John Wick’s co-creator Chad Stahelski confirmed that a John Wick anime prequel film is in development.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter on October 22, 2024, Stahelski revealed multiple projects and spinoffs were in the works for the John Wick franchise, including a TV show, a spinoff, and an anime feature film. Stahleski also talked about taking on the role of the main quality control for John Wick franchise on many of these upcoming projects, and also mentioned in the interview how Keanu Reaves is the first person he calls in his new oversight role, indicating the direction of oversight in the entire franchise moving forward.
“We have three new things coming up: an anime feature, a TV show, a new spinoff [Donnie Yen’s Caine]. So Keanu and I are still very active on all that, and we didn’t want to get so big that we lost sight of what really makes John Wick, John Wick.”
No details about the upcoming anime’s production have been confirmed, such as studio and production staff who will be involved in the project. What we do know from this interview is that the story centers around answering questions about John Wick’s past, including the “Impossible Task,” the events of which allowed John Wick to leave his old life in the underworld behind for love – at least until one fateful night brought the feared “Baba Yaga” back to the world of the Continental. This event has always been a mystery in the series and will be revealed during the story of this upcoming anime movie.
The John Wick stars Keanu Reaves as the titular character – a feared and retired assassin brought back to the underworld for revenge. One fateful night has created a franchise that features 4 mainline movies: John Wick (2014), John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017), John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019) John Wick Chapter 4 (2023), and a spinoff television series, The Continental: From the World of John Wick (2023). The series is produced and distributed by Lionsgate. An upcoming spinoff movie, From the World of John Wick: Ballerina is scheduled for June 6, 2025.
Keanu Reaves is also starring as Shadow in the upcoming Sonic The Hedgehog 3 movie. While no cast announcements have been confirmed, it is currently expected that Keanu Reaves will return in the upcoming John Wick anime film.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
