TheJohn Wickfranchise has been steadily expanding since the release of the fourth movie in the main series, with multiple spin-offs continuing this fictional universe. The first wasThe Continental, which offered an insight into Winston’s younger years as he worked his way through the organization, and the second will beBallerina, which follows a member of the Ruska Roma clan who follows in Wick’s footsteps. AlthoughJohn Wick 5has been confirmed, it could be a while before the film eventually gets made - meaning there’s room for even more spin-offs before then.
There have been manytheories aboutJohn Wick 5that suggest some very bold and outlandish concepts for the sequel, but the most responsible and potentially interesting route for the franchise to take is actually another prequel.There’s so much to this universe that hasn’t been explored yet- so many interesting characters and complex relationships that deserve more screen time, and one figure stands out particularly strongly.
The Bowery King Has A Fascinating Backstory And Should Get A John Wick Prequel
Fishburne’s Character Has A Rich History
Laurence Fishburne’s Bowery King is one of theJohn Wickfranchise’s best characters, not just because of his suave personality and inherent charm, but also because of the complicated history that he has with the protagonist. It’s mentioned several times throughout theJohn Wickmovies thatthe Bowery King was once a target of Wick’s, but he managed to survive and eventually establish his own empire that’s served particularly useful to Wick throughout the years.
Ballerina: Release Date, Cast, Story, Trailer & Everything We Know About The John Wick Spinoff
Following the outstanding success of the first four John Wick films, the ever-popular action franchise is getting a spinoff in the form of Ballerina.
AJohn Wickprequel that focuses on the Bowery King’s rise to power, and eventual conflict with the titular assassin himself, could be a really interesting way of developing both characters’ backstories from a slightly different perspective. The Bowery King wasn’t always a hero; his moral compass is much more skewed, and this could be a fascinating lens through which to explore Wick’s story.
John Wick’s First Prequel Has Already Retconned The Bowery King’s Origin Story
The Character’s Origins Are Shrouded In Mystery
Interestingly, the details of the Bowery King’s backstory is an area where theJohn Wickwriters have never been totally clear on. In fact, the lore was entirely rewritten in an episode ofThe Continental, which claimed thatthe Bowery King wasn’t actually the original ruler of the Soup Kitchenat all. Instead, he’s said to have inherited it from another character named Mazie. This goes against the character’s claim that he founded his empire inJohn Wick: Chapter 2.
Allowing aJohn Wickspin-off project to dive deeper into the Bowery King’s past would be a smart way of resolving all the ambiguity that surrounds his backstory, and giving the audience a clearer picture of exactly who this character is.A potential Bowery King spin-offcould be the magic recipe that theJohn Wickfranchise needs to stay relevant in the future, while other spin-offs likeBallerinaintroduce the next generation of assassins.
John Wick
“John Wick” is a neo-noir action-thriller franchise centered around a retired hitman who returns to the criminal underworld to seek vengeance. Known for its intense and stylistic action sequences, the franchise has redefined modern action cinema with its choreographed gunfights, hand-to-hand combat, and intricate world-building. The series explores themes of loyalty, honor, and survival in a secret society of assassins.
