Keanu Reeves reveals a deeply personal reason that is stopping him from doing John Wick 5

Keanu Reeves might have dodged bullets, knives, and assassins as John Wick. However, it seems Keanu Reeves is feeling the weight of "being" the (in)famous John Wick.

There is one opponent he might not be able to outmaneuver for the fifth chapter of the sag to come out: his own knees. In a recent interview with CBS News, Reeves admitted that while his heart longs for John Wick 5, his joints are begging for mercy.

“You can never say never,” Reeves confessed. “My knees right now are saying, ‘I can’t do another John Wick.’ So my heart does, but I don’t know if my knees can do it.”

The delay makes perfect sense given the franchise's unrelenting action scenes and Reeves' commitment to completing his own stunts. Following four exhausting chapters, each more physically demanding than the next, Reeves' body could be telling it's time to permanently hide the guns.

The Bulletproof Legacy of John Wick

The John Wick franchise has earned over $1 billion since 2014. Its success comes from intense action and unique fight scenes. In John Wick: Chapter 4, the assassin seems to die after a fight with the High Table. Fans had followed his journey of revenge and redemption until then.

Yet, in true Wick fashion, his fate remains ambiguous. The final scene showed Winston (Ian McShane) and the Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne) visiting Wick’s grave, leaving just enough wiggle room for speculation. Could Wick pull one last resurrection act? Or is the Baba Yaga finally laid to rest?

Director Chad Stahelski revealed that an alternate ending existed, one where Wick definitively survives. Test audiences, however, preferred the ambiguity. Reeves himself pushed for a more conclusive exit, exhausted from the physical toll each installment demanded.

From assassin to ashes: Keanu Reeves' reluctance to return

Reeves’ reluctance isn’t just narrative; it’s physical. Producer Basil Iwanyk emphasized how the intense training and stunt work transformed Reeves into a “shell of himself” by the end of each shoot.

After John Wick: Chapter 4, Reeves reportedly pleaded to be killed off, hoping to retire John Wick for good. Yet, the filmmakers left a 10% chance for a comeback, enough to keep fans guessing.

Adding to the uncertainty, Reeves recently suffered a knee injury while filming Aziz Ansari’s comedy Good Fortune. While not career-ending, the incident serves as another reminder of the wear-and-tear Reeves has endured in his action-packed career.

A new chapter or final curtain?

Despite Reeves’ hesitations, Lionsgate hasn’t closed the book on John Wick 5. With the upcoming spinoff Ballerina (set for June 6, 2025) expanding the Wickverse, the studio seems intent on keeping the franchise alive, with or without Reeves. But can the Wickverse exist without its unflinching lead?

For now, Reeves remains undecided, caught between his heart and his knees. Fans, meanwhile, are left pondering whether the Baba Yaga has truly retired or is simply reloading.

Wick-onomics: Counting the bodies and box office

Numbers don’t lie, and John Wick has proven to be a goldmine. Over $1 billion at the box office and counting, the series executed a headshot to the genre’s old formulas. With choreography that turns gunfights into balletic carnage and lore deeper than Wick’s arsenal, the franchise carved out a niche that’s hard to replicate.

Yet, it wasn’t just the bullet storms that kept audiences hooked. Reeves brought heart to the hitman, grounding Wick’s quest for vengeance in love and loss. From avenging his dog to defying the High Table, Wick’s struggles resonated because they felt personal, even as the kill count skyrocketed.

Reload or retreat? What lies ahead

John Wick’s legacy might be bulletproof, but even the Baba Yaga isn’t immortal. Whether John Wick: Chapter 4 marks his swan song or just another reload, Reeves’ performance has already cemented Wick as one of cinema’s most iconic antiheroes.

With spinoffs like Ballerina loading into the chamber, the Wickverse is far from over. Without Reeves, can the franchise still succeed? Fans will have to wait to see if the assassin's story continues or if it's truly over.

Still, the Wickverse has proven it can expand its mythology without breaking stride. From the Continental Hotel’s underworld intrigues to the global reach of the High Table, each chapter has peeled back new layers of Wick’s deadly universe.

The spinoffs offer fertile ground for deeper dives into this world of assassins, secret codes, and blood-soaked honor.

And even if Reeves chooses to hang up his guns, the franchise’s DNA may be enough to sustain it. And what is in that DNA? Stylish action, emotional stakes, and intricate world-building. Whether through prequels, side stories, or entirely new characters, the Wick-verse might keep the adrenaline pumping long after its main assassin has retired.