There’s nothing like a comeback! Whether it’s your favourite movie franchise or beloved actor, seeing them return to the big screen is a total rush!
From a highly-anticipated sequel to a storied franchise, to a return by an actor who was made for an iconic role – here’s the latest news on upcoming Hollywood comebacks.
“John Wick 5” Confirmed, But Keanu Reeves Isn’t?
What many first passed off as a generic murder flick of a man hunting for his dog’s killers, “John Wick” quickly spiralled out of control to unravel a rich world populated by assassins that are kept in check by a code of ethics that has left many hooked on for dear life. Complete with tight action scenes and a rich, in-depth lore to go along with it, people quickly fell in love with the franchise.
Of course, all good things must come to an end. Following the events of the fourth film, many have come to terms with the fact that the fourth installment was the last they’ll see of their favourite hitman, and that the upcoming “From the World of John Wick: Ballerina” spin-off film is cold comfort. So imagine their shock the moment it was announced that “John Wick 5” is now in development.
According to 9meters, the film is moving towards the production phase, and is aiming for a potential release date of late 2026. However, many are still wondering if Keanu Reeves will be involved in the project. In an interview with Newsweek, Reeves shot down the idea of him reprising the role, emphasising that the character died in “Chapter 4”. When it was suggested that Hollywood had a tendency of resurrecting characters, Keanu firmly replied with, “Right? Right now there isn’t.”
Several reports have circulated all over the internet, suggesting that he can no longer do physically demanding roles due to his advanced age. Other sources suggest that he might return to the role when the circumstances are right for him. Whether or not he is involved, the next instalment is still on its way, as per comments by Jenefer Brown, EVP and Head of Global Products & Experiences at LIONSGATE.
Brown divulged plans for the franchise to ComicBook, stating that “This world continues to grow and expand in incredible ways. Up next, of course, we have Ballerina, which is our first spin-off movie, and [we] can’t wait for that to release to the world. Of course, we’ve announced we’re working on a fifth John Wick film. I think there are more spinoffs to come, a TV series, video game.”
Of course, when asked about John Wick returning to the big screen, Brown replied, “We’ve shared that we’re developing a fifth John Wick film … [John Wick] may be [dead]. We are all on bated breath waiting to find out.” This may be an obvious foreshadowing that Reeves will be reprising his role as the monstrous assassin, but she may also be saying this to throw off the media. Until then, we eagerly await any new information while enjoying the upcoming spin-off led by Ana de Armas.
Jonathan Majors Expresses Interest In Returning To MCU
If you’re a fan of the MCU, or at least in the loop, then you know the whole controversy surrounding Jonathan Majors. We’ve covered the news about his case and how his firing changed the MCU, but to keep it short, Majors was caught in a massive scandal where he was accused of harassment and assault and was later convicted of one count of reckless assault in the 3rd degree and a charge of harassment as a violation.
In an attempt to fan away the stench of bad press and “conviction by association,” Disney was quick to drop the rising star from any and all MCU films. This was troubling, as it was reported that massive portions of Phases 5 and 6 had to be rewritten, as they made Majors’ Kang the Conqueror the focal point of those phases. Now, after over a year, the actor has decided to speak up about his firing, while still expressing his interest in reprising his role.
Jonathan Majors says he wants to play Kang the Conqueror again and speaks on how Marvel/Disney parted ways with him after his legal situation, not allotting him the same grace they gave actors Robert Downey Jr. and Jeremy Renner.
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He first debuted in the MCU as one of the Kang variants in “Loki” as He Who Remains and then as Kang the Conqueror himself in “Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania”. The character was then set to be the premier villain moving forward after Thanos. Despite his falling out with Disney and Marvel, Majors voiced his desire to return to the franchise, as he did when invited to speak on The Breakfast Club.
During the interview, he listed several famous actors that are a part of the MCU, like Jeremy Renner and Robert Downey Jr., both of whom had extensive scandals but were given a second chance. Majors then expressed how he wished he was afforded that same mercy. Despite this, he was quite optimistic about returning, stating that “it’s not over until it’s over” and that “as long as the fans are talking, there’s hope.” The actor has written a letter to Marvel Studios’ boss, Kevin Feige about wanting to come back, but he never received a reply.
Despite what could be his change of heart, genuine or otherwise, it is highly unlikely that he will return to the scene due to the controversy being fairly recent and highly publicised. Disney was quick to axe the actor, as it was a knee-jerk reaction, but we can’t downplay the severity of the charges that were brought upon Majors. Only time will tell if he will return.
Source: Screen Rant, Newsweek
