The original 2014 film John Wick was such lightning in a bottle that it’s almost shocking to see it as the start of a massive franchise. It’s got nothing on the MCU, but Lionsgate has spun this story of a retired assassin returning to the fold to avenge his puppy has expanded massively. Its humble beginnings stand out as a reminder that original ideas can still become powerful blockbusters. The one thing that John Wick can’t move past is its title character, placing all the proposed spinoffs in danger. That prompts fans to ask what exactly Wick brought to the table and how it could come back.
It would be easy to boil the success of the John Wick franchise down to the cultural impact of Keanu Reeves. Though he’s always been something of an icon, Reeves was at his lowest right before he put on that fancy suit. Reeves’ rapid return to the upper echelon of celebrity culture needed Wick as a catalyst. The character is a tremendously important moment in the performer’s story. Subsequently, his star power couldn’t be the main driving force behind the four-film odyssey’s rise to prominence. Wick relaunched Reeves, but they both have a lot going on in their own worlds.
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John Wick Spinoffs Have A Lot to Prove
The premise of the original John Wick didn’t leave much room for sequels, but later entries should have made things easier. It all started with a man killing dozens of mobsters to avenge the death of his beloved puppy. By the fourth film, Wick is facing off against the comically broad network of assassins that seems to control all industry, crime, and government in their reality. The scale never stops growing, but countless interesting stories seem to exist just to the left of Wick’s line of fire. This should allow returning characters and new arrivals to lead bold new expeditions into “The World of John Wick,“ but those attempts have been messy. Many potential spin-offs currently sit unused, leaving at least a year or two since their last update. The Continental, the first and only TV aspect of the franchise so far, seemed to vanish almost instantly. Ballerina isn’t out just yet, but many seem prepared to let it slip by without much commentary. The first outing had a beloved supporting character in a new starring role, and the second attempt has Ana de Armas, but all they seem prepared to talk about is John Wick. Even in his absence, his name defines this world.
John Wick is a Unique Protagonist
Consider a version of John Wick with a different main character. It is, at least in part, set in a world that hides a dense mythos and secret society. A traditional version of that story might choose to center on a newcomer. Harry Potter, Luke Skywalker, Percy Jackson, and their peers come to their respective hidden truths as neophytes. This grants the characters a chance to grow into the world and the writers an opportunity to organically explain the details. Conversely, a character like James Bond enters most situations with a strong degree of familiarity, solving mysteries as he goes about his business. Bond is a native of his hidden world of espionage, but that gig necessitates anonymity to all but his most plugged-in enemies. Wick is neither a newcomer nor an anonymous figure. His knowledge of the world under the High Table is vast and consistently powerful, but their knowledge of him is even greater.
The big twist of John Wick is its premise. If someone watched the film with no primer, they’d be taken by surprise when Iosev Tarasov explains the plot. His presence is the defining element of his reality, ensuring fans get a unique look into the criminal underworld. It’s not a tour with plenty of chances to explain, like an uneducated newcomer might receive. It doesn’t hide its secret, keeping every detail trapped until the hero can figure it out. Instead, the world immediately and aggressively sprawls out as Wick steps into it. John Wick movies follow their most notorious character, both in and outside the universe. It provides, on some level, a sense of power. The audience experiences the highest levels of this society through the lens of its mightiest and most feared fixture. This is a rare treat that the spinoffs are less likely to find.
How Can Wick Spinoffs Live Up to the Originals?
It stands to reason that a different character would provide a different perspective on the world and spice things up. The alternative has not been especially appealing so far. Part of the problem is probably that it’s airing too close to the original. If people don’t feel like they’re getting something notably different, they’ll likely just stick with the films. Unfortunately, the more traditional view of the franchise is a little less compelling. The From the World of John Wick label suggests a lack of faith in the spinoffs’ alternative ideas. Without John, the Wick franchise needs to keep finding new and interesting ways to explore the setting.
John Wick provided a fascinating introduction to the world he represented, but the hard truth is that the world exists as his playground. The From the World of John Wick franchise tag is accurate, as most of the framing concepts only popped up to give Wick more stuff to shoot. Many of those ideas, however, became extremely compelling ideas to consider out of context. Introducing another impossibly threatening assassin is probably a bridge too far, but the John Wick franchise must learn from its title character. Part of what made Wick’s world so compelling was the chance to see it from such an odd perspective. Future iterations need to keep that lesson in mind.
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