'John Wick' franchise hit with $10 million lawsuit over alleged stolen story

The John Wick franchise is facing a legal challenge after a writer filed a $10 million lawsuit alleging that key elements of the blockbuster action series were copied from his screenplay.

J.R. Wicker, writer of Blood for Escobar, has accused John Wick creator Derek Kolstad, Lionsgate, and Thunder Road Pictures of copyright infringement, claiming that his script shares numerous similarities with John Wick and John Wick: Chapter 2.

According to the lawsuit, both stories center on a retired assassin who is forced back into the criminal underworld and confronts a secret society of killers. The complaint also points to other alleged parallels, including the death of a beloved pet during a home invasion, the protagonist driving a Ford Mustang, and a storyline involving exile from a criminal organization.

Wicker's attorneys allege that Kolstad had access to Blood for Escobar before writing Scorn, the screenplay that later evolved into the 2014 action hit starring Keanu Reeves. The lawsuit seeks $10 million in damages and argues that several plot points are too similar to be coincidental.

However, the case may face legal obstacles. One key issue is timing, as Wicker reportedly did not watch the original John Wick until 2025, more than a decade after the film's release.

The lawsuit arrives as the franchise continues expanding beyond Reeves' legendary assassin. Recent projects have included The Continental and Ballerina, while additional spin-offs, an animated prequel, and John Wick: Chapter 5 remain in development.

For now, it remains unclear whether the legal dispute will have any impact on the future of one of Hollywood's most successful action franchises.