Keanu Reeves Starring In Animated 'John Wick' Prequel
"I'm thinking I'm back..", again. Over recent years, we have seen an awful lot of animation adapted into live-action. But we haven't seen so many the other way around. Now we have news that one of the biggest live-action action franchises of the past fifteen years is about to move into animation. John Wick is getting its first animated outing.
John Wick, which came out back in 2014 saw the return of Keanu Reeves to action cinema. Starring Reeves as the titular Wick, it featured a former hitman who sets off on a path of revenge after the death of his beloved dog. Directed by Chad Stahelski and David Leitch, it grossed $86 million worldwide and unexpectedly launched a franchise. John Wick: Chapter 2, John Wick: Chapter 3- Parabellum and John Wick: Chapter 4 followed. There was also a spin-off, Ballerina, starring Ana De Armas and a TV series set in the Wickiverse, The Continental. John Wick: Chapter 5 and a spin-off centring on Donnie Yen's blind assassin Caine are in development.
The animated movie will be a prequel, focusing on a younger Wick. It will explore his attempt to complete the Impossible Task, killing all of his rivals in one night, freeing him of his obligation to the High Table and allowing him to live with his true love, Helen. Well, we all know how that turns out- but it sounds like fun getting to see him become the legendary assassin we see in the live-action movies.
Shannon Tindle will direct. Tindle has worked on many animation projects, including Kubo and The Two Strings and Coraline, and previously directed Ultraman: Rising for Netflix. The script is written by Ryan and Kaz Firpo. The movie will be produced by Thunder Road’s Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee, 87Eleven Entertainment’s Chad Stahelski and Keanu Reeves. Point Grey is also on board. As with all the previous John Wick flicks, Lionsgate Studios will release the film.
The project was first announced a year ago, but Reeves has only just signed on to star and produce. Back in 2025, Lionsgate's Motion Picture Chair Adam Fogelson said “In both animation and the world of John Wick, the possibilities are endless. And there is no John Wick story fans are clamouring 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.”
So are we. A lot of the details are still under wraps, including what animation style it will use, and what studio/s will produce it. It's easy to imagine John Wick as a slick 2D animation, with a strong anime influence. Maybe they could even hire a Japanese studio to do it. 3D CG could work too, but this just seems like a project 2D was made for.
Also not confirmed is whether this is aimed for a full cinema release. We hope so- a full-blooded animated action film aimed at adults is a rare thing indeed. It would be a missed opportunity to see it dumped on streaming.
Keanu Reeves is also set to voice the lead character in the upcoming stop-motion samurai film Hidari, in which he will star as legendary Edo-era craftsman Jingoro Hidari, who embarks on a quest for vengeance after he loses everyone he holds dear.
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