Screenwriter Derek Kolstad developed the American neo-noir action-thriller media brand John Wick, which is owned by Summit Entertainment. John Wick, played by Keanu Reeves, is a former hitman who wants revenge for stealing his car and killing the puppy that his recently died wife gave him. In 2014, John Wick was released, and two sequels were released on February 11, 2017, and May 17, 2019, respectively, including John Wick: Chapter 2 and John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum. With a combined global box office total of almost $587 million, all three films were deemed critical and financial successes. John Wick: Chapter 4, the fourth installment, is currently in pre-production and is scheduled for release on May 27, 2022.  A fifth installment is also in development, and it will be shot back-to-back with the fourth film in 2021.

John Wick is on the run, being hunted with a $14 million open contract on his life for breaking a foundational rule: taking a life on Continental Hotel grounds. The victim, Santino D’Antonio (Riccardo Scamarcio) was a member of the High Table—the organization that ordered the open contract. John should have already been executed but Continental’s manager, Winston (Ian McShane), has given him a one-hour grace period before he is “excommunicado”—his membership revoked with him banned from all services and cut off from other members. John uses favours and contacts accrued in his former life to stay alive as he fights his way out of New York City. In October 2016, Stahelski announced the development of the third film. The film began production in early 2018.