In a text sent out to subscribers this morning, Lionsgate confirmed that John Wick: Chapter 4, which returns Keanu Reeves (The Matrix; Speed) as the titular badass, has officially commenced principal photography.
The statement reads, "It's begun. Consider this a professional courtesy. John Wick: Chapter 4 is now in production."
Chad Stahelski will be back in the director's chair, this time utilizing a screenplay from Shay Hatten and Michael Finch. Stahelski co-directed the first installment with David Leitch, but was the sole director on Chapter 2 and Chapter 3.
For this adventure, Reeves is joined by Donnie Yen (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story; xXx: The Return of Xander Cage), newcomer Rina Sawayama, Shamier Anderson (Wynonna Earp; Goliath), Bill Skarsgård (It; Deadpool 2), and Hiroyuki Sanada (The Last Samurai; The Wolverine).
While the studio hasn't issued a formal cast announcement just yet, franchise mainstays Ian McShane, Lance Reddick, Laurence Fishburne, Tobias Segal, Saïd Taghmaoui, Asia Kate Dillon, Robin Lord Taylor, and Jason Mantzoukas are all expected to reprise their roles from the previous installment.
Plot details remain locked away in the deepest corners of The Continental, but filming will take place on location in France, Germany, and Japan.
John Wick: Chapter 4 is currently scheduled to hit theaters on May 27, 2022.
In related news, director Rian Johnson has announced that filming has also officially begun on his upcoming Knives Out sequel, which will see Daniel Craig return as Benoit Blanc, and is set to debut on Netflix sometime in 2022.
The new batch of suspects consist of Dave Bautista, Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Kate Hudson, Madelyn Cline, and Jessica Henwick.