Exciting news for John Wick fans: the much-anticipated John Wick anime prequel film has finally locked in its setting. Announced at CinemaCon, this animated venture will feature the iconic Keanu Reeves reprising his role as John Wick, lending his voice to the character. This comes hot on the heels of the confirmation that Reeves will also return for the live-action John Wick 5.
The animated prequel will delve into the legendary 'Impossible Task' that has been a cornerstone of John Wick's mythos, as referenced in the films. This task, which sees John Wick eliminating all his rivals in a single night, is pivotal to his journey to free himself from the High Table and reunite with his beloved Helen.
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 is in good hands, being produced by the John Wick producing team of Thunder Road's Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee, 87Eleven Entertainment's Chad Stahelski, and Keanu Reeves himself. Alex Young and Jason Spitz from 87Eleven Entertainment will serve as executive producers.
Directing the film is Shannon Tindle, a seasoned animator known for his work on the Annie-nominated Netflix film Ultraman: Rising, the double Oscar-nominated Kubo and the Two Strings, and the Emmy-winning series Lost Ollie. The screenplay is penned by Vanessa Taylor, acclaimed for her contributions to Game of Thrones, Divergent, and her Oscar-nominated work on The Shape of Water.
Adam Fogelson, chair of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, expressed his enthusiasm, 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 added, “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.”
John Wick 4: The Cast of the Action Sequel
13 Images
The John Wick franchise is experiencing a surge in activity. Alongside the four mainline films already released and the upcoming John Wick 5, the John Wick Universe is expanding with two spinoff films: Ballerina, set for release on June 6, and another featuring Donnie Yen reprising his role as Caine, which will begin production this summer.
Lionsgate Television has also brought The Continental: From the World of John Wick to audiences on Peacock and Amazon Prime. Additionally, 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 working on a John Wick AAA video game, ensuring that the franchise continues to captivate fans across various platforms.
