Ian McShane Reveals What John Wick 5 Depends On

Set in the exhilarating timeline between John Wick 3 and John Wick 4, the film Ballerina presents a compelling new character: Eve Macarro, portrayed by Anna de Armas. As a ballerina who moonlights as an assassin for the Ruska Roma crime family, Eve is on a relentless quest for vengeance following her father’s murder.

While Keanu Reeves returns as the iconic Baba Yaga, he does not take center stage in this narrative. Additionally, the late Lance Reddick reprises his beloved role as Charon in poignant scenes filmed prior to his passing in 2023, contributing a touch of nostalgia and emotion to the film.

In the lead-up to the release of Ballerina, we caught up with Ian McShane, who plays Winston, to discuss the much-anticipated John Wick 5.

The Buzz Around John Wick 5: Insights from Ian McShane

Ian McShane as Winston and Ana de Armas as Eve in Ballerina — Lionsgate

McShane remained somewhat enigmatic about the forthcoming installment of the franchise, primarily because it is still in its nascent stages. Nevertheless, he underscored a critical point: the film hinges on Keanu Reeves’ involvement. As McShane aptly noted, “He is the one and only Boogeyman.”

“I don’t know anything about it… They announced it and then they’ll make it. It depends on Keanu. If he’s fit and willing, I’m sure they’ll work out a number fine.”

Winston’s actor also expressed skepticism about John Wick’s fate in John Wick 4, suggesting that since audiences never witnessed his death, he might still be alive—a notion that aligns with the enduring spirit of action films.

In a reflective moment, McShane shared an intriguing backstory he and Reddick crafted for their characters, hinting this narrative might be woven into the plot of the next film.“Usually, I’d be with him [Reddick], you know, which was nice, because we invented this backstory between us that they met in Africa in the ’70s when I was working for MI6 and he was local government, ” McShane revealed.

“They kept in touch… and when they got too old, they got kicked out, and then they formed this partnership in private and formed this relationship… who knows who backed them. That’s the great thing, maybe that’s in John Wick 5, you never know.”

Shifting focus to Ballerina, McShane expressed enthusiasm for showcasing a female-driven narrative within the John Wick universe. He highlighted Eve’s integral role, stating, “It’s lovely to have a woman in the film who actually fits in, because it’s not just a whim either.”

He further elaborated on Eve’s background: “She appeared with Anjelica Huston’s Director at the ballet school… you get the history of her, and Winston gets to rescue her at the beginning of the movie, put her in the ballet school, and then you cut to 20 years later when she wants revenge; when she wants to know what happened to her dad, her family, and her mother.”

When asked if Winston sees similarities between Eve and John Wick, McShane affirmed, “Absolutely. They come from the same Ruska Roma family, they were bred into this, and he wants to help however he can without stepping outside the boundaries of the High Table.”

Ballerina is set to hit theaters on June 6, 2025. In the meantime, fans can delve deeper into the universe with insights about John Wick 5, the upcoming John Wick anime, and the new spinoff series, Under the High Table.

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