"Keanu Reeves Voices John Wick in Anime Prequel Film"

Exciting news for fans of the John Wick franchise: the long-awaited anime prequel film has finally confirmed its setting. Announced at CinemaCon, this animated movie will feature Keanu Reeves returning to voice his iconic character, alongside his confirmed reprisal in the upcoming live-action John Wick 5.

The animated prequel will delve into the legendary 'Impossible Task,' a pivotal event in John Wick's backstory that contributes significantly to his fearsome reputation. This task involves John eliminating all his rivals in a single night to break free from 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 will be produced by the trusted 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.

Shannon Tindle, an acclaimed animation veteran, will direct the film. Tindle's recent works include 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, known for her work on Game of Thrones, Divergent, and the Oscar-nominated The Shape of Water.

Adam Fogelson, chair of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, expressed enthusiasm about the project: “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 also shared his thoughts: “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. In addition to the four mainline films already released and the upcoming John Wick 5, the universe expands 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 contributed to the franchise with The Continental: From the World of John Wick, available on Peacock and Amazon Prime. Additionally, Lionsgate is developing the series John Wick: Under the High Table, with Chad Stahelski and Keanu Reeves serving as executive producers.

Beyond the screen, Lionsgate has opened an immersive John Wick experience in Las Vegas and is working on a John Wick AAA video game, further expanding the franchise's reach and engagement with fans.