Exciting news for Otakus: the John Wick universe is expanding with a prequel anime that promises to delve into some of the series’ biggest mysteries, including why Keanu Reeves' vengeful assassin retired in the first place.
The anime, currently in the development phase, will explore John Wick's origin story, focusing on his past love life and the events leading up to his decision to leave the world of assassins behind.
The franchise’s co-creator, Chad Stahelski, who once served as Keanu Reeves' stunt double in The Matrix films, recently confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that three new projects are in the pipeline. These include a feature-length anime, a TV show, and a spinoff film centred around Donnie Yen's character, Caine.
This comes as the John Wick saga continues to grow, with the original story kicking off a decade ago when Wick sought revenge for the murder of his dog-a final gift from his late wife. In addition, the highly anticipated Ballerina spinoff, directed by Len Wiseman and starring Ana de Armas, is set for a June 2025 release.
“We’re knee-deep in development on a feature anime about John Wick,” Stahelski revealed, noting that the project is still in its early production stages. While a release date hasn’t been set, the anime will serve as a prequel to the original films, expanding the assassin's lore and backstory.
Stahelski expressed his excitement about exploring the character in a new medium, stating, “We can be a little bit crazier and nuttier in the anime, and we can be a lot more explicit in our storytelling and world building on the TV show. So those are exciting to us without seeming repetitive, and that’s where we’re putting our energies right now.”
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The anime will delve into the much-debated "impossible task" that led John Wick to retire and start a new life. The medium will allow the creators to push visual boundaries and deliver explosive action within the established, adrenaline-fueled saga. Further details about the cast and crew remain under wraps, but with the John Wick franchise entering uncharted territory, fans can expect plenty of thrills ahead.
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