The John Wick franchise continues to expand with the announcement of an anime prequel film, which has now been set in a confirmed timeline. Revealed at CinemaCon, this animated feature will see Keanu Reeves reprising his role as John Wick, lending his voice to the character. This development coincides with Reeves' confirmed return to the live-action role for the upcoming John Wick 5.

The animated prequel will delve into the lore of John Wick by exploring the legendary 'Impossible Task,' a pivotal event in the character's backstory that has been referenced in the films. This task is central to the mythos that surrounds Wick, adding layers of dread and respect to his reputation.

Here is 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 core John Wick 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 animation veteran Shannon Tindle, 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 will be penned by Vanessa Taylor, acclaimed for her contributions to Game of Thrones, Divergent, and as an Oscar nominee for her work on 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 added, “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. Beyond the four mainline films and the newly announced John Wick 5, the universe is expanding with two spinoff films: Ballerina, set for release on June 6, and another directed by and starring Donnie Yen reprising his role as Caine, which is scheduled to begin production this summer.

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

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