Yeah, we think he’s back.
An untitled animated prequel “John Wick,” which dramatizes the “impossible task” that took him out of the control of his high-table gang overlords, has officially been greenlit by Lionsgate, with Keanu Reeves set to return as the determined hitman. Lionsgate made the announcement during Thursday’s earnings conference call. Additional plot details are kept in a locked safe, buried in the basement, under several feet of poured concrete.
The untitled project will be directed by Shannon Tindle and written by Ryan and Kaz Firpo. It will be produced by Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee for Thunder Road; franchise mastermind Chad Stehelski for 87Eleven Entertainment; and new Point Gray partners. Reeves will also produce. Nathan Kahane is executive producer.
Tindle previously directed and co-wrote 2024’s “Ultraman: Rising” for Netflix, based on the beloved character from Tsuburaya Productions. The film, which vividly blended 1960s-inspired visuals with manga and anime influences (with breathtaking animation courtesy of Industrial Light & Magic), saw a new Ultraman, Ken Sato (Christopher Sean), forced to care for the monstrous baby of a fallen enemy. The film was warmly reviewed and ultimately won three Emmy Awards. Tindle also created and co-wrote the Emmy-winning Netflix series “Lost Ollie,” again with ILM animation, which won five Emmys. He’s also worked on everything from Laika’s “Kubo and the Two Strings” (he created the project and has a story credit) to character designs for DreamWorks Animation’s “Coraline” and “The Croods” and iconic TV series like “Samurai Jack,” “The Proud Family” and “Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends.”
The Firpo brothers wrote Marvel Studios’ “Eternals,” with Patrick Burleigh and director Chloé Zhao.
Currently, the “John Wick” franchise is going through a fascinating period of expansion. Last year saw the release of the underrated “Ballerina,” which was set in-universe (and saw an extended appearance from Reeves as the character) and “Caine,” based on the Donnie Yen character introduced in “John Wick: Chapter 4,” filmed from April to July of this year. Yen directs and co-designs the story, with Rina Sawayama also returning as Shimazu Akira from “John Wick: Chapter 4.” (Chronologically, the film takes place After this movie.) There are also occasional rumors about “John Wick: Chapter 5”, despite the character’s disappearance at the end of “Chapter 4”.
Additionally, there will be another TV series, tentatively known as “John Wick: Under the High Table,” with Robert Levine as showrunner and executive producer. There hasn’t been much news on this, other than the fact that it will be a joint venture between Lionsgate Television, 87Eleven Entertainment, and Thunder Road.
Gn entert
