"John Wick Anime Prequel: Keanu Reeves Voices Character's Impossible Task"

Exciting news for fans of the John Wick universe: the long-awaited John Wick anime prequel film has finally confirmed its setting. Announced at CinemaCon, this animated movie will see Keanu Reeves reprising his iconic role as John Wick, not only in this animated venture but also in the confirmed John Wick 5 live-action film.

The animated prequel dives deep into the lore of John Wick, focusing on the legendary 'Impossible Task.' This task, often referenced in the films, plays a crucial role in building the mythos and 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 film will be produced by the seasoned John Wick producing team, including Thunder Road’s Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee, 87Eleven Entertainment’s Chad Stahelski, and Keanu Reeves. Executive producers will be 87Eleven Entertainment’s Alex Young and Jason Spitz.

Directing this ambitious project is Shannon Tindle, an animation veteran who recently co-wrote and directed the Annie-nominated Netflix film Ultraman: Rising. Tindle’s impressive resume also includes the double Oscar-nominated Kubo and the Two Strings and the Emmy-winning series Lost Ollie. The screenplay will be penned by Vanessa Taylor, known for her work on Game of Thrones, Divergent, and her Oscar-nominated contribution to 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 also shared his excitement, noting, “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. In addition to the four mainline films already released and the upcoming John Wick 5, the universe includes two spinoff films: Ballerina, set to release on June 6, and another featuring Donnie Yen reprising his role as Caine, which will 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. Furthermore, Lionsgate is developing the series John Wick: Under the High Table, with Stahelski and Reeves serving as executive producers.

Beyond television and film, Lionsgate has ventured into immersive experiences with a John Wick attraction in Las Vegas and is developing a AAA video game set within the John Wick universe.