Of course,John Wick: Chapter 4’s directorChad Stahelskiknows exactly when each movie in the franchise takes place, but the answers about that timeline may surprise even the most die-hardfans. In an exclusive interview with Collider’sSteven Weintraub, Stahelski discussed the franchise’s expansive timeline, revealing that the events of the first three movies actually happen in a span of less than two weeks.
Released in 2014’sJohn Wicktells the story of a retired assassin (Keanu Reeves) who goes back to killing after being attacked by the son a powerful mobster son. Wick’s quest for revenge shakes the status quo of the underground network of assassins he used to work for, which leads him to be hunted by some dangerous people in 2017’sJohn Wick: Chapter 2and 2019’sJohn Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum.
Since the events of the three movies are deeply intertwined, we imagined they happened in a short period. However, Stahelski says the timeline is more concise than fans might expect. In the director’s words, “It’s almost like a week and a half, time-wise.” And even ifJohn Wick: Chapter 4features the biggest time jump in the franchise, the whole story is still told in less than a year. In the director’s words:
“Well, we figured the first three movies almost happened in like a week, week and a half, somewhere in there. That’s my version, I think Keanu’s is a little different, and I think this is like six months later. So within a year, I think it all happens. I would say almost within 7 to 8 months.”
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During the interview, Stahelski also spoke about how some of the movie’s events determined the creative team’s approach to the timeline issue. So, while they decided never to address the passage of time on screen, the injuries suffered by Wick affected the franchise’s timeline planning. Stahelski explains:
“I think it was in the second one, we actually kind of thought about that [including an explicit time frame] between the two, but then we were like, ‘Ah, that’s kind of goofy, we’ll just let people guess.’ Because we didn’t know how bad we were gonna injure him. You know, after number three, you’re like, ‘Okay.’ We can stretch it a little bit, but he did fall off a building, so we’re like, ‘Eh, a femur? Six months.’”
When IsJohn Wick: Chapter 4Coming to Theaters?
John Wick 4is the first movie in the franchise not to be written byDerek Kolstad, a decision thatdidn’t come from the screenwriter. Stahelski, however, is back to helm the sequel after co-directing the first film withDavid Leitchand taking complete control of the second and third installments. Stahelski directs from a script byArmy of the Dead’sShay HattenandAmerican Assassin’sMichael Finch.John Wick 4will also see the return ofIan McShane’s Winson andLance Reddick’s Charon. The movie also stars martial legendDonnie Yen,Shamier Anderson(Tenet),Bill Skarsgård(It),Hiroyuki Sanada(Mortal Kombat),Scott Adkins(Doctor Strange), andClancy Brown(The Shawshank Redemption).
John Wick: Chapter 4arrives in theaters on July 08, 2025. Check out the movie’s trailer and synopsis below, and look for more from our exclusive interview with Chad Stahelski soon.
John Wick (Keanu Reeves) uncovers a path to defeating the High Table. But before he can earn his freedom, Wick must face off against a new enemy with powerful alliances across the globe and forces that turn old friends into foes.
