John Wick Anime Prequel Casts Keanu Reeves

The official setting for the John Wick anime prequel has finally been confirmed.

Announced at CinemaCon, the animated feature will star Keanu Reeves, who returns to voice his iconic character. This comes alongside the recent confirmation that Reeves will reprise his role in the live-action John Wick 5.

The animated prequel will chronicle John Wick's legendary 'Impossible Task'—a pivotal event referenced throughout the films that helped build his mythic reputation and fearsome legacy.

Here is the official synopsis:

The animated movie travels back in time, depicting John Wick's life before the original film. It follows his completion of the Impossible Task—eliminating all his rivals in a single night—to break free from the High Table's control and win the freedom to be with his beloved Helen.

Mirroring the live-action films, the animation will showcase the stylized, high-impact action sequences John Wick fans love, while targeting a mature audience.

Produced by the core John Wick team—Thunder Road’s Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee, 87Eleven Entertainment’s Chad Stahelski, and Keanu Reeves—the film will also be executive produced by 87Eleven Entertainment’s Alex Young and Jason Spitz.

Shannon Tindle, an animation veteran who co-wrote and directed the Annie-nominated Netflix film Ultraman: Rising, will direct. Tindle also created the Oscar-nominated Kubo and the Two Strings and served as executive producer and showrunner for the Emmy-winning series Lost Ollie. The screenplay is written by Vanessa Taylor, a Game of Thrones writer and co-executive producer, Divergent screenwriter, and Oscar nominee for Guillermo del Toro’s Best Picture winner, The Shape of Water.

Adam Fogelson, chair of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, commented: "Animation offers limitless storytelling possibilities, much like the world of John Wick. Fans have been especially eager to see the Impossible Task brought to life, and Shannon’s vision for it is extraordinary. We can't wait to witness John Wick's action reimagined through animation."

Stahelski added: "Anime has always been a major inspiration for me, particularly throughout the John Wick series. Creating a John Wick anime feels like the natural next step. The medium of anime allows us to expand this world, its characters, and its action in ways we could only imagine before."

John Wick 4: Cast of the Action Sequel

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The billion-dollar John Wick franchise continues to expand at a rapid pace. In addition to the four main films already released and the recently announced John Wick 5, the John Wick Universe includes two spinoff movies: Ballerina, set to debut on June 6, and another spinoff directed by and starring Donnie Yen as Caine, scheduled to begin production this summer.

Furthermore, Lionsgate Television produced The Continental: From the World of John Wick for Peacock and Amazon Prime, and has confirmed development on the series John Wick: Under the High Table, with Chad Stahelski and Keanu Reeves serving as executive producers.

Beyond television and film, Lionsgate recently launched an immersive John Wick experience in Las Vegas and is developing a AAA John Wick video game.