The John Wick universe continues to expand with the exciting announcement of an anime prequel film. Revealed at CinemaCon, fans will see Keanu Reeves return to voice his iconic character, adding to his already confirmed return in the live-action John Wick 5.
This animated film will delve into the lore of John Wick by exploring his legendary ‘Impossible Task.’ Referenced throughout the movies, this task is pivotal in building the mythos and fear surrounding Wick's character. The story will take us back in time, before the events of the first film, to show John Wick completing the Impossible Task — the assassination of all his rivals in one night. This monumental feat is what frees him from his obligations to the High Table, allowing him to be with his beloved Helen.
The animated feature promises to retain the highly stylized and intense action sequences that fans have come to love from the live-action films, while catering to a mature audience. The project is being produced by the core John Wick team, including Thunder Road’s Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee, 87Eleven Entertainment’s Chad Stahelski, and Keanu Reeves. Executive production will be handled by 87Eleven Entertainment’s Alex Young and Jason Spitz.
Directing the film is animation veteran Shannon Tindle, 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 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 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 busier than ever. In addition to the four mainline films and the newly announced John Wick 5, the universe is expanding with two spinoff films: Ballerina, set for release on June 6, and a Donnie Yen-led project reprising his Caine character, which will begin production this summer.
Lionsgate Television has also contributed to the franchise with The Continental: From the World of John Wick, available on Peacock and Amazon Prime. Additionally, Lionsgate is developing the series John Wick: Under the High Table, executive produced by Chad Stahelski and Keanu Reeves.
Beyond the screen, Lionsgate has launched an immersive John Wick experience in Las Vegas and is developing a AAA video game, further cementing the franchise's presence in popular culture.
