John Wick: Chapter 4 star Keanu Reeves confirmed a major rumor concerning his iconic assassin character during a post-screening question and answer session at an advance screening at South By Southwest.

John Wick: Chapter 4 is the fourth film in the John Wick franchise, which follows the eponymous character on a path of revenge after a group of men breaks into his home to rob him, stealing his prized vehicle and killing his pet, the final keepsake of his deceased wife. Coming out of retirement to exact the dues for their sins, the legendary Baba Yaga has shot, stabbed, and stunt-flipped his way through three films. Now the time has come for him to take on the shadowy High Table, a group built up as one of the most iconic secret societies in movies throughout the preceding films.

RELATED: John Wick: Chapter 4 Behind-The-Scenes Video Teases Crazy Fight Scenes

The fourth entry in the John Wick franchise has a feeling of finality to it, with Reeves expressing that the film existed “...for him to get his freedom in a way, that was the reason to tell the story” and Director Chad Stahelski teasing an emotional conclusion in John Wick 4. Fittingly, the franchise has been expanding, with plans for spinoffs both on television and on the big screen. Pre-eminent among the projects discussed in this vein is the Ana De Armas-led Ballerina, a project that Reeves has confirmed he will appear in, as reported by Deadline.

The rumors of Reeves' involvement in the project have been circulating even before it was announced that Ana de Armas is leading the John Wick spinoff. De Armas talked about filming scenes with Reeves for Ballerina, and his casting was reported on in late 2022. After the standing ovation and excitement calmed down at the John Wick 4 screening, Reeves and Stahelski took to the stage for a Q and A, where the news was confirmed in Reeves' own words. Reeves also assured fans that he was also working on bringing back his Constantine character.

John Wick has some of the best world-building in an action franchise. Reeves' playing a part in the first high-profile spin-off of his inanely popular films could be the defining factor in making a cohesive franchise that seems truly interconnected, as opposed to smaller projects simply taking advantage of the name and goodwill the franchise built up with the mainline installment. With a small-screen spinoff currently being set up at Peacock and talks of a fifth John Wick-focused film in the vein of a prequel still on the table, Reeves is likely to be involved with the franchise he built for quite a while.

Many are less enthused and are quick to point out that the John Wick series has lost one important aspect of its story, a problem that will only get progressively worse as the IP expands to include projects that are only tangentially related to the driven, vengeful anti-hero who drew millions to the action. Chapter 4 seems set to provide widespread catharsis for those who have been on the journey with John, but how what comes after will affect the character’s legacy through cameos and additions to the lore remains to be seen.

John Wick: Chapter 4 will debut in theaters on March 24th, 2023.

MORE: John Wick: The High Table: Explained

Source: Deadline