Exciting news for fans of the John Wick franchise: a new animated prequel film has been officially announced with a confirmed setting. Revealed at CinemaCon, this project will feature Keanu Reeves reprising his role as John Wick, lending his voice to the character. This announcement comes alongside Reeves' confirmed return in the live-action John Wick 5.
The animated film will delve into the backstory of John Wick, focusing on the legendary 'Impossible Task.' This pivotal event, often referenced in the films, contributed significantly to the mythos and the aura of fear surrounding Wick's character. 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 being produced by the seasoned John Wick team, including Thunder Road's Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee, 87Eleven Entertainment's Chad Stahelski, and Keanu Reeves himself. 87Eleven's Alex Young and Jason Spitz will serve as executive producers.
Directing the film is Shannon Tindle, an acclaimed figure in animation 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, who has made her mark with Game of Thrones, Divergent, and as an Oscar nominee for her collaboration with Guillermo del Toro on The Shape of Water.
Adam Fogelson, chair of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, expressed enthusiasm for 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 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.”
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The John Wick franchise is currently experiencing a surge of activity. Alongside the four mainline films already released and the upcoming John Wick 5, the universe is expanding with two spinoff films: Ballerina, set to release on June 6, and another featuring Donnie Yen reprising his role as Caine, which is slated to begin production this summer.
Lionsgate Television has also contributed to the franchise's growth 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 executive producing.
Beyond the screen, Lionsgate has launched an immersive John Wick experience in Las Vegas and is working on a John Wick AAA video game, further expanding the franchise's reach.
