John Wick 4 is officially delayed 10 months to spring 2023. Back in 2014, Keanu Reeves experienced something of a career comeback when the original John Wick movie became a sleeper hit with critics and at the box office. Fueled by kinetic action sequences, an emotional storyline, and intriguing world-building, John Wick spawned a franchise that has only grown in popularity. Two sequels, John Wick: Chapter 2 and John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum, were also big hits upon their release, setting the stage for the highly-anticipated John Wick 4.

Unfortunately, John Wick 4 was one of many Hollywood projects impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. At one point, it was scheduled to release in May 2021, but John Wick 4 didn't even begin shooting until this past June due to setbacks. For a while now, Lionsgate has had John Wick 4 slated for a 2022 premiere, but now it's been pushed back substantially.

Related: John Wick 4's Rumored "Hagakure" Title Meaning & Story Hints Explained

In a video released on the official Lionsgate YouTube channel, it's confirmed John Wick 4 will now release on March 24, 2023. The video seems to repurpose footage from John Wick 3, framing the new release date as the opening of a new contract on John's head. Check out the video in the space below:

 

This is very substantial delay for John Wick 4, and it's unclear why Lionsgate decided to push it back so much. John Wick 4 wrapped during the fall, and seemed to be on track to meet its 2022 date. While the films are renowned for their exhilarating set pieces, they aren't as reliant on special effects and CGI as a more traditional studio tentpole. On the surface, there should be enough time between now and next May to finish necessary post-production work, though it's possible director Chad Stahelski felt he needed more time to put the final movie together. Even in that case, the expectation likely would have been a delay of just a few months, rather than nearly an entire year.

The pandemic remains a serious concern, with a recent spike in new COVID-19 cases and the spread of the Omicron variant. Those circumstances could make audiences more cautious about going to the theater - Spider-Man: No Way Home's opening weekend notwithstanding. Though there's still five months until John Wick 4's old release date, perhaps the studio felt it was better to push it back further, with the hope being the pandemic has subsided by 2023. Lionsgate obviously wants John Wick 4 in a position where it can thrive commercially and post box office numbers similar to John Wick 3. The pandemic has made things very difficult to predict, but one can't blame the studio for wanting to wait and see what happens down the road.

Next: John Wick 4: Winston Didn't Try to Kill John In Chapter 3 - Theory Explained

Source: Lionsgate

Key Release Dates