"John Wick Anime Prequel: Keanu Reeves Voices Character's Impossible Task"

Exciting news for fans of the *John Wick* series! The much-anticipated John Wick anime prequel film has finally revealed its setting. Announced at CinemaCon, this animated venture will see Keanu Reeves reprising his iconic role as John Wick, lending his voice to the character. This comes alongside the confirmation of Reeves returning for the live-action *John Wick 5*.

The animated prequel will delve into the legendary 'Impossible Task,' a pivotal event in John Wick's backstory that has been alluded to in the films. This task involves Wick taking down all his rivals in a single night, a feat that allowed him to sever ties with the High Table and reunite with his beloved Helen.

Here's 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 film is being 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 producers include 87Eleven Entertainment's Alex Young and Jason Spitz.

Directing this ambitious project is Shannon Tindle, an acclaimed animation veteran. Tindle's recent credits include co-writing and directing the Annie-nominated Netflix film *Ultraman: Rising*, creating the double Oscar-nominated *Kubo and the Two Strings*, and serving as executive producer/showrunner on the Emmy-winning series *Lost Ollie*. The screenplay will be penned by Vanessa Taylor, known for her work on *Game of Thrones*, *Divergent*, and her Oscar-nominated collaboration with Guillermo del Toro 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 shared his excitement about the anime medium, saying, "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."

John Wick 4: The Cast of the Action Sequel

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The *John Wick* franchise is experiencing a surge of activity. In addition to the four mainline films already released and the upcoming *John Wick 5*, the universe is expanding with two spinoff films: *Ballerina*, set for release on June 6, and another featuring Donnie Yen reprising his role as 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 the studio has confirmed the development of *John Wick: Under the High Table*, with Stahelski and Reeves serving as executive producers.

Beyond the screen, Lionsgate has opened an immersive *John Wick* experience in Las Vegas and is developing a AAA video game set in the *John Wick* universe. This multifaceted expansion showcases the enduring appeal and versatility of the *John Wick* franchise.