One of the John Wick franchise’s many standout moments remains when the eponymous hitman was betrayed by his friend and Continental Hotel owner Winston Scott. However, producer Basil Iwanyk reveals the thinking behind the controversial ending of Chapter 3 – Parabellum.

Speaking with The Direct, Iwanyk explained the reasoning behind Ian McShane’s Scott shooting Keanu Reeves’ Wick off a rooftop in Chapter 3 – Parabellum‘s third act. The John Wick threequel saw a seemingly unbreakable bond between Scott and Wick turn when Scott shot him so he didn’t move against the High Table. According to Iwanyk, the double-cross shouldn’t be too surprising to movie lovers, given that everyone in the John Wick franchise has villainous tendencies except Wick’s late wife, Helen. “So you gotta understand… The one thing we said in the first movie is that every person in the John Wick movies is a bad guy or villain. That there’s no purity anywhere except for Helen, that everybody is cursed and stained and has done horrible things,” Iwanyk said.

As for why Scott shot Wick, Iwaynk suggests Scott hedged his proverbial bets when he did the deed, claiming “there’s never really one reason why he makes a move.” Though Scott didn’t want to run afoul of the High Table when he attacked Wick, he didn’t intend to kill him as he’d need Wick’s help later.

There’s never really one reason why he makes a move.

“I truly believe when he shoots him, and this is not a cop-out, I think there was one part of him that said, ‘Okay, this is going to get me good with the High Table, and I’m going to be okay, and we’ll live happily ever after.’ And then I think there’s another part of him that said, ‘Okay, I’m going to do this in a way where John could live because I may need him in the future‘,” Iwanyk said. “I think, yes, he did shoot him. And I think that if he died, I think Winston would be prepared for that, but I don’t think he was also that upset that he lived. He was playing the angles, playing. And Winston is always planning.”

Chapter 3 – Parabellum didn’t have a conclusive ending, with director Chad Stahelski left so unsatisfied by its conclusion that he felt Chapter 4 was a necessary follow-up. That said, the threequel, featuring Halle Berry, Laurence Fishburne and Anjelica Huston, was a critical and commercial hit, making over $327 million at the global box office. Stahelski’s instincts were later proven right when Chapter 4 earned a franchise record $440 million worldwide and a 94% critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

What’s the Status of John Wick 5?

Lionsgate announced John Wick 5 in 2023, continuing the story of Reeves’ central protagonist, despite him seemingly dying in Chapter 4. Though the film is in development, Reeves is unsure if he’s physically capable of making another John Wick film, while McShane is on record believing his co-star’s run in the lead role should end. Stahelski has also suggested he’d only make John Wick 5 if the story is worth it.

John Wick walks through the rain in John Wick 3 Parabellum John Wick walks out with a rifle in John Wick 3 Parabellum. John Wick assembles a revolver in Parabellum

Meanwhile, Reeves and McShane will reprise their roles in the upcoming John Wick spinoff, Ballerina, starring Ana de Armas as ballerina-assassin Eve Macarro. Ballerina, which opens in theaters on Jun. 6, is set between Chapter 3 – Parabellum and Chapter 4, with Huston and the late Lance Reddick also featuring in the spinoff.

Fans can stream Chapter 3 – Parabellum via Hulu or rent/purchase on Prime Video.