The John Wick universe continues to expand with the announcement of an anime prequel film, which has now secured its setting. Revealed at CinemaCon, this animated feature will bring back Keanu Reeves to voice his iconic character, alongside his confirmed return for the live-action John Wick 5.
This prequel will delve into the lore of John Wick by exploring his legendary 'Impossible Task.' This mission, often referenced in the films, involves Wick eliminating all his rivals in a single night to sever ties with the High Table and reunite with his beloved Helen.
Here is 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 production team includes the familiar faces from the John Wick series: Thunder Road’s Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee, 87Eleven Entertainment’s Chad Stahelski, and Keanu Reeves, with 87Eleven Entertainment’s Alex Young and Jason Spitz serving as executive producers.
The film will be helmed by animation expert Shannon Tindle, who recently co-wrote and directed the Annie-nominated Netflix film Ultraman: Rising. Tindle's impressive resume also includes the double Oscar-nominated Kubo and the Two Strings and the Emmy-winning series Lost Ollie. The screenplay will be penned by Vanessa Taylor, known for her work on Game of Thrones, Divergent, and her Oscar-nominated contribution to The Shape of Water.
Adam Fogelson, chair of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, expressed excitement 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 also shared his enthusiasm, noting, “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 remains incredibly active. Alongside the four main films and the upcoming John Wick 5, the universe is expanding with two spinoff films: Ballerina, set for release on June 6, and a project directed by and starring Donnie Yen, reprising his role as Caine, which will begin production this summer.
Lionsgate Television has also produced The Continental: From the World of John Wick for Peacock and Amazon Prime, and is developing John Wick: Under the High Table, with Stahelski and Reeves as executive producers.
Beyond the screen, Lionsgate has launched an immersive John Wick experience in Las Vegas and is developing a AAA video game based on the franchise.
