The first reactions for John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum are in, and it promises to be another enjoyably visceral outing for fans of the infamous assassin. Keanu Reeves, who will also star in Toy Story 4 and is rumored to have a part in Hobbs & Shaw, debuted as the character in 2014’s titular John Wick. Offering stunning visuals, a breathtaking approach to action, and an intriguing world, the film proved to be a surprise hit. A sequel was rapidly greenlit. Expanding the world and proving equally popular, John Wick: Chapter 2 ended in a cliffhanger that left audiences eager for a third.

Following on from the events of the second film, Chapter 3 sees the tables turned and John Wick as the one being hunted. After breaking the rules of The Continental by killing a man on the grounds, a bounty has been placed on his head and he has been stripped of the protections his previous organization provided. With few places to turn, John Wick will be forced to turn to unlikely allies and rely once more on the deadly skills that made him a legend. The film sees the return of Ian McShane, Laurence Fishburne, and Lance Reddick. They will be joined by new additions, played by Anjelica Houston, Asia Kate Dillon, and Halle Berry.

Though John Wick: Chapter 3 isn’t out for a few weeks yet, early reactions have been pouring out on social media. The general consensus seems to be that the third installment is just as thrilling as the first two. You can check out a handful of reactions in the space below:

GameSpot senior editor Mike Rougeau, though, offered that “certain things will be controversial” and that he’s “not sure everything about it adds up.” Schwartz’s offered a similar thought in a follow-up tweet. What issues they found within the storytelling and character motivations seems not to have soured the overall enjoyment. Schwartz, in fact, stated that she will still be going to  “the inevitable John Wick: Chapter 4.” What this means for how John Wick: Chapter 3 wraps up remains to be seen, but it is sure to intrigue fans. Though Reeves stated that he’s open to further installments, many had believed that the saga was one of the franchises set to wrap up in 2019.

It’s unsurprising that Chapter 3 will both expand and deepen the world. Not only is boast a wealth of material to draw from but there is a spinoff show, The Continental, in the works. Given the John Wick saga saw an uptick in positive reactions between the first and second film, the comments third will likely surprise few. Whatever the future holds for the man known as Baba Yaga remains unclear. But, whether  serves as a conclusion or merely a bridge to further adventures, fans will no doubt be on the edges of their seats when John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum finally hits theaters.

More: 10 John Wick Fan Theories So Crazy They Might Be True

Source: Various [see the links above]

  • John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum Release Date: 2019-05-17