John Wick 3: Common Not Returning As Cassian

John Wick 3: Parabellum — the upcoming third installment in the action-thriller film franchise — aims to take the story to new heights. But sadly, it'll have to do it without one of the coolest character in the whole franchise. (Perhaps cooler than John Wick himself, and even better than his adorable beagle Daisy who started the killing spree John just can't stop.)

Speaking with ComingSoon about his latest film Here and Now, franchise actor Common revealed that he won't star in John Wick 3: Parabellum and reprise his John Wick: Chapter 2 role as Cassian, the ultra-cool assassin who engaged in a heated rivalry with Keanu Reeves' John Wick. 

The bodyguard of Gianna D'Antonio (Claudia Gerini) and a former colleague of John's, Cassian made it his mission to kill John after discovering that Gianna had committed suicide and that John put a bullet in her skull as she was bleeding out. 

While the titular gun-for-hire escaped the sequel pic alive — barely, as he was ex-communicated from the Continental after breaking its biggest rule about not murdering anyone on the premises and now literally has to run for his life — there was still room for exploration in Cassian's story. As he and John engaged in a lengthy fight sequence in a subway station at the end of John Wick: Chapter 2, John stabbed Cassian in the chest, then gave him the option of either removing the knife to continue the battle, which would seal Cassian's fate as a dead man — or leave it in, stop the hunt, and have a chance to live. Cassian chose the latter, then flashed a meek smile at John as the hitman continued fleeing his pursuers. This left the door open for the character to return in John Wick 3: Parabellum, but unfortunately, that won't happen. 

"I'm not in the third part," Common confirmed. 

Before anyone starts freaking out and theorizing that Common was fired from the John Wick franchise or that he and Reeves had a real-life scuffle behind the scenes that caused him to bow out of the film, they should listen to all the lovely things that he had to say about working with Reeves and director Chad Stahelski for John Wick: Chapter 2. 

"I could say that I really loved being a part of John Wick 2 and it was an amazing experience," said Common. "Working with Keanu and Chad, they're just phenomenal. Challenged and really passionate about the stuff, and I can say that [film] three is going to be incredible, though, I'll tell you that much."

Fans may be disappointed that Common's Cassian won't make an appearance in John Wick: Parabellum, but they shouldn't be too upset, as the threequel film will introduce a slew of new characters they can fall in love with. Alongside returning stars Reeves, Ian McShane as New York Continental Hotel manager Winston, Rusy Rose as mute assassin Ares, and Lance Reddick as New York Continental Hotel concierge Charon, Halle Berry (Kingsman: The Golden Circle, the X-Men franchise), Laurence Fisburne (Ant-Man and the Wasp, Hannibal), Asia Kate Dillon (Orange Is the New Black, Billions), Anjelica Huston (Transparent, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, The Addams Family), Mark Dacascos (Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), and Jason Mantzoukas (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Good Place) will make their John Wick franchise debuts. 

Berry, Dacascos, and Mantzoukas all portray assassins — Sofia, Zero, and Tick Tock Man, respectively — while Fishburne takes on the role of the underground crime boss The Bowery King. Dillon and Huston play The Adjudicator and The Director — members of the High Table, the group of Greater Scope Villains seen in John Wick: Chapter 2 that includes 12 criminal leaders who represent the most powerful crime syndicates in the world. Those who have seen the John Wick sequel will remember that Santino D'Antonio (played by Riccardo Scamarcio) sought to murder his sister, Gianna, so he could join the High Table. 

Though John Wick 3: Parabellum will likely primarily take place in New York, as John attempts to outrun those who want to claim the multi-million-dollar bounty on his head and as he "uses the service industry to stay alive" and kill his way out the Big Apple, the film will seemingly bring the action around the world as well. The production has reportedly shot in Morocco, Russia, and Spain — so fans should expect some exciting, picturesque action sequences that just might be badass enough to make up for Common's absence in the film. 

John Wick 3: Parabellum — directed by Chad Stahelski from a script by Derek Kolstad, Chris Collins, Marc Abrams, and Shay Hatten — is scheduled for release on May 17, 2019.