In a recent interview with Empire, director Chad Stahelski confirmed that John Wick: Chapter 4’s original ending was different from the movie’s final cut. Stahelski revealed that the latest installment initially gave the audience a much clearer answer regarding John Wick’s final fate. However, the ambiguous ending that made it into the theatrical cut was the one that the audiences preferred during the test screening, which was actually the one that Keanu and Stahelski also want.

“We had a different ending,” Stahelski said. “We shot an ending where you actually saw John Wick at the end of the movie. So it was very clear that he was still alive. The audiences we tested with absolutely preferred the ambiguous ending.”

John Wick: Chapter 5 in the Works

Following the theatrical release of John Wick: Chapter 4, Lionsgate executive Joe Drake confirmed that the studio is currently developing multiple John Wick projects including the fifth installment. The studio is also preparing for the upcoming premieres of Ana de Armas’ Ballerina movie and Peacock’s The Continental series, with the latter set to debut this September.

“John Wick (Keanu Reeves) uncovers a path to defeating The High Table,” reads the synopsis for Chapter 4. “But before he can earn his freedom, Wick must face off against a new enemy with powerful alliances across the globe and forces that turn old friends into foes.”

The film was directed by Stahelski from a screenplay co-written by Shay Hatten and Michael Finch, who is taking over from franchise creator Derek Kolstad. The fourth installment starred Reeves, Lance Reddick, Ian McShane, Rina Sawayama, Shamier Anderson, Bill Skarsgard, Clancy Brown, Hiroyuki Sanada, and Donnie Yen.

John Wick: Chapter 4 has earned a worldwide gross of over $428 million at the box office, making it the highest-grossing John Wick movie. Because of this, the franchise was able to reach the billion-dollar mark at the worldwide box office.