Keanu Reeves Produces TV Series on Everyone’s Favorite Dog-Loving Assassin

Four movies, with a fifth on the way, plus a spinoff movie, a prequel series, and an upcoming TV sequel series. That’s quite a roster for what has now become the John Wick Cinematic Universe. The latest addition to this universe is a newly revealed sequel TV series — John Wick: Under the High Table, set after the events of the fourth John Wick movie. Currently in development at Lionsgate Television, the series will be executive produced by none other than John Wick himself, Keanu Reeves.

The official logline for the new series teases, “John Wick has left the world of the High Table in a tenuous position and a collection of new characters will look to make a name for themselves while some of the franchise stalwart characters remain committed to the old-world order. The series will combine new and old and thrust the Wick universe into a new age.”

Some fans of the franchise might meet the news of the new series with a bit of caution, especially after the mixed critical reception to Peacock’s The Continental. That prequel series, built around the franchise’s exclusive and noirish hotel for killers, didn’t exactly win over the critics. However, the audience seems to have a different, more favorable opinion, as reflected in The Continental‘s solid 78% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

There are two reasons to get excited for John Wick: Under the High Table. First, even though Keanu Reeves isn’t expected to appear in the series due to the events of John Wick: Chapter 4, he is closely involved as an executive producer and is reportedly very hands-on with the project. This level of involvement wasn’t seen in The Continental.

Additionally, Chad Stahelski, who directed the Wick movies, is also executive-producing the series. Stahelski’s collaboration with Reeves has been nothing short of fantastic, turning a story about an assassin avenging his dog’s death into a blockbuster franchise grossing over a billion dollars. Besides captivating storylines about a criminal underworld and highly choreographed action sequences, the series is known for its unique artifacts and lore.

Though the writing in the John Wick series isn’t exactly Shakespearean, it’s straightforward, economical, and highly memorable. Lines like, “It’s not what you did, son, that angers me so; it’s who you did it to” and the chilling description of Wick as “the man you send to kill the f*****g boogeyman” have resonated with audiences from the beginning. The new TV series has a lot to live up to, but if it can capture even a fraction of the unpretentious fun and escapism of its predecessors, fans are in for a treat.

Movies like these are rare, combining high-octane action with a deep, immersive criminal underworld, making the anticipation for John Wick: Under the High Table all the more palpable.

Source: BGR, Lionsgate