John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum is finally being screened for critics and reporters, and the first reactions are starting to flood the internet. Keanu Reeves returns as the titular suit-wearing super-assassin as he tries to evade every killer in New York City after being declared “excommunicado” by the mysterious High Table in John Wick: Chapter 2. Reeves’ The Matrix co-star Laurence Fishburne also reprises his role as the crime-lord Bowery King, as does Ian McShane as Winston, owner and manager of the Continental Hotel.
Halle Berry joins the cast as Sofia, a former contract killer with a very good pair of tactical attack dogs. Opposing Sofia and John will be Mark Dacascos‘s Zero, a part-time sushi chef, part-time assassin with a ninja army at his disposal, and The Adjudicator (Asia Kate Dillon), a representative of the High Table.
Image via Lionsgate
If you’ve been holding out hope for yet another action-packed win for the little franchise that could, good news — the first reactions are pretty damn effusive across the board. As you’d probably expect, most of the praise is all about the action scenes, which critics are calling some of the biggest and best to date. And of course, lots of Good Boys. If action is the #1 calling card for the John Wick movies, a deep love of dogs has got to be right behind it. Folks are also praising the continued world-building in the series, which brings in more supporting characters and new locations than ever.
Full reviews of John Wick: Chapter 3 won’t be available until May 14, but you can check out the first reactions below. The film hits theaters on May 17. Chad Stahelski directs from a script by Derek Kolstad, Shay Hatten, Chris Collins, and Marc Abrams.