Official Announcement of John Wick Anime Prequel Film Project

On Tuesday, October 22, 2024, an exciting revelation came forth regarding the John Wick anime project, which was confirmed as a prequel feature film during an interview with Chad Stahelski, the co-creator and director of the franchise. During this discussion, Stahelski hinted that the film would delve into “at least some” aspects of the “impossible task” that led the iconic protagonist to retire before the events of the initial film.

Sadly, the conversation with The Hollywood Reporter did not expand significantly on the storyline of the John Wick anime film beyond this intriguing premise. Nevertheless, Stahelski shared additional insights about the project that illuminate its aspirations from the perspective of the franchise’s creator.

New John Wick anime prequel aims to bring more “craziness” to the franchise

Although he refrained from revealing further plot details about the John Wick anime, Stahelski emphasized that they are “knee-deep in development” on this animated feature. He expressed enthusiasm about the project being in a different format, describing the endeavor as “fun” and a fresh challenge to embrace.

The director pointed out that this prequel aims to deliver “animated fun,” distinguishing it from prequels and sequels of other film franchises that may not adopt this lighter approach. He mentioned that the decision to create a prequel stems from the fact that they had “already capped [the story] on one end” with the release of John Wick: Chapter 4, prompting them to explore a different medium.

Beyond these mentions, not much significant information surfaced about the anime initiative. However, Stahelski’s willingness to discuss the project and its development status, albeit vaguely, hints that substantial announcements are on the horizon. This speculation gains traction as the project was initially unveiled by Stahelski back in November 2023.

Additionally, it appears that Stahelski is gaining experience with other anime ventures alongside the active development of the John Wick project. His involvement in crafting action sequences for the upcoming Lazarus anime, directed by Shinichiro Watanabe of Cowboy Bebop fame and produced by MAPPA Studios, showcases this. Furthermore, Stahelski has held various roles in adaptations of First of the North Star and Speed Racer.

In conjunction with Stahelski’s work within the John Wick universe, other pivotal figures from the film series are also engaged in anime projects. Derek Kolstad, the writer responsible for the first three John Wick films, is reportedly writing and producing a Splinter Cell anime for Netflix and Ubisoft, in addition to developing a live-action adaptation of Kouta Hirano’s Hellsing manga.

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