Update: According to a new report from THR's Borys Kit, Wesley Snipes will not appear in John Wick: Chapter 4. Although there reportedly were discussions surrounding Snipes' appearance at one point in time, Kit says it did not work out. Screen Rant has reached out for comment.
John Wick: Chapter 4 is reportedly looking to cast Wesley Snipes as a new sword-wielding side character. The film, which is currently scheduled for a theatrical release on May 27, 2022, will star longtime series lead Keanu Reeves alongside newcomers like Donnie Yen and Bill Skarsgård. Adding yet another famed action star to the film’s ensemble to join Reeves and Yen would elevate John Wick 4 to truly star-studded heights.
Though the original John Wick turned plenty of heads with its over-the-top action and brutal revenge storyline, the franchise has only upped the ante since. John Wick: Chapter 2 and John Wick Chapter 3 – Parabellum introduced even more bizarre lore and memorable characters, building out the series’ wild world of assassins and betrayals in fun new ways. That strategy has been hugely successful for John Wick, setting a precedent for the modern action movie genre that many since have been inspired by.
Now, it looks like another classic action star could be joining the cast of John Wick 4. Per a report from The Illuminerdi, Wesley Snipes is currently in talks to join the film as an unnamed new swordsman character – possibly in homage to his famous role as the Marvel vampire hunter Blade. Adding Snipes to the film’s already stellar cast would be a big move, setting up some exciting fights of him either going head-to-head or back-to-back with Reeves. At this time, however, Snipes’ involvement in the project has not been confirmed.
The future of John Wick is ensured for at least the next few years, with a fifth film already in development for after John Wick 4 releases. That means that any characters or storylines introduced in the next movie could also play into the plot of John Wick: Chapter 5. Given all the absurdly entertaining ground the franchise has covered in its first three installments, the idea of more long-term plotlines being set up in John Wick: Chapter 4 is very promising.
With so many different action stars reportedly joining John Wick 4, the series is starting to resemble another big hitter of the modern action genre – The Expendables. Both franchises have relied heavily on their ludicrous action, recognizable stars, and nearly invincible heroes. The addition of Yen and the potential addition of Snipes are pushing John Wick closer to a proper action ensemble. Of course, even if Snipes is cast, there’s no evidence that he’ll be on the side of good. And with a title like John Wick, the franchise will likely remain a primarily solo journey for Reeves’ character. Still, the addition of so many other stars in John Wick 4 is an exciting prospect.
Source: The Illuminerdi, Borys Kit
