You never run out of targets when you’re the world’s greatestassassin, soJohn Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellumwill bringKeanu Reeves‘ legendary hitman back to the screen for more bullet-riddled adventures on May 17. We already know some of the characters who will and won’t be returning for the third installment of the franchise in prior updates, and now we have some of the first footage, too.

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John Wick: Chapter 2director Chad Stahelski will return behind the camera forParabellum, and screenwriter Derek Kolstad is confirmed to be penning the script for the film, after having written the first two installments of the series.

Here is everything we know aboutJohn Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellumso far.

Don’t worry about the dog

Fans of the franchise who might be worried about the fate of the dog last seen running along with John Wick at the end of the second film need not be concerned: Aclip from the filmreveals that his new pup is going to be looked after.

Well, that answers that burning question, at least.

Killer trailers

A new trailer for the film was released in March, and offered a mix ofgun fights, dogs, and even aMatrixreference.

Thefirst trailer forJohn Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum(see above) premiered January 17, just a day after Lionsgate teased its arrival with a brief teaser.

Just a day before the full trailer was released, the first, official footage fromJohn Wick: Chapter 3was revealed via a brief teaser video that announced when the full-length trailer would debut.

First photos

Some of the first studio photos fromJohn Wick: Chapter 3werereleased in December. Along with featuring Reeves as the titular assassin along with Halle Berry as Sofia, whose character shares an affinity for dogs with John Wick.

Welcome to the next chapter.#JohnWick3pic.twitter.com/qtvXepVEvw

— World of John Wick (@JohnWickMovie)July 12, 2025

Nothing Common

When John wick returns to the screen in 2019, one antagonist he won’t be facing is Cassian, the assassin played by Common in the second film.

In an interview withComingSoon, Common confirmed that his character — who was left to an uncertain fate inJohn Wick: Chapter 2— won’t be back for another round with Reeves’ titular hitman.

“I’m not in the third part, but I could say that I really loved being a part ofJohn Wick 2and it was an amazing experience,” Common said. “Working with Keanu and Chad [Stahelski], they’re just phenomenal. Challenged and really passionate about the stuff, and I can say that three is going to be incredible, though, I’ll tell you that much.”

Reeves’ popular hitman made an appearance at London’s annual Brand Licensing Expo in early October, with Lionsgate revealing a logo forJohn Wick: Chapter 3on the show floor. The logo appears in agallery of photos posted on Instagramfeaturing several upcoming movies promoted at the show.

Old friends

Two fan-favorite characters fromJohn WickandJohn Wick: Chapter 2will be back for the third film, but it’s possible that they might not be on the same team as the titular assassin this time around.

Old friends. New enemies. Chapter 3.#JohnWick3pic.twitter.com/EAlMLC8N0p

— World of John Wick (@JohnWickMovie)Aug 12, 2025

In August, the film’s Twitter account posteda photoof Laurence Fishburne and Ian McShane — reprising their roles as the Bowery King and Winston, respectively — from the set ofJohn Wick: Chapter — Parabellum. The photo was captioned, “Old friends. New enemies. Chapter 3.”

This marks the first time the two characters will appear on the same screen together, and their meeting could portend either very bad things for John Wick or a pair of powerful allies in his corner.

Secret footage

With filming underway in New York City, video has been spilling out from the set ofParabellum, offering a peek at what’s to come — and likely a few spoilers, too. (Consider yourself warned about the potential spoilers.)

One videoposted on Twittershows Keanu Reeves galloping through the crowded city streets on a horse.

Keanu Reeves rides horse at full speed for "John Wick 3" in New York, NYhttps://t.co/fSdBxImNwEpic.twitter.com/TrnUqfcaX9

— Keanuital (@Keanuital)August 11, 2025

Another videoappearing on Instagramappears to show Laurence Fishburne’s character in a dangerous encounter with Mark Dacascos’ bald, sword-wielding character.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bi_o0JnAHia/?utm_source=ig_embed

And yet anotherTwitter videoshows Reeves taking a break on set while wearing hair clips and having a smoke. No surprise: Reeves even looks cool while wearing bright yellow hair clips.

https://twitter.com/woIgang/status/1017157950459113472

A new name

Reeves revealed the official name of the upcoming John Wick installment inan interview with comingsoon.net. The star said the film will be calledJohn Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum, after the famed saying “Si vis parcem, para bellum,” which means, “If you want peace, prepare for war.”

Face-off footage

Some behind-the-scenes video fromParabellumfound its way online in mid-June, and it features Reeves facing off against another actor — reported to be Mark Dacascos — in Manhattan’s famous Grand Central Terminal. The video was posted byHollywood Pipeline, and also includes some footage of Reeves practicing a knife-fight sequence with another actor.

Say hello to Sofia

Halle Berry officiallyannounced her involvement via Instagramon May 21,  letting fans know she was joining the cast of the film with a message written on a piece of stationary from The Continental.

A post shared by Halle Berry (@halleberry)

Her character was identified a few weeks later on theofficial Twitter accountforJohn Wick 3: Parabellum, which posted a photo of Berry in character as “Sofia,” who apparently has a few things in common with John Wick: An affinity for dogs and the color black.

A woman on a mission.@HalleBerryis Sofia in#JohnWick3.pic.twitter.com/uMjCaB43Lg

— World of John Wick (@JohnWickMovie)June 12, 2025

Loading up

In addition to a motley crew of returning cast members (see below), several additions to theParabellumcast are generating considerable buzz. A tweet from the official @JohnWickMovie account announced the casting of four actors: Anjelica Huston (The Addams Family) as the Director of the High Table, Asia Kate Dillon (Orange is the New Black) as The Adjudicator, Jason Mantzoukas (Big Mouth) as Tick Tock Man, and Mark Dacascos (Cradle 2 The Grave) as Zero. We’re guessing the latter two characters are assassins.

Welcome@AsiaKateDillon,@AnjelicaHuston,@Mark_Dacascosand Jason Mantzoukas to#JohnWick3. 5.17.19pic.twitter.com/28OGihmXiI

— World of John Wick (@JohnWickMovie)August 12, 2025

In our sights

Oscar-nominated cinematographer Dan Laustsen (The Shape of Water) confirmed that production is indeed underway onJohn Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellumwith a pair of photos he posted onInstagramfrom the New York City set of the film.

A post shared by Dan Laustsen ASC. DFF. (@dan.laustsen)

Although the photos don’t reveal much about the movie (other than its working title, “Parabellum”), one thing does seem certain: Like the two films that came before it, the third installment of the franchise will continue to make ample use of shadows and neon.

A killer story

John Wickstudio Lionsgate put the third film front and center during its presentation at CinemaCon in April 2018, and revealed the first, official synopsis forJohn Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum.

According to the movie’s synopsis, the film will have Reeves’ hitman fighting for survival as he attempts to flee New York City. Thefull synopsisreleased by the studio reads as follows:

John Wick (Keanu Reeves) is on the run for two reasons … he’s being hunted for a global $14 million dollar open contract on his life, and for breaking a central rule: Taking a life on Continental Hotel grounds. The victim was a member of the High Table who ordered the open contract. John should have already been executed, except the Continental’s manager, Winston, has given him a one-hour grace period before he’s “excommunicado” – membership revoked, banned from all services, and cut off from other members. John uses the service industry to stay alive as he fights and kills his way out of New York City.

The summary of the film’s plot was accompanied by a fairly straightforwardpromotional poster for the filmthat was glimpsed by Collider during the event.

An evil rumor

In January 2018, a rumorbegan circulatingthat actor Hiroyuki Sanada had joined the cast ofParabellumto play the role of the film’s primary villain. The rumor speculated that Sanada would play the head of a Japanese crime syndicate — possibly the Yakuza.

The rumor regarding Sanada remains unconfirmed, but it’s also been reported that the film is casting alarge number of Japanese actorsbefore it begins filming, lending some support to the initial rumor.

If all of the rumors prove true, it will be a reunion of sorts for Sanada and Reeves, who co-starred in 2013’s47 Ronin. Sanada will also appear in the second season ofWestworldand previously appeared inThe Wolverine.

Ready, aim, shoot

The third installment of the John Wick franchise will hit theaters in 2019, but cameras are expected to begin rolling near the end of April, according to an unconfirmed report.

A widely circulated report fromOmega Undergroundindicates that the studio plans to begin production onParabellumon or around April 26. That mark is a bit earlier than initially expected, and the report goes on to suggest that filming will occur in New York City and Montreal, with the latter city playing the role of the former (much as it did inJohn Wick: Chapter 2).

Finger on the trigger

John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellumwas first reported to be entering the pre-production phase in December 2017, withOmega Undergroundreporting that Kolstad had finished his script and the project is gaining momentum. Although the film still doesn’t have a director attached, casting could begin in the near future — particularly if the studio plans to bring Stahelski back.

Lionsgate announced the release date for the third chapter of theJohn Wickfranchise in September 2017. At the moment, theJohn Wicksequel is the only movie scheduled to premiere that weekend, but that’s likely to change as the 2019 calendar begins filling up.

A cast of killers

At this point, it’s unknown which cast members will — or even can — return from the previous two installments of the franchise, given the high body count of the sequel. Reeves’ titular assassin, however, will likely be joined by returning cast members Ian McShane, Lance Reddick, and John Leguizamo, who all played key roles in the first two movies.

Reeves has also indicated that he’d like to bring Oscar-winning actress Tilda Swinton (Doctor Strange,We Need to Talk About Kevin) into the franchise. Speaking toPeoplein September 2017, Reeves welcomed a reunion with Swinton.

“You know, I had the chance to work with her — I was in two films with her [ConstantineandThumbsucker] … I’m on board with that,” he said. “We run into each other once in a while socially out there in the world. She’s a remarkable person and actress, so I’m all aboard with that!”

New targets, new places

Details are scarce regarding the plot ofParabellum, but the second film in the franchise ended on a cliffhanger of sorts, with (spoiler alert) John Wick on the run from the global guild of assassins he once belonged to, with a massive bounty on his head.

“Tell them … tell them all … whoever comes, whoever it is, I’ll kill them. I’ll kill them all,” he tells McShane’s character before running off into New York City with his dog.

Various reports suggest that the film could send John Wick to Tokyo or Jerusalem — something Reeves himselfhinted at— or possibly make his way tothe United Kingdom or Asia. While doing interviews for the second film, Stahelski indicated a desire to explore John’s origin story a bit deeper in the third film, as well as the hierarchy of the criminal underworld that was teased inJohn Wick: Chapter 2.

“We are going to put in something about the High Table, how that all works,” Stahelski toldThe Independentin June 2017. “We’re going to put in something about where John comes from, and where he wants to go. I don’t want to say too much more, but it will be a nice completion to Mr. Wick’s journey.”

The legacy

One of the surprise hits of 2014, the firstJohn Wickmovie raked in $43 million domestically and $88.7 million worldwide with its story of a retired hitman who’s drawn back into his violent past life when a pair of petty criminals with powerful connections push him too far. The film was made for just $20 million andreceived glowing reviewsfrom professional critics and general audiences alike for its innovative action sequences, making it a surprisingly successful project for co-directors Stahelski and David Leitch. A sequel wasannounced shortly thereafter, and 2017’sJohn Wick: Chapter 2wasan even bigger hit, earning $92 million in U.S. theaters and $171.5 million worldwide on a production budget of $40 million andeven more positive reviewsthan its predecessor.

Updated on June 24, 2025: Added a clip from the film.