TheJohn Wickfranchise will further expand with a new prequel about John’s “Impossible Task,” as announced atCinemaCon. Becoming a surprise hit in 2014, the firstJohn Wickmovieintroduced Keanu Reeves as the titular assassin, following him as he exits retirement to exact revenge on the thugs who killed his puppy. Wick returned in three sequels, the first of which shed more light on the Impossible Task he completed in order to leave the game and live a peaceful life with his wife, Helen, who tragically died of cancer prior to the start of the first film.
Today, during the Lionsgate CinemaCon presentation, for whichScreenRantwas in attendance, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson announced thatan animatedJohn Wickprequel movie will tell the story of John’s Impossible Task. The animated movie “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.”
The movie will hail from director Shannon Tindle with Oscar nominee Vanessa Taylor writing the script.Reeves is also expected to return to voice Wickin the prequel. The announcement also includes confirmation that the animated movie will include the stylized action that made theJohn Wickfranchise so popular, with the project intended for mature audiences.
Franchise director Chad Stahelski will produce the film for 87 Eleven Entertainment, alongside Alex Young and Jason Spitz. Reeves will also produce. Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee will produce for Thunder Road after serving the same role on previous installments. Fogelson shared the following statement about the prequel:
“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.”
Stahelski also commented on the prequel, revealing that anime influenced his making of the live-action movies, making this new medium a perfect fit:
“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.”
Finally, Iwanyk and Lee shared a joint statement, expressing excitement about Tindle and Taylor’s vision:
“Shannon has a breathtaking vision for a film we’ve all long wanted to make. Alongside Vanessa’s story, we’re hugely excited to bring it to audiences.”
What This Means For The John Wick Franchise
Tindle & Taylor’s Previous Credits Explained
Stahelski directed all previousJohn Wickmovies, and the stuntman-turned-director has clearly been crucial to the films' success. That being said, both Tindle and Taylor come with a great deal of experience. Tindle has a long history in animation as a character designer, but he also directed theanimatedUltraman: Risingfor Netflix last year. He also created and wrote Netflix’sLost Ollie(2022) miniseries.Taylor, on the other hand, was nominated for an Oscar for writingThe Shape of Water(2017), but also wroteDivergent(2014), and three episodes of HBO’sGame of Thrones.
What John Wick’s Impossible Task Was & How He Pulled It Off
John Wick’s “impossible task” is mentioned several times throughout the series, but few details are given about what he was required to do.
This untitled prequel will markJohn Wick’s first foray into the world of animation.It comes as the franchise eyes a great deal of expansion in the years aheadfollowing the lackluster reception toThe Continentalspinoff show. Though the animated movie doesn’t yet have a release date, those looking for moreJohn Wickwill be getting theBallerinaspinoff moviethis summer, with a Caine spinoff also in the works. That’s on top of thein-developmentJohn Wick 5.
As revealed inJohn Wick: Chapter 2(2017), Santino D’Antonio (Riccardo Scamarcio) helped Wick with his Impossible Task. It wasn’t made clear in the announcement if this character will be returning in the prequel.
Our Take On The Animated John Wick Prequel
Will Audiences Accept It?
A major question mark facing the animatedJohn Wickprequel is whether the franchise’s existing fan base has any interest in an animated extension of this particular universe. This was recently seen withThe Lord of the Rings, with the animated prequel movie,War of the Rohirrim, flopping at the box office this past December after earning mixed reviews.John WickandLord of the Rings, however, are obviously very different franchises.
With Stahelski producing and Reeves returning to voice his slick assassin, though, there’s certainly reason to be optimistic, especially with Tindle and Taylor also having some impressive credits under their belts. While the prequel may not reach the same heights as theacclaimedJohn Wick: Chapter 4in 2023, it could prove to be an interesting new chapter in the saga, shedding light on a mysterious and important part of Wick’s life. Clearly, theJohn Wickfranchise is showing no signs of slowing down.
