The Baba Yaga isn’t done yet. While fans have spent the last few years debating whether Keanu Reeves would ever slip back into that black suit for a fifth cinematic chapter, Lionsgate has quietly pulled the trigger on something far more unexpected. On January 4, 2026, reports confirmed that the studio has revived and accelerated plans for a high-budget, triple-A video game set in the John Wick universe. This isn’t a mobile cash-in or a modest indie experiment. It’s a full-scale, big-studio production designed to let players live the legend — to become the relentless assassin in a world of gold coins, unbreakable rules, and impossible odds.

For a franchise built on pulse-pounding, meticulously choreographed violence and an ever-expanding criminal mythology, the leap into interactive entertainment feels almost inevitable. Yet the journey to this moment has been anything but straightforward. Earlier talks in 2023 fizzled out, leaving fans frustrated after years of wishing for a game worthy of the films. Now, with Lionsgate executives openly enthusiastic and the gaming industry hungrier than ever for cinematic franchises, the project has roared back to life. This could be the most ambitious expansion of the John Wick world yet — one where you don’t just watch the Boogeyman. You control him.

The Improbable Rise of a Modern Action Mythology

Few could have predicted the trajectory of John Wick when the first film arrived in 2014. Directed by Chad Stahelski and David Leitch — both longtime stunt coordinators and Keanu Reeves’ former Matrix doubles — the movie was a lean, mean revenge story with a modest budget of around $20–30 million. Reeves, still beloved but coming off a string of underperforming projects, played a retired hitman dragged back into the underworld after Russian gangsters steal his car and kill his puppy — the final gift from his dying wife.

What elevated the film from B-movie territory to cultural phenomenon was its action. Stahelski and Leitch crafted sequences that felt fresh and visceral: long, unbroken takes, practical stunts, and a hybrid fighting style dubbed “gun-fu” that married Hong Kong martial arts precision with tactical firearm handling. Audiences and critics responded overwhelmingly. The original earned $86 million worldwide and instantly spawned a franchise.

The sequels only grew bolder. Chapter 2 (2017) introduced the larger criminal society — the Continental Hotel as sacred neutral ground, gold coins as universal currency, and the shadowy High Table pulling strings from above. Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019) turned the dial to eleven with horseback chases and knife-throwing mayhem. Chapter 4 (2023) delivered what many called the pinnacle: a $440 million global haul, breathtaking set pieces like the Arc de Triomphe shootout and the 222-step Sacré-Cœur staircase fall, and an ending that felt definitive, even funereal.

Together, the four films have grossed over $1 billion, transforming Keanu Reeves into an action icon for a new generation and making Chad Stahelski one of Hollywood’s most in-demand directors. More importantly, they built a world so rich with lore — the Bowery King’s underground network, the Ruska Roma, the Adjudicator’s ancient codes — that it practically begs for deeper exploration. A world perfect for a video game.

From Stalled Dreams to Renewed Momentum

Gaming adaptations of the John Wick universe aren’t entirely new. In 2019, Good Shepherd Entertainment released John Wick Hex, a clever but niche tactical strategy game that captured the planning side of Wick’s fights through timeline manipulation. Fortnite and Payday 2 featured limited-time crossovers. A VR title, John Wick Chronicles, appeared in 2017. None, however, scratched the itch for a true blockbuster experience.

In 2023, rumors surfaced that Lionsgate was in discussions for a major AAA title. Excitement built quickly — only to deflate when the project seemingly vanished. Fans assumed budget concerns, creative differences, or shifting studio priorities had killed it.

Fast-forward to early 2026. According to reports from French entertainment site 3DVF and corroborated by industry insiders, those conversations have not only resumed but gained serious traction. Lionsgate CEO Adam Fogelson and other executives have expressed genuine enthusiasm, pointing to recent gaming successes as proof of concept. Hogwarts Legacy sold over 22 million copies in its first year, showing that beloved IP can dominate when executed well. And few need reminding of Keanu Reeves’ own gaming triumph: his portrayal of Johnny Silverhand in Cyberpunk 2077 played a massive role in the title’s redemption and cultural resonance.

The timing feels perfect. The video game industry has matured into a storytelling medium capable of rivaling cinema. Titles like The Last of Us, God of War Ragnarök, and Elden Ring deliver emotional depth, breathtaking visuals, and mechanical sophistication that would have been unthinkable a decade ago. For a franchise defined by rhythm, precision, and style, interactive gameplay offers something film never could: agency.

What Could This Game Actually Feel Like?

While concrete details remain under wraps — no developer, platform, or release window announced — the possibilities are intoxicating.

Picture this: You begin in a dimly lit Continental suite, tailoring a new suit and selecting weapons from an arsenal that grows with every completed contract. Charon offers upgrades in exchange for gold coins. Winston briefs you on High Table bounties. Then you step into the neon-drenched streets of New York, Tokyo, or Casablanca.

Combat would need to capture the films’ signature flow. A third-person perspective seems likely, blending tight gunplay with seamless martial arts transitions. Slow-motion “focus” modes could reward perfect timing, letting players chain headshots and throws like choreography. Environmental interaction — grabbing improvised weapons, using cover dynamically, executing those glorious pencil kills — would feel essential.

The world itself could be semi-open: hub areas like the Continental serve as social and upgrade centers, while mission zones open up for creative mayhem. Side contracts might explore untold stories — perhaps a younger Wick during his “impossible task,” or a new assassin navigating the same underworld. Branching choices could affect your standing with the High Table: play by the rules and earn favor, or go excommunicado for greater rewards and deadlier consequences.

Multiplayer remains speculative, but imagine co-op marker redemptions or carefully balanced PvP modes that respect Continental rules — no business on hotel grounds. The soundtrack, blending Tyler Bates’ orchestral intensity with electronic pulses, would swell and fade in response to player actions.

Most tantalizing is the potential involvement of Keanu Reeves himself. His heartfelt performance in Cyberpunk 2077 showed he understands the medium. Motion capture, voice work, or even likeness approval would lend incomparable authenticity.

The Risks and the Stakes

AAA development is a high-wire act. Budgets routinely exceed $200 million, timelines stretch five to seven years, and fan expectations for licensed games are brutal. One misstep — clunky mechanics, diluted tone, or rushed release — could tarnish both the game and the brand.

Lionsgate’s track record in gaming is mixed at best. Past efforts like adaptations of Saw or Hunger Games never broke through. Yet the studio appears to have learned from industry leaders. Partnering with a proven developer — perhaps Sony’s Santa Monica Studio, Naughty Dog, or even CD Projekt Red — could mitigate risks.

Chad Stahelski’s involvement will be crucial. As the architect of the films’ action language, his oversight could ensure every gunshot and grapple feels authentic. His passion for pushing boundaries suggests the game won’t play it safe.

Where This Fits in the Expanding Wick Universe

The announcement arrives amid a flurry of other extensions. Ana de Armas leads the spin-off Ballerina (June 2025), with Reeves making a cameo. Donnie Yen’s Caine is getting his own film. A television series, Under the High Table, will explore the power vacuum after Chapter 4. Reeves and Stahelski remain open to a fifth movie but insist it must earn its existence.

The game stands apart as the most immersive expansion yet. It offers something no film or series can: the chance to inhabit the world, to make choices that ripple through its mythology, to feel the weight of every bullet and every broken rule.

Fan Reaction: From Cautious Hope to Full-Throated Excitement

Online communities have erupted since the news broke. Reddit’s r/JohnWick is flooded with concept art mock-ups and mechanical wish lists. Twitter threads dissect potential developers. Some remain wary — memories of the 2023 false start linger — but optimism dominates.

“If they nail the gun-fu like the movies nail choreography, this could be generational,” one user wrote. Another pointed to Reeves’ Cyberpunk redemption arc: “Keanu knows how to show up for gamers. I’m all in.”

The phrase “Yeah, I’m thinking I’m back” has become a rallying cry across comment sections.

A New Battlefield for the Boogeyman

John Wick has already conquered cinema. He’s inspired countless action imitators, revived Keanu Reeves’ career, and built a mythology that rivals any modern franchise. Now he prepares to conquer gaming — a medium uniquely suited to his precision, his rhythm, his unrelenting focus.

Whether you’re a film fan who quotes every Continental rule or a gamer hungry for the next great action experience, this unexpected return demands attention. The suit is being tailored. The guns are being loaded. The Continental doors are about to open to an entirely new kind of guest.

Stay sharp. The Baba Yaga is coming — and this time, you’re holding the controller.