John Wick will have an anime movie

Director Chad Stahelski revealed in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that the "John Wick" anime is in the middle of development. This project will explore a crucial stage of John's life, focusing on the legendary task that allowed him to retire for love, an aspect rarely mentioned in the films. According to Stahelski, the anime will serve as a prequel to the films and will be a feature film. "It's great that it's in a different medium," he said.

Although the format of the project had not been specified previously, Stahelski confirmed during the interview that it will be a film. The director expressed his enthusiasm for the creative freedom offered by the anime format, mentioning that it will allow them to be 'crazier' and explore new ideas without falling into repetition. "Whether it's the pinball machine, the anime movie, or the new TV show we're working on, at least everything is still going through us," he added.

The first mention of this anime project was made by Stahelski in an appearance on The Discourse Podcast, which aroused great interest among fans. The John Wick franchise, created by Derek Kolstad, has become a global phenomenon since the release of its first film in 2014. The story follows John Wick, a former assassin who, after the death of his dog, is forced to return to the dark criminal world he had left behind.

With four films already released: John Wick (2014), Chapter 2 (2017), Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019) and Chapter 4 (2023), all directed by Stahelski, the John Wick universe continues to expand. In addition to the anime film, there are other projects in the works, such as the limited series The Continental: From the World of John Wick, which debuted in 2023, and the film Ballerina, which is scheduled for release in 2024. It has also been confirmed that the fifth installment of the saga, titled John Wick 5, is also in development.

This new anime promises to thoroughly explore John Wick's past and give fans a different perspective on the character, using a medium that will allow creators to take the action and narrative to levels that, according to Stahelski, had not been possible in live-action films.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter