Just when you thought John Wick had fought off every possible enemy, a new battle has appeared. This time, it’s in court. According to reports from The Hollywood Reporter and other news, the billion-dollar John Wick franchise is now facing a copyright infringement lawsuit that claims the original idea may have been taken from another screenplay.
Screenwriter J.R. Wicker has filed a lawsuit against writer Derek Kolstad, Lionsgate, and Thunder Road Pictures. He alleges that key elements of John Wick closely resemble ideas from his own screenplay, Blood for Escobar. The lawsuit is seeking at least $10 million in damages and a share of the profits generated by the hugely successful franchise. Wicker argues that the similarities go far beyond coincidence.
According to the complaint, both stories centre on a retired assassin mourning the loss of his wife. Both men return to a violent criminal underworld after a deeply personal tragedy shatters their lives. The lawsuit also highlights several other similarities, including a home invasion, the death of a beloved pet, characters retrieving hidden weapons, confrontations in nightclubs, and a highly organised network of assassins that operates under strict rules. Fans of the franchise will immediately recognise some of those details. After all, the death of John Wick’s dog became one of the most famous revenge setups in modern action cinema.
The lawsuit goes even further. Wicker claims both stories feature a Ford Mustang, an assassin assigned to kill the protagonist who later helps him instead, and storylines involving an assassin organisation eventually turning against one of its own. Perhaps the biggest claim is that Kolstad allegedly had access to Blood for Escobar before developing John Wick. The complaint argues that industry connections could have placed the screenplay within reach of the people who later created the franchise. At this stage, these remain allegations. The court will ultimately decide whether the similarities are substantial enough to support a copyright infringement claim.
Still, it is a surprising development for a franchise that has become one of Hollywood’s biggest action success stories. John Wick transformed Keanu Reeves into an action icon all over again and expanded into a massive universe that now includes spin-offs, television projects, video games, and future films. For now, the Baba Yaga’s toughest fight may not involve guns, knives, or endless waves of assassins.
It may involve lawyers.
