John Wick Executive Discusses Keanu Reeves’ Involvement in the Upcoming Anime

Despite the high-octane events of John Wick: Chapter 4, which left many to believe John Wick met his end, Lionsgate and the creative team are far from done with the assassin’s universe. The saga is poised for expansion into its shadowy, action-packed world.

Chad Stahelski, co-creator of the John Wick franchise, recently marked the tenth anniversary of John Wick’s cinematic legacy with some exciting announcements about its future. In addition to confirming a new television series and a spin-off film, Stahelski revealed that Mr. Wick will also be making his way to the world of anime. While details about the John Wick anime film are still under wraps, Stahelski shed light on Keanu Reeves’ ongoing involvement in shaping the franchise’s next chapters.

Related

This One Mistake By Keanu Reeves Saved John Wick From Aging Terribly

While John Wick is now iconic in action films, it started with a different title. Keanu Reeves helped rescue it from mediocrity.

In a recent chat with The Hollywood Reporter to mark John Wick’s 10th anniversary, Chad Stahelski opened up about Keanu Reeves’ continued commitment to the franchise, including his role in the upcoming John Wick anime movie. Stahelski shared, “So, we all decided, “Okay, well, let’s just have it go through me as a stop-gate.” We have three new things coming up: an anime feature, a TV show, and a new spinoff. So, Keanu and I are still very active on all 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 feature film, or the new TV show we’re working on, it still comes through us. Every time I get something on my desk, the first person I call is Keanu.” Stahelski also highlighted the need for creative control to guide the John Wick franchise down the best possible path amidst the various creative voices shaping its future direction, stating, “It’s a way to protect ourselves. To be completely f***ing arrogant for a second, we didn’t just work the last ten years to see it all go to s**t.”

The upcoming John Wick anime is a prequel set to dive into the most intriguing and elusive piece of John’s life, which was hinted at throughout the four films but never fully explored. Fans will get a closer look at the “impossible task” that allowed John a shot at a normal life with his wife—a daunting mission that earned him the fear of Russian crime boss Viggo Tarasov, as first mentioned in the original John Wick. While the exact nature of this task remains a mystery, fans speculate it involved the legendary Baba Yaga eliminating all of Tarasov’s enemies in a single night. Still, do we really need to know the details, or will revealing them strip away some of John Wick’s signature mystique? The anime prequel seeks to answer this by diving into how John pulled off this impossible feat and secured a brief respite from his deadly world, offering a glimpse into the calm before the storm.

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

As for John Wick’s future in live-action, it’s uncertain if Keanu Reeves will return for the confirmed Chapter 5. Stahelski emphasized they plan to honor the conclusion of Chapter 4, saying, “You can’t top John Wick: Chapter 4. That’s the end, and we found closure.” However, he acknowledges that development might lead to opportunities for John Wick 5—whether for profit or creative reasons- but exciting projects are underway. Alongside the animated series, a Donnie Yen-led spin-off is currently in the works, while the franchise will first welcome From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, starring Ana de Armas as Eve Macarro, an aspiring assassin seeking revenge for her father’s murder.

The John Wick Anime is still in development.

More

John Wick: Chapter 5 Gets An Update From the Franchise’s Director

The director behind the John Wick movies shares an update on John Wick: Chapter 5 and other spin-offs.

Source: THR