John Wick executive talks about Keanu Reeves' involvement in the next anime

Key points

The John Wick franchise expands with an anime prequel that explores his mysterious past.
Keanu Reeves is actively involved in shaping the future of John Wick in anime, TV, and spin-offs.
The anime project offers the creative freedom to explore new narratives beyond sequels.

Despite the high-octane events of John Wick: Chapter 4which has led many to believe that John Wick has met his end, Lionsgate and the creative team are far from done with the assassin's universe. The saga is ready to expand into its dark and action-packed world.

Chad Stahelski, co-creator of John Wick franchise, recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of John Wick's cinematic legacy with some exciting announcements about its future. In addition to confirming a new television series and spin-off film, Stahelski revealed that Mr. Wick will also make its way into the world of anime. While details on the John Wick anime film are still under wraps, Stahelski shed some light on Keanu Reeves' continued involvement in shaping the franchise's upcoming chapters.

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In a recent chat with The Hollywood Reporter I point out John Wick's On the occasion of the 10th anniversary, Chad Stahelski spoke about Keanu Reeves' continued commitment to the franchise, including his role in the next John Wick anime films. Stahelski shared, “So, we all decided, 'Okay, well, let's just let it pass through me like a gate.' We have three new releases on the way: an anime film, a TV show and a new spin-off. So, Keanu and I are still very active on all of that, and we didn't want to get so big that we lost sight of what really makes John Wick, John Wick. So whether it's the pinball machine, the anime movie, or the new TV show we're working on, it all comes through us. Whenever I get something on my desk, the first person I call is Keanu. Stahelski also emphasized the need for creative control to guide the process John Wick franchise along the best possible path between the various creative voices shaping its future direction, stating, “It's a way to protect ourselves. To be completely damn arrogant for a second, we haven't worked for the last ten years only to see everything go to shit.

The imminent John Wick anime is a prequel set to dive into the more intriguing and elusive part of John's life, which has been hinted at in all four films but has never been fully explored. Fans will get a closer look at the “impossible task” that allowed John to have a chance at a normal life with his wife: a daunting mission that earned him the fear of Russian crime boss Viggo Tarasov, as mentioned for the first time in the original. John Wick. While the exact nature of this task remains a mystery, fans speculate that it involved the legendary Baba Yaga eliminating all of Tarasov's enemies in a single night. However, do we really need to know the details, or will revealing them take away some of the mystique of John Wick? The anime prequel seeks to answer this question by delving into how John achieved this impossible feat and secured a brief respite from his mortal world, offering a glimpse of the calm before the storm.

Stahelski highlighted the creative freedom that anime offers for the next John Wick project, noting that while churning out multiple John Wick sequels might seem repetitive, anime allows for new exploration of the franchise's universe and deeper dives into the backstory of John Wick. The focus now is on expanding storytelling through anime and TV, where they can push boundaries. But the John Wick anime adventure isn't the only place Keanu Reeves is making waves in the anime world: Netflix is also bringing Reeves' comic, BRZRKR, to life in an anime adaptation. Supported by powerhouse Production IG, known for hits like Kaiju No.8, Terminator Zero, AND Haikyu!!: The Battle of the Dumpstersthis new project promises a different kind of action-packed story, distinct from the revenge-driven narrative of John Wick.

As for John Wick's future in live-action, it's uncertain whether Keanu Reeves will return for the confirmed Chapter 5. Stahelski emphasized that they intend to honor the conclusion of Chapter 4, saying, “You can't top John Wick: Chapter 4. This is the end, and we've found the conclusion. However, he acknowledges that development could lead to new opportunities for John Wick 5 , both for profit and creative reasons, but there are exciting projects in the works In addition to the animated series, a spin-off directed by Donnie Yen is currently in the works as the franchise will welcome From the world of John Wick: Ballerinastarring Ana de Armas as Eve Macarro, an aspiring assassin seeking revenge for her father's murder.

THE John Wick The anime is still in development.