"Keanu Reeves Voices John Wick in Anime Prequel Film"

Exciting news for fans of the John Wick franchise: a new animated prequel film has been officially announced, setting the stage for an exploration of John Wick's legendary 'Impossible Task.' The announcement was made at CinemaCon, where it was also confirmed that Keanu Reeves will lend his voice to the character in this animated venture, in addition to reprising his role in the live-action John Wick 5.

This animated film will delve into the backstory of John Wick, focusing on the 'Impossible Task'—a pivotal event referenced throughout the series, contributing to the aura of myth and fear surrounding the character. The official synopsis states:

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 powerhouse team behind John Wick, including Thunder Road's Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee, 87Eleven Entertainment's Chad Stahelski, and Keanu Reeves. Executive producers include 87Eleven Entertainment's Alex Young and Jason Spitz.

Directing the animated feature is Shannon Tindle, a seasoned animator 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, renowned for her contributions to Game of Thrones, Divergent, and her Oscar-nominated work on The Shape of Water.

Adam Fogelson, chair of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, expressed his enthusiasm, saying, "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, who has been a driving force behind the John Wick series, 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 universe continues to expand rapidly. Alongside the four mainline films and the upcoming John Wick 5, the franchise includes two spinoff films: Ballerina, set for release on June 6, and a yet-to-be-titled film directed by and starring Donnie Yen as his character Caine, which is slated to begin production this summer.

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

Beyond the screen, Lionsgate has launched an immersive John Wick experience in Las Vegas and is working on a John Wick AAA video game, further enriching the franchise's expansive world.