Director Chad Stahelski revealed in an interview with
The Hollywood Reporter that a “ John Wick ” anime is in
the works. The project will explore a pivotal stage in
John’s life, focusing on the legendary quest that allowed him to retire for
love, an aspect barely touched upon in the films. According to
Stahelski, the anime will serve as a prequel to the films and will be a
feature-length film. “ It’s great that it’s in a different medium ,”
he said.
Although the format of the project had not been
previously specified, Stahelski confirmed during the interview that it will be
a film. The director expressed his enthusiasm for the
creative freedom that the anime format offers, 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 a participation in The Discourse Podcast, which sparked 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. Likewise,
it has been confirmed that the fifth installment of the saga, titled John Wick
5, is also in development.
This new anime promises to delve deeper into 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 Stahelski says have not been possible in live-action films.
Source: TheHollywood Reporter
