The John Wick anime prequel film has officially been set in the world of the beloved action franchise, with a confirmed setting that delves into the past of its iconic protagonist. Announced at CinemaCon, the animated movie will feature Keanu Reeves reprising his role as John Wick, lending his voice to the character. This marks another exciting project for Reeves, who is also set to return in live-action for the eagerly awaited John Wick 5.
The animated prequel will explore the legendary 'Impossible Task,' a pivotal event in John Wick's backstory that has been hinted at throughout the series. This task, which involves John Wick eliminating all his rivals in a single night, is central to his quest to sever ties with 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 will be 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 producers include 87Eleven Entertainment's Alex Young and Jason Spitz.
The film will be directed by 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 will be penned by Vanessa Taylor, acclaimed 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 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, director of the John Wick films, shared his excitement about the venture into anime, 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.”
John Wick 4: The Cast of the Action Sequel
13 Images
The John Wick franchise continues to expand rapidly. In addition to the four mainline films and the upcoming John Wick 5, the universe is growing with two spinoff films: Ballerina, set for release on June 6, and a spinoff 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 expansion 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, with Stahelski and Reeves serving as executive producers.
Beyond the screen, Lionsgate has opened an immersive John Wick experience in Las Vegas and is working on a John Wick AAA video game, further enriching the universe and engaging fans in new and exciting ways.
Latest Downloads
Downlaod
Top News
