The much-anticipated John Wick anime prequel film has finally unveiled its setting. Announced at CinemaCon, this animated feature will see Keanu Reeves reprising his iconic role as John Wick, lending his voice to the character. This announcement comes alongside the confirmation of Reeves returning to the live-action John Wick universe for the fifth installment.
The animated prequel will delve into the legendary 'Impossible Task' that has been referenced throughout the John Wick saga, adding depth to the character's mythos and the fear he inspires. 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, 87Eleven Entertainment's Chad Stahelski, and Keanu Reeves. 87Eleven Entertainment's Alex Young and Jason Spitz 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 nominee Kubo and the Two Strings, and the Emmy-winning series Lost Ollie. The screenplay will be penned by Vanessa Taylor, acclaimed for her contributions to Game of Thrones, Divergent, and her Oscar-nominated work on The Shape of Water with Guillermo del Toro.
Adam Fogelson, chair of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, expressed his excitement, 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 shared his enthusiasm for 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 in activity. Alongside the four mainline films 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 spinoff directed by and starring Donnie Yen as Caine, scheduled to begin production this summer.
Lionsgate Television has also produced The Continental: From the World of John Wick for Peacock and Amazon Prime, and is currently 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 John Wick AAA video game, further expanding the franchise's reach and engagement with fans.
