Ian McShane will reprise his role as Winston opposite Keanu Reeves’ “Baba Yaga” in John Wick: Chapter 4.
“I couldn’t be happier than to welcome Ian McShane back to John Wick: Chapter 4,” said director Chad Stahelski, confirming the news to Deadline. “He is not only an amazing actor but is an indispensable collaborator who has helped define the world of John Wick.”
Stahelski, who also helmed the first three John Wick movies, will direct Chapter 4 from a script by John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum co-writer Shay Hatten and Predators scribe Michael Finch. Joining McShane and Reeves are returning John Wick stars Lance Reddick and Laurence Fishburne, reprising their roles as Charon and The Bowery King. Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgård, Hiroyuki Sanada, Scott Adkins, Marko Zaror and Japanese-British pop superstar Rina Sawayama will board the John Wick franchise for Chapter 4.
Released in 2014, the original John Wick introduced Winston as the owner of The Continental Hotel and an old associate of John’s. However, the duo parted ways on not-so-friendly terms at the end of 2019’s Chapter 3, when Winston shot John off a building in order to appease the High Table. The movie’s final scene showed John surviving his would-be fatal fall and teaming up with an equally angry Bowery King to take on those who rule the High Table.
In light of Winston’s betrayal, it’s unclear whether the character will survive the events of Chapter 4 to return for the already-confirm John Wick 5. Either way, the upcoming spinoff show, The Continental, will take viewers back in time to 1970s-era New York, revealing how Winston came to power in the first place. “What we’re exploring in The Continental is the young Winston and how it came to be that he and his team of confederates found their way into this hotel which we have met for the first time in the movie franchise 40 years later,” said Lionsgate TV head Kevin Beggs, describing the series in April 2021.
After being delayed a year due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, John Wick: Chapter 4 is now filming and is scheduled to arrive in theaters on May 27, 2022. Along with The Continental, Lionsgate plans to further expand the property with a spinoff movie titled Ballerina.
Source: Deadline
About The Author
