Keanu Reeves is returning as John Wick in an animated film that aims to tell the assassin’s story before the tragic events of the first movie.
The animated flick will be produced by the same team that produced the John Wick movies, comprised of Thunder Road’s Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee, 87Eleven Entertainment’s Chad Stahelski, and, of course, Keanu Reeves. Point Grey will join the group to produce, as well.
Reeves is also set to reprise his role as the ‘Baba Yaga.’ As told by Lionsgate, this movie will “go back in time to tell the story of John Wick before the first film, as he completes the Impossible Task in order to free himself from his obligation to the High Table and earn the right to be with the love of his life, Helen.” (It’ll be nice to see John Wick being happy, for once.)
Shannon Tindle, an Emmy Award-winning director, writer, and producer known for works like Ultraman: Rising and Kubo and the Two Strings is set to direct. Screenwriting duo Ryan and Kaz Firpo are onboard to write the film; the two are known for Marvel’s Eternals.
This is the latest news we’ve gotten from this highly-anticipated project after it was first announced last year. Adam Fogelson, motion picture chair at Lionsgate, gave fans a little something to chew on during its announcement, saying, “In both animation and the world of ‘John Wick,’ the possibilities are endless. And there is no ‘John Wick’ story fans are clamoring for more than the ‘Impossible Task.’ Shannon’s take on that story is an incredible one, and we are beyond excited to see what John Wick can do in animation.”
The specific animation house responsible for bringing John Wick’s action-packed, assassin-filled world to life has not yet been officially announced. For now, it’s anyone’s guess as to what it will eventually look like, but it’s certainly exciting news while we wait for John Wick 5.
Yes, a fifth movie installment is going to happen, despite the fourth movie appearing to end on a perfect note. The film was first revealed in April 2025, with Fogelson most recently saying that director “Chad [Stahelski] and Keanu have an idea that they think can be really exciting.”
Previously, Stahelski said a script was in active development, though the actual story seemed to be eluding him and fellow writer Mike Finch.
“I’m not going to lie to you, it’s a bit of a conundrum. Me and Mike Finch — the writer on 4 who’s also writing 5 — we’ve got a pretty good story that I think is cool. Once we have a 50-page book, and if we’re feeling it, we’ll sit with Keanu and shape this thing. Look, everybody seems to want it. It’s a matter of whether we crack it. We’re actively working on it. It’s just … is it going to be satisfying?” he said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
These aren’t the only John Wick projects in the works; Reeves is also portraying the titular character in a video game from Saber Interactive, coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox X|S, and PC at an as-yet unreleased date. An official blurb described what players can expect from the title, saying, “Saber’s design will be faithful to the unique style and signature elements of the series, including a distinct gun fu combat system, jaw-dropping camerawork, immersive driving experiences, and a variety of memorable environments, all crafted to make players feel like they are in a John Wick movie, playing the role of John Wick himself.”
Virginia (she/her) is IGN’s News Editor. With ten years of experience reporting on games and entertainment, she’s got a storied background in the fighting game community, influencer news, and viral online trends. Find her on Twitter at @TheeMissGlaze.
