Keanu Reeves Voices John Wick in Anime Prequel Film

Excitement is building as the John Wick universe expands into new territories with the announcement of an anime prequel film. Revealed at CinemaCon, this animated venture will see Keanu Reeves reprising his iconic role as John Wick, voicing the character alongside his confirmed return in the live-action John Wick 5.

Set to delve into the lore of the franchise, the anime will explore the legendary 'Impossible Task'—a pivotal event in John Wick's past that has been hinted at throughout the series. This task involves Wick eliminating all of his rivals in a single night, a feat that would free him from his obligations to the High Table and allow him to 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 John Wick producing team, including Thunder Road's Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee, 87Eleven Entertainment's Chad Stahelski, and Keanu Reeves. Executive production will be handled by 87Eleven Entertainment's Alex Young and Jason Spitz.

Directing the film is 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 is penned by Vanessa Taylor, acclaimed for her work on Game of Thrones, Divergent, and the Oscar-winning 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 shared his thoughts on the venture, 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, with four mainline films already released, the upcoming John Wick 5, and two spinoff films on the horizon: Ballerina, set for release on June 6, and a yet-to-be-titled film directed by and starring Donnie Yen as his character Caine, which will start production this summer.

Additionally, Lionsgate Television has produced The Continental: From the World of John Wick for Peacock and Amazon Prime, and is developing another series titled John Wick: Under the High Table, with Chad Stahelski and Keanu Reeves serving as executive producers.

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 universe for fans to enjoy.