Keanu Reeves returns as John Wick — in animation. The Impossible Task gets its own film. Preproduction starts Thursday.
Keanu Reeves is officially back as John Wick — but this time, he’s animated. Lionsgate has greenlit the prequel, confirming that the hitman will be brought to life in motion-capture form for a feature that dives into the origins of the High Table’s most feared assassin. The film will focus on the Impossible Task: a one-night kill spree across the world’s underworld to break free from his contract and reunite with Helen.
It’s the story fans have been whispering about since the first movie dropped in 2014. Now, it’s getting a full-on visual overhaul, and not just any animation. Shannon Tindle, director of Ultraman: Rising and Kubo and the Two Strings, is at the helm, with Ryan and Kaz Firpo writing the script.
Reeves, who co-produces, has signed on again. So has Chad Stahelski, Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee, and Point Grey. Preproduction is underway, per Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer’s earnings call. Adam Fogelson, chair of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, called it ‘the perfect progression’ for a franchise that’s already grossed over $1 billion.
Stahelski, ever the anime fan, said the medium could expand the world in ways live-action never could. But here’s the thing: the idea of an animated John Wick isn’t new. It’s been floating around since the early days of the franchise. And now, after four live-action films and a spinoff starring Ana de Armas, the series is branching out, into video games, another film centered on Donnie Yen’s Caine, and yes, even a standalone AAA title.
This isn’t just a side project. It’s part of a larger push to stretch the universe beyond the screen. Whether the animation style can carry the weight of those brutal, balletic gunfights remains to be seen. Some fans are skeptical.
‘Too many legendary events lose their luster when someone tries to cash in,’ one wrote. Others countered: ‘One in five adults watch anime or adult animation.’ The real question isn’t whether it’ll work, it’s whether the world still needs more John Wick. The answer might come in 2028.
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