TheJohn Wickuniverse seems like it could be a font of fascinating projects outside its mainline entries. It has not lived up to that potential so far, but one can never claim it didn’t try. Wick still has half a dozen bullets in the magazine without counting the potential of a fifth film. Some of those ideas sound a bit rough, tossing Wick into one of several potential crossovers with films that took inspiration from his gimmick, but there are still a couple of fascinating pitches. One notable long-shot option involves Laurence Fishburne’s character, the Bowery King, and that idea deserves some attention.
The grand goal of every media property these days is a gargantuan, sprawling empire in the style of the Marvel Cinematic Universe or theStar Warsgalaxy.John Wickdoesn’t really maponto that concept very well. It is, or at least it was, an old-fashioned movie series that gained its prominence through traditional popularity. Lionsgate has no intention of pulling back from one of its most profitable names, but it’s still taking shots in the dark at what might make it a bit more consistent. Hopefully, it will continue to try new and interesting things with the franchise.
How ManyJohn WickSpinoffs Were Planned?
The thing about spinoffs and sequels in the modern era is that it’s often hard to tell what’s a relatively personable answer to an interviewer on a red carpet and what’s a script sitting on a desk waiting for the green light.Taking every potential next stepas a confirmation is a guarantee of disappointment, but there are always whispers of new films. Here’s a short list ofJohn Wickspinoff projects and where they are in their production cycle:
The Bowery King Movie Has a Great Premise
What do fans really know about the Bowery King? Very little, especially given that the list doesn’t include his name. He was once a random guard, like so many other minor criminal operatives beneath theendless reach of the High Table. Like so many of his peers, he ran afoul of John Wick. One of Wick’s most compelling techniques involved wounding a victim who didn’t have to die, granting them the choice to either keep pressure on their wound or attempt to stop Wick. The Bowery King made the right choice, allowing him to continue his career. At some point, he took ownership of The Soup Kitchen, a seemingly normal homeless shelter that actually arms, trains, and distributes spies and hired killers in the guise of unhoused people. The King relies on the citizens of New York City’s proclivity to ignore those in need of aid, granting him an untraceable information network that can keep perfect tabs on all the hustle and bustle. If the King is to be believed, his throne only exists so long as he occupies it. He’s an enemy of the High Table who works beneath the world. Exploring his corner of the secret criminal underworld through the lens of the man who seems to have built it from scratch would bea wholly new experiencein theJohn Wickfranchise.
Could The Bowery King Movie Still Come Out?
Very little has been said about this premise, but nothing has shut down the idea either. Series producer Erica Lee initially expressed interest in the project back in 2023, butStahelski confirmed something involvingthe homeless network the following year. It hasn’t really been mentioned since November, but there’s no reason to suspect it couldn’t be in the works. Stahelski set the Caine project and the animated prequel as the next projects to come afterBallerina, but everything beyond that seems up in the air.
The Bowery King provides a compelling story and a new look at an endlessly fascinating setting. Lionsgate seems prepared to lean more and more heavily on the big names, prompting them to consistentlyreach into the pastto pave the future. WhileThe Continentaldidn’t really land, the Bowery King is a stronger presence that could develop into a far more interesting new landscape. If Lionsgate wants theWorld of John Wickto work, they need to keep finding new ways to look at it. The Bowery King gives them a chance to look from the bottom up.
