Keanu Reeves to Star in Upcoming Animated John Wick Movie

Lionsgate Greenlights Untitled John Wick Animated Prequel

Lionsgate greenlit an untitled John Wick animated prequel during its Thursday earnings call, confirming that Keanu Reeves will return as the assassin who broke away from the High Table. IGN noted that the feature will depict the title character completing the “Impossible Task” required to free himself from gangland overlords and earn the right to be with Helen, the love of his life. CEO Jon Feltheimer stated the project is currently in preproduction, following an initial announcement by Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson at CinemaCom 2025.

Shannon Tindle will direct the film, working from a script written by Ryan and Kaz Firpo. Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee will produce for Thunder Road alongside Chad Stahelski for 87Eleven Entertainment, with Point Grey joining the team as new producing partners. Reeves is also producing the project, and Nathan Kahane serves as executive producer. Tindle previously directed Netflix’s Ultraman: Rising, while the Firpo brothers wrote the film Eternals.

Franchise Expansion Across Film, Television, and Games

The animated prequel arrives amid a broader multi-platform expansion of the John Wick universe. IGN reported that a fifth live-action movie is actively in development, with Stahelski and writer Mike Finch working to shape a satisfying script despite what Stahelski described as a creative conundrum following the character’s fate in the fourth installment. Meanwhile, the spin-off film Ballerina arrived last year with an extended cameo by Reeves, and production on Caine—starring Donnie Yen reprising his role from the fourth film and directed by Yen—shot from April to July of this year, featuring Rina Sawayama returning as Shimazu Akira.

Television and interactive media are also growing the property. A series tentatively titled John Wick: Under the High Table is slated as a joint venture between Lionsgate Television, 87Eleven Entertainment, and Thunder Road, with Robert Levine serving as showrunner and executive producer. Additionally, IGN reported that Saber Interactive is developing a John Wick video game for PlayStation 5, Xbox X|S, and PC featuring a distinct “gun fu” combat system and driving experiences designed to place players directly in the role of the assassin.

Behind the Animation and Production Teams

Tindle brings a background in acclaimed visual storytelling to the franchise’s animated entry. His previous feature, Ultraman: Rising, blended 1960s-inspired visuals with manga and anime influences through animation by Industrial Light & Magic. Tindle also contributed to Kubo and the Two Strings.

Fogelson emphasized the creative potential of shifting the property into animation. “In both animation and the world of John Wick, the possibilities are endless,” Fogelson said when the project was first revealed, according to IGN. “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.”

Frequently Asked Questions About the Prequel

When does the animated prequel take place chronologically?

The animated feature goes back in time to the era before the first live-action film. It details the events surrounding the “Impossible Task” John Wick performed to free himself from his obligations to the High Table.

Who is writing and directing the animated film?

Shannon Tindle directs the project, and screenwriting duo Ryan and Kaz Firpo wrote the script. Tindle previously directed Ultraman: Rising, and the Firpo brothers wrote Marvel’s Eternals.

Which companies are producing the project?

Thunder Road’s Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee produce alongside 87Eleven Entertainment’s Chad Stahelski, Point Grey, and Keanu Reeves. Lionsgate serves as the studio backing the release.