 4, Lionsgate confirmed that the story of John Wick: Chapter 5 was actively in development.

While this news is exciting, it also creates confusion due to John Wick 4‘s ending. The previous movie showed the titular assassin dying on the steps of a gothic church after Caine fatally wounded him. However, the entire franchise centers on Reeves’ character, making it nearly impossible to create a fifth movie without him. In an interview with Screen Rant, producer Basil Iwanyk revealed John Wick 5 would take a different timeline approach from the previous movies, jumping forward in time. As such, Keanu Reeves’ character can come back without ruining the emotional impact of the previous film.

John Wick 5’s Time Jump Is Very Necessary If Keanu Reeves’ Hero Is Back From The Dead

The choice to revive Keanu Reeves’ hero would’ve been disastrous if they continued the timeline of John Wick’s movies. The first three movies occurred within a single week, and the fourth took place only six months later. If the story revived him right away, John Wick 5 would cheapen the eponymous character’s death. The passage of time allows for his death to hold weight. Additionally, the franchise risks becoming stale without a time jump since Wick would have returned to the same environment. Iwanyk’s update provides a promising way forward for the franchise.

How Can John Wick 5 Explain Keanu Reeves’ Return?

Though his character seemingly died, there are many signs John Wick 5 will include Keanu Reeves. This raises the question of how the character could return in the upcoming movie. One of the most obvious ways that Reeves could return to John Wick is by showing up in flashbacks. Someone related to Wick could take over the title in the same fashion as the Dread Pirate Roberts in The Princess Bride. The movie could include flashbacks of Wick training his successor.

Alternatively, Wick could’ve faked his death at the end of John Wick 4. This would fit with his desire to retire from the hitman life, which was made impossible because of John Wick’s blood oath. Moreover, Bowrey King has enough resources and power to help Wick fake his death. The graveyard scene further hints at this possibility since King smirks when asked about John going to Heaven or Hell. In John Wick 5, the character could be forced to come out of hiding years later, bringing him back into the action.