John Wick 5 is Official

Yayyy!!!!! "John Wick 5" is official, with Lionsgate confirming on Tuesday, the 60-year-old Keanu Reeves is set to return to the role.

The announcement was made on-stage during CinemaCon 2025 (March 31-April 03) – which took place at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, USA – by Adam Fogelson, chair of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group. 

Development on John Wick: Chapter 5 has begun, with Thunder Road producers Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee, franchise director and producer Chad Stahelski, and star and producer Keanu Reeves all on-board. No release window was offered. 

While it makes sense that yet another mainline John Wick movie would be green lit, given "John Wick: Chapter 4" took in over $440 million at the worldwide box office and each of the first four films accomplishing the rare feat of outperforming its predecessor, it perhaps does not make much sense when you consider the ending of the fourth instalment.

John Wick appears to die at the end of John Wick: Chapter 4 after, once again, defeating the bad guys. We even get to see John Wick’s gravestone, with Winston (Ian McShane) and the Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne) saying their farewells. But, crucially, we only see John Wick collapse from his injuries and appear to die. I don't remember getting a look at the death certificate, let's put it that way.

So, how can Reeves continue as Wick? There are no story details yet; still, there have been quotes from some of the people putting the movie together that confirm this is a continuation of John Wick’s story. 

Fogelson said: “Keanu, Chad, Basil, and Erica would not return unless they had something truly phenomenal and fresh to say with these characters and this world. We can’t wait for audiences to see where the journey takes us next”. 

Iwanyk and Lee added: “It’s so important to get this story right and give John’s story the proper next step. It’s exciting to take the first step on that road”. 

Of course, I'm thrilled!

Story Idea Needed for John Wick 5

Yay-y-y! I just read on Screen Rant today regarding a potential John Wick 5, that franchise director Chad Stahelski has hinted that he and Keanu Reeves (left) are open to another installment, but a strong enough story idea hasn't yet presented itself. 

 

And so, I just have to share it! I'm confident a script will materialise. And we'll get the movie.

 

Let's pray we won't have to wait too long.

 

Yesterday, Celtic secured a 2-1 victory over Hibernian to restore their three-point lead at the Scottish Premiership summit. 

 

On-loan Norwich striker Adam Idah opened his account from the spot inside ten minutes as Alistair Johnston was carried off after an opponent's foul in the box. 

 

However, as has so often been the case this season, it appeared Celtic's profligacy would cost them as Hibs struck from the edge of the box in the sixtieth minute and hauled their side level.

 

But Idah was again given the opportunity (90+2) from the penalty spot – against the run of play – as Kyogo Furuhashi was judged to have been fouled inside the box after VAR intervention.

 

 

Vegan Restaurant to Serve Meat to Keep Doors Open

A vegan restaurateur in the UK who announced he was going to have to start serving meat to avoid closure says vegan “fanatics” have bombarded his cafe with bad reviews to try to punish him. 

 

Adonis Norouznia, the owner of Nomas Gastrobar in Macclesfield, Cheshire said “fanatics” had begun “defame” him with one-star reviews since he announced the “difficult but necessary decision” to add meat and dairy to his plant-based menu. 

 

Norouznia (left), who is from Athens, Greece said he planned to add a “thoughtfully curated selection of high quality, responsibly sourced meat and dairy options” in order to stay afloat. 

 

“The limitations of our vegan menu, at times, meant we welcomed only a small number of customers, making it increasingly difficult to thrive financially”, he explained in an apologetic Facebook post last month.

 

He said his was the fourth vegan restaurant in Macclesfield to cave in to meat eaters during the seven years he has lived there. “When my business is 100% vegan, I’m targeting only 5% of the market”, he lamented. 

 

Nomas Gastrobar opened their doors in May 2020 but it's been a constant struggle to attract enough customers to stay in business.

 

"When some people find out we are vegan they walk out", he told the BBC. "Vegan only is not going to pay my staff or support my family". 

 

I support. I'm a carnivore, that's why. And please, no vegan jokes in the comments – they're soy cheesy.

 

Keanu Reeves (left) has been awarded the inaugural Lance Reddick Legacy Award at the 51st Annual Saturn Awards in California, USA on Sunday. Named after Reeves’ late John Wick co-star Lance Reddick, the award “symbolises and celebrates not only a performer’s talent, but their character”. 

 

[Note: Reddick died on March 17, 2023, ahead of the release of John Wick 4, in which he reprised his role of Charon, the hotel concierge. Reeves and the film’s director Chad Stahelski dedicated the film to his memory. 

 

Reddick (right) enjoyed a prolific, nearly 30-year career as a professional actor. Along with The Wire, he had notable roles in hit TV shows like Oz, Lost, Fringe, and Bosch. His movie credits included action flicks like White House Down and Godzilla vs. Kong, as well as Spike Lee’s remake of Oldboy. And he frequently did voice overwork for blockbuster video games like the Quantum Break, the Destiny franchise, and Horizon Zero Dawn]. 

 

The Saturn Awards is the official ceremony of The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films. The Academy annually recognizes film and television artists who’ve created some of the best genre entertainment in the world.

 

On Reeves chosen as the first recipient of the award introduced this year, the organizers’ press release read: “From Science Fiction (The Matrix trilogy), Fantasy (Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure/Constantine) & Horror (Francis Ford Coppola’s Dracula/The Devil’s Advocate), Keanu has done it all – not to mention Speed and Point Break. 

 

“Keanu is not just a Hollywood icon but also a shining example of humility and gratitude. Throughout his incredible career, he has never forgotten the support of his fans and the filmmakers who’ve supported him all these years. We’re thrilled to celebrate Lance’s memory with a dear friend and a genre icon”.

A Historical Fantasy Novel by Keanu Reeves

Keanu Reeves (left) is diving further into the literary world. 

 

The John Wick star shared a special announcement with Good Morning America on Wednesday announcing that he is collaborating with author China Miéville on a novel titled "The Book of Elsewhere". 

 

The novel is inspired by BRZRKR, a comic book series the actor first released in 2021, which he co-wrote with Matt Kindt and artist Ron Garney. 

 

"Hi, greetings. I'm very excited for the opportunity to announce that I've partnered with one of my favorite authors, China Miéville, on the novel The Book of Elsewhere", Reeves shared with GMA in a video announcement. "The series tells the story of an immortal warrior's fight through the ages, and I love the world of BRZRKR so much that I wanted to explore it further and I thought one of the best ways to do that is through a novel". 

 

In a press release shared with PEOPLE, Reeves said that "fantastic fiction" writer Miéville (right) "came in with a clear architecture for the story and how he wanted to play with the world of BRZRKR, a world that I love so much. I was thrilled with his vision and feel honored to be a part of this collaborative process", he added. 

 

The upcoming novel marks another new medium Reeves' BRZRKR series will take on beyond its initial run as a comic book. 

 

Netflix had previously announced in March 2021 that they are adapting the comic book into a feature film starring Reeves that will be followed by a spinoff anime series. At the time, Netflix's synopsis for the project described it as "a brutally epic saga about an immortal warrior’s 80,000 year fight through the ages".

 

FYI, "The Book of Elsewhere" is expected to publish in July.

Mozzies Adapt to Survive and Flourish

Aedes mosquitoes (Scientific name: Aedes aegypti) in Malaysia have adapted their behaviour in the last 20 years to circumvent efforts to extinguish them. 

This fact was quoted by an expert in medical entomology that was originally published in Sin Chew Daily and reprinted in The Star (p 14) on Monday. 

Dr Lee Yean Wang (right) who wrote his PhD thesis on Aedes control, said these mozzies have learnt how to scramble indoors and hide safely as and when fogging is carried out. 

Data in the last 5 years indicated that more Malaysians were bitten by these bloodsuckers indoors rather than outdoors. The situation was made worse by the tendency of homeowners to shut windows and doors whenever a fogging was done. 

This, he said, would create a “safe haven” for the insects. He also added that rising temperatures over the last few decades had led to a change in their behavior. 

“Aedes mosquitoes will bite at a temperature of between 24-degree Celsius and 30-degree Celsius. However, they are most active between 26 degree Celsius and 28 degree Celsius”, he said. 

Okay, noted! 

An update on BRZRKR’s Kickstarter campaign. 

If you don’t know what it’s all about, kindly go and check my post “BRZRKR Sets Earnings Record in First 24 Hours” published September 07, 2020. 

Just saw this when I went to the Kickstarter website! With 8 days remaining, BRZRKR has already secured 9,610 backers and accrued $1,005,863 worth of pre-orders todate! That is what I call a massive success! 

Keanu Reeves rocks!

BRZRKR Sets Earnings Record in First 24 Hours

On July 24, 2020, I had blogged about Keanu Reeves venturing into comics and of course, it created an overwhelming anticipation. 

He had teamed up with writer Matt Kindt, artist Ron Garney (who replaced Alessandro Vitti), colorist Bill Crabtree and letterer Clem Robins to produce BRZRKRA. 

Simply put, it is a graphic novel series about an immortal warrior who seeks only one thing: the truth about his blood-soaked existence... and how to end it! 

And what's interesting is that BOOM! Studios are offering the blockbuster graphic novel through Kickstarter. There are ten types of packages to choose from – whether regular softcover or hardcover, limited edition deluxe with or without boxed set and ultra-rare, premium formats in collectible "gunmetal" or "platinum" metal boxes as well as an opportunity to get exclusive cover art and even a Keanu Reeves signature. At the time of writing, three versions have been sold out.

The campaign started September 01 and will last through October 01, 2020. 

Actually, the motive behind the Kickstarter campaign is to bring new readers to comics. 

As Ross Richie, CEO & Founder of BOOM! Studios explains: "Many companies use Kickstarter to fund their projects. We are not doing this. We are working with Kickstarter as a distribution platform to expand our reach. It's our dream here at BOOM! Studios to introduce new readers to the medium of comic books and graphic novels. By combining the reach of Kickstarter with the interest in Keanu Reeves and the action-packed epic that is BRZRKR, we're excited to introduce so many folks to their very first comic book". 

BOOM! Studios appear to be going after Keanu Reeves fans who are not regular comic readers. The campaign only gives new fans the option to pre-order all 3 of the eventual collections with one click through Kickstarter. Then the collections will mail out to customers as the books are released. It's an appealing option for a first-time reader (or the celebrity-obsessed), who wants to get a complete reading experience without having to remember to order Volumes 2 and 3 later. 

And wow! BRZRKR has earned a record-setting $359,297 in the first 24 hours! 

As of now, Kickstarter.com tells us the total stands at $661,060 with 24 days to go. 

I read that when the collections come out, comic shops and bookstores will have them at the same time as usual. Not to mention, it's also available at the BOOM! Studios webstore. 

Digital copies can be purchased from content providers like comiXology, iBooks, Google Play and Madefire.

Keanu Reeves to Debut as Comic-book Writer

Keanu Reeves (left) is super talented. Actor, musician, film producer and, now, he is making his debut as a comic-book writer. 

The John Wick and Matrix star is co-writing with New York Times bestselling graphic novelist Matt Kindt as well as teaming up with artist Alessandro Vitti on a 12-issue comic from Boom! Studios. It’s called “Berzerker” but spelled “BRZRKR”. 

Artwork for the comic that's been released so far appears to also take some inspiration from Reeves. 

The official synopsis for Keanu’s blood-soaked BRZRKR! goes like this: 

The action-packed and hyper-violent “BRZRKR” centers on a warrior who looks a lot like a certain beloved actor and has walked a blood-soaked path across the world for centuries. In present day, the Berzerker does dangerous jobs for the US government in exchange for the truth about his existence.

Reeves told USA Today that the story will take some "really interesting twists and turns" and that the comic will explore themes of "the nature of violence, morals, ethics (and) what side do you choose". 

The project is a “dream come true”, he confided. 

The maiden issue comes out in print and digital on October 07. I’m sure his legions of fans like me are super excited!