Exciting news for fans of the high-octane John Wick series: the much-anticipated John Wick anime prequel film has finally confirmed its setting. Revealed at CinemaCon, this animated venture will see Keanu Reeves reprising his iconic role as John Wick, voicing the character in what promises to be a thrilling addition to the franchise. This announcement comes hot on the heels of Reeves' confirmed return to the live-action role for John Wick 5, signaling a busy and exciting future for the series.
The animated film will delve into the backstory of John Wick, focusing on the legendary 'Impossible Task' that has been alluded to in the movies. This task, which involves Wick eliminating all his rivals in a single night, is pivotal to understanding the mythos and the dread that surrounds his character. Here's the official synopsis:
The animated film will go back in time to tell the story of John Wick before the first film, as he completes the Impossible Task — the killing of all of his rivals in one night — in order to free himself from his obligation to the High Table and earn the right to be with the love of his life, Helen.
Like the live-action feature films, the animated movie will deliver the highly stylized and defined action that John Wick fans expect and will be aimed at more mature audiences.
The project will be brought to life by the John Wick producing team, including Thunder Road’s Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee, and 87Eleven Entertainment’s Chad Stahelski and Keanu Reeves. Alex Young and Jason Spitz from 87Eleven Entertainment will serve as executive producers.
Directing the film is Shannon Tindle, an acclaimed figure in animation known for co-writing and directing the Annie-nominated Netflix film Ultraman: Rising, creating the double Oscar-nominated Kubo and the Two Strings, and serving as executive producer/showrunner on the Emmy-winning series Lost Ollie. The screenplay will be penned by Vanessa Taylor, who has an impressive resume including her work on Game of Thrones, Divergent, and the Oscar-nominated The Shape of Water.
Adam Fogelson, chair of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, expressed enthusiasm about the project, stating, “In both animation and the world of John Wick, the possibilities are endless. And there is no John Wick story fans are clamoring for more than the Impossible Task. Shannon’s take on that story is an incredible one, and we are beyond excited to see what John Wick can do in animation.”
Chad Stahelski, who has been instrumental in the John Wick series, shared his excitement about the project, saying, “I’ve always been fascinated with anime. It has always been a huge influence on me, especially with the John Wick series. To have the opportunity to develop a John Wick anime seems to be the perfect progression for the John Wick world. I feel John Wick is the perfect property for this medium — anime holds the potential to expand our world, our characters, and our action in ways unimaginable before.”
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The John Wick franchise is experiencing a surge of activity. In addition to the four mainline films already released and the upcoming John Wick 5, the universe is expanding with two spinoff films: Ballerina, set for release on June 6, and a yet-to-be-titled project directed by and starring Donnie Yen as his character Caine, which is slated to begin production this summer.
Lionsgate Television has also contributed to the franchise's growth with The Continental: From the World of John Wick, available on Peacock and Amazon Prime. Moreover, Lionsgate is developing the series John Wick: Under the High Table, with Stahelski and Reeves serving as executive producers.
Beyond the screen, Lionsgate has launched an immersive John Wick experience in Las Vegas and is developing a AAA video game, further expanding the reach and engagement of the John Wick universe.
