Is John Wick still excommunicado in 2024?
As a passionate John Wick fan, I speculate that John STILL remains excommunicado at the beginning of the upcoming sequel John Wick: Chapter 4, scheduled to release March 24, 2023 based on the ending of the previous film. However, potential plot twists may reveal changes to his status throughout the course of the movie.
A Recap of Key Events Leading to John‘s Excommunicado Order
To recap for those less familiar with the franchise, John Wick (played by Keanu Reeves) was an infamous hitman who retired from the assassin underworld after meeting his wife. Her untimely death years later pulled John back in for revenge, but he hoped to retire again after fulfilling an oath to villain Santino D’Antonio who helped him complete an “impossible task.”
This blood oath to Santino is symbolized by a “Marker” medallion, an unbreakable contract in the underground world of assassins and the High Table council that governs them. To repay this Marker, John reluctantly agrees to kill Santino’s sister so Santino can claim her seat at the Table.
However, after John completes the hit, Santino betrays their deal and places a $7 million bounty on his head before hiding out at the Continental Hotel, an officially neutral and safe territory for underworld figures like them.
John feels he has no choice but to confront Santino on Continental grounds, killing him despite rules expressly forbidding “conducting business” on hotel premises. As a result, John earns a “excommunicado” order which essentially marks him for death by any means with no repercussions to whoever kills him.
The Brutal Consequences of Breaking Rules in This Underground World
| Kills by John Wick in Each Movie |
|---|
| John Wick 1 |
| John Wick 2 |
| John Wick 3 |
As you can see by the insane on-screen kill counts in the table above, rules clearly matter in the world of John Wick! And our protaganist faces loads of intensely choregraphed fight sequences against crowds of expert assassins trying to collect the bounty on his head.
Similar to how video game developers issue bans and suspensions to dishonest players violating terms of service, the High Table comes down hard on those who don’t abide by their governance. The difference here lies in the brutally real consequences, with no chance of just creating a new server or account!
As an avid gamer myself, I often grimace at the creatively violent punishments John faces while admiring the impressive dedication he shows to his personal code of honor. The action provides edge-of-your-seat entertainment blended with an odd sense of justice being served.
Analyzing Winston’s Potential Betrayal
In John Wick 3: Parabellum, the exoneration deadline for John’s excommunicado order passes without relief. As the movie concludes with John seemingly left for dead, his old friend Winston seemingly betrays him by ordering The Continental’s guards to shoot John off the hotel roof so he can “die on Continental grounds instead of running.”
This shocking twist surprised many fans, leaving doubts about Winston’s true motives. Some speculate that Winston may have actually been helping protect John by allowing him to fully fulfill the excommunicado order under hotel jurisdiction. Others theorize hidden chess-piece moves related to Wiston regaining control of the hotel from the High Table.
I personally hope the upcoming Chapter 4 film reveals Winston did not actually betray our antihero. As the manager of The Continental, he had no choice but to uphold High Table rules once John broke them. But perhaps he found a convoluted way to help his friend pay penance without losing complete honor or his life at the hands of another.
What This Could Mean for John Wick 4 and Beyond
| John Wick Movie Release Timeline |
|---|
| John Wick 1 |
| John Wick 2 |
| John Wick 3 |
| John Wick 4 |
For now, John Wick likely remains excommunicado carrying over chronologically from the third film as Chapter 4 begins. But I expect we’ll see more background revealed about The High Table’s mysterious Elder leaders, and the real powers pulling strings in the shadowy underworld.
Rumors suggest at least one more sequel already being planned after the fourth movie drops worldwide later this month. And wonderfully talented lead actor Keannu Reeves hints he’s ready to keep playing the tormented assassin role as long as fans remain interested. I know I’ll keep watching!
With such rich potential for expanding the franchise universe, the possibilities seem endless assuming John survives the wrath incurred from his Marker oath. Whether still excommunicado or somehow back in the High Table’s good graces, his arsenal of lethal skills guarantees pulse-pounding entertainment whenever he reappears on screen!
