Exciting news for fans of the high-octane John Wick series: an animated prequel film has been officially announced, and it's set to delve into the lore of the iconic assassin. Revealed at CinemaCon, this film will see Keanu Reeves reprising his role as John Wick, lending his voice to the character in this new animated venture. This comes hot on the heels of the confirmation that Reeves will also return in live-action for John Wick 5.
The animated film promises to explore the much-talked-about 'Impossible Task,' a pivotal moment in John Wick's backstory that has been referenced in the films. This task, which involves Wick eliminating all his rivals in a single night, was undertaken to sever his ties with the High Table and secure his freedom to be 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 is being helmed by the John Wick producing team, including Thunder Road’s Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee, 87Eleven Entertainment’s Chad Stahelski, and Keanu Reeves himself. Additionally, 87Eleven Entertainment’s Alex Young and Jason Spitz are set to executive produce.
Directing this ambitious project 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, renowned 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.”
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The John Wick franchise continues to expand rapidly. Alongside the four mainline films already released and the upcoming John Wick 5, the universe includes two spinoff films: Ballerina, slated for release on June 6, and a yet-to-be-titled film directed by and starring Donnie Yen as his character Caine, set to 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, the studio is developing 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 AAA video game, further expanding the world of this billion-dollar franchise.
