Exclusive: John Wick 4 star Ian McShane offers a cheeky response to the fan theory that Winston is the father of Keanu Reeves’ titular assassin.

With the latest movie offering the biggest hint yet at their connection, Ian McShane responds to the Winston family fan theory in John Wick: Chapter 4. McShane’s character has been a key ally for Keanu Reeves’ titular assassin throughout the franchise, offering him support via the New York branch of The Continental, even at the risk of angering the High Table. Chapter 4 further pushed their connections as Winston was shown to have knowledge of John’s Russian heritage, and even expressed “Farewell, my son” in Russian upon burying John at the end of the movie.

During a recent interview with Screen Rant for his thriller American Star, McShane was asked about the John Wick: Chapter 4 fan theories establishing Winston as Reeves’ character’s father. Though admitting “I know nothing” about whether the theory is canonically true, the Golden Globe winner revealed that it was his idea to further tease the audience, particularly through the Ruska Roma tattoos and speaking of Russian. Check out what McShane said below:

I know nothing, señor. No, I’m sure they’re working on another John Wick, possible 5, script. Keanu and I talk about it. The next chapter is Ballerina, which comes out in June, which is the spinoff with Ana de Armas, which takes place between 3 and 4. I get to work with my dear friend Lance Reddick — God bless you, kid — again on it. But yeah, that was my idea at the end of that, to have the tattoo on my hand and to say in Russian, goodbye in Russian, “Dasvidanya, moy syn.” But, it’s just a tease to the audience, who knows what they’ll come up with.

John Wick & Winston’s Family Theory Shouldn’t Be Answered

Given the mysterious nature of both characters, questions have always swirled about the nature of John and Winston’s relationship in the John Wick franchise. While the original movie seemingly just established them as old friends and the latter as somewhat of a rebel in the world of running The Continental, his actions in aiding Reeves’ titular hero continued to expand beyond simple friendship. Chapter 3 — Parabellum offered a nice twist by showing Winston shooting John off The Continental’s roof to show fealty to The High Table, though theories speculated he didn’t intend to kill John.

Though Chapter 4 offered the closest confirmation of a familial connection between the two with its ending, one could argue the John Wick franchise would be better off not cementing this theory. Part of what has made Wick so compelling across his four movies, as well as the world as a whole, is the slow unfurling of his backstory and showing just how much of his past he attempted to leave behind when he settled down with Helen. By establishing John as having left his own father behind, it could undermine the moral compass audiences have connected with.

John Wick: Chapter 4 confirming Winston is his father would also make for somewhat of a clichéd route for the two. Though it would go a long way as to explaining why Winston was so open to breaking The High Table’s heavy rules, it would also take away from the nuance of their dynamic and ruin some of the mystery established by both prior installments and the Winston-focused spinoff The Continental. With McShane saying it was his idea to further tease this familial connection, though, it will be interesting to see if Chad Stahelski leans into it with future projects.