Keanu Reeves is officially returning as the legendary assassin John Wick, but this time, the Baba Yaga is heading into animation.
Lionsgate has officially greenlit an animated John Wick prequel, with Reeves set to reprise his iconic role as the voice of the deadly hitman. The announcement came during the studio’s quarterly earnings call on November 5, confirming that the long-awaited project is moving forward.
The upcoming film will explore one of the biggest mysteries in the John Wick franchise: the infamous Impossible Task.
Set before the events of the original 2014 film, the prequel will follow Wick as he attempts to escape his obligations to the High Table, the powerful criminal organization that controls the assassin underworld. To earn his freedom and begin a new life with Helen, the woman he loves, Wick must eliminate his rivals in a single night.
Although the Impossible Task has been referenced throughout the franchise, audiences have never witnessed the legendary mission that ultimately allowed Wick to walk away from his violent past.
John Wick [Patrick Brown, artstation]
The animated film will be directed by Shannon Tindle, known for Netflix’s Ultraman: Rising and his work on Kubo and the Two Strings. Ryan and Kaz Firpo, who previously worked on Marvel Studios’ Eternals, are writing the screenplay.
Reeves will also serve as a producer alongside longtime franchise collaborators Chad Stahelski, Basil Iwanyk, and Erica Lee. Point Grey, the production company associated with Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, is also joining the project.
The announcement marks another major expansion of the John Wick universe, which has generated more than $1 billion at the worldwide box office across its theatrical releases.
Beyond the animated prequel, Lionsgate is developing a fifth live-action John Wick film and a standalone spinoff centered on Donnie Yen’s blind assassin, Caine.
For longtime fans, the animated prequel presents an opportunity to experience a defining chapter of John Wick’s history that has remained largely untold since the franchise began.
An official release date and additional voice cast members have not yet been announced.
