Director Chad Stahelski revealed in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that the anime “John Wick” is currently in the final stages of development. This project will explore a significant chapter in John’s life, focusing on a legendary mission that allows him to “rest easy” due to love, a scene that was not included in the film.
According to Stahelski, the anime will serve as a prequel to the film series and will be a full-length feature. “It’s amazing when it appears in a different medium,” he noted.
While no definitive details about the new project’s format have been disclosed, Stahelski confirmed in the interview that it will indeed be an anime.
The director expressed his passion for the creative freedom that the anime format brings. He believes it will allow for more “creative exploration,” enabling new ideas to be discovered without the constraints often found in traditional films.
Stahelski first mentioned the anime project while participating in The Discourse Podcast, which sparked significant interest from fans. The John Wick franchise, created by Derek Kolstad, has become a global phenomenon since the first film premiered in 2014. The story revolves around John Wick, a hitman who is forced back into the criminal underworld after the death of his beloved dog.
With the film series already featuring: John Wick (2014), Chapter 2 (2017), Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019), and Chapter 4 (2023), all directed by Stahelski, the character of John Wick continues to expand.
In addition to the anime, there are other projects in development, including the limited series The Continental: From the World of John Wick, which premiered in 2023, and the film Ballerina, set to release in 2024. Furthermore, it has been confirmed that a fifth installment of the saga, titled John Wick 5, is also in development.
This new anime promises to delve deeply into the intricate world of John Wick, providing fans with a fresh perspective on the character and utilizing the medium to create dynamic action and storytelling that Stahelski believes cannot be replicated in traditional films.
