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Keanu Reeves Officially Signs On for John Wick Anime Prequel at Lionsgate
Lionsgate's anime prequel to the John Wick action franchise is officially moving forward. Keanu Reeves has closed a deal to return as John Wick, and the director and writers have been confirmed. Here's what's settled and what the anime format means for the series.
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The facts
What's officially confirmed
Variety reports that Keanu Reeves has officially signed a deal to return as John Wick in the anime prequel that Lionsgate is developing. A prequel, by definition, tells a story set before the events of the films already released.
The project itself isn't new. Lionsgate announced in April 2025 that it had both an anime prequel and a fifth installment in the works. This latest report confirms that the lead role for the anime prequel is now locked in.
The production team is also set. Shannon Tindle is directing, and Ryan Firpo and Kaz Firpo are writing the script, confirming the plan to tell a story in the same world as the live-action films through animation.
Sources: screenrant.com, variety.com
Where the prequel fits in the franchise
John Wick is an action film series about a retired assassin who is pulled back into the fight. The first film was released in 2014, and sequels have followed, with the title simply being the name of the protagonist played by Keanu Reeves.
A prequel is a story that explores the past of a character the audience already knows. Its appeal lies in digging into events the main films only hint at, and into how a character became who they are today. Animation may make it easier to stage action and settings that are hard to pull off in live action.
Lionsgate's announcement that it was developing both the anime prequel and a fifth film at the same time signals a plan to keep the series running as a single long-form story, with the live-action sequel and the animated prequel moving forward in parallel.
Sources: screenrant.com, variety.com
How Keanu Reeves is involved
What has been confirmed is that Keanu Reeves has formally signed a deal to return as John Wick in the prequel. Whether he will perform the role as a voice actor or take part in some other capacity is not clear from the confirmed information.
Having the star of the live-action series involved in the animated version is an important factor in maintaining continuity for the franchise. For audiences, it means seeing the same character's past with the same actor attached.
At the same time, an actor's involvement carries a different meaning in an animated work than in live action. Whether the role centers on voice performance or on shaping the story's framework will change the character of the project. How detailed his involvement will be is a key point to watch for in future announcements.
Sources: screenrant.com, variety.com
What the creative team signals
The team is confirmed as director Shannon Tindle and writers Ryan Firpo and Kaz Firpo. The fact that specific roles have been decided shows the project has moved past the concept stage and is heading toward production.
In animation, the director's visual craft and the script's structure heavily shape the impression a work makes. How much of the live-action series' atmosphere it carries over, and how much it embraces what only animation can do, will be central questions for the finished product.
Having two writers share scripting duties is also notable. A prequel has to be built so it doesn't contradict the established setting of the main films, which requires work to keep the whole series consistent.
Sources: screenrant.com, variety.com
Analysis
Our take: the strategy behind expanding the series
What stands out in this decision is how the series is being expanded. Rather than only stacking up live-action sequels, telling the past through animation is an attempt to show the same world through a different entry point. As live-action sequels pile up, it gets harder for newcomers to jump in midway. A prequel can serve as a starting point for those viewers.
The advantage of animation is creative freedom. Live action comes with constraints around actors aging or changing physically, locations, and schedules, while animation can reduce those constraints. Being able to depict past eras and fight scenes that are hard to recreate in live action fits well with the prequel format.
There are challenges, though. Part of the live-action series' appeal has been Keanu Reeves' physical action and the atmosphere on screen. Whether animation can deliver the same immersion depends on the director and writers. Whether live-action fans accept the anime version as part of the same series will also affect its commercial success.
It's also worth noting how long this has taken since the announcement. There were steps between the April 2025 announcement that the project was in development and the formalization of the lead actor's deal. Animation takes time from concept to release, so the release timing and details will likely emerge gradually. Waiting for further updates is the realistic approach.
Sources: screenrant.com, variety.com
What to watch next
One thing to watch is which era the anime prequel will cover. Which part of the past mentioned in the main films it focuses on will change the meaning of the story. How it relates to the fifth film is also part of the overall design of the series.
Whether Keanu Reeves' involvement is voice-only or extends to the story's core will also shape the project's character. The connection to the live-action series will need to be tracked as each announcement is confirmed.
With the series moving forward on two tracks, live action and animation, fans gain more options but also face the burden of understanding where each project fits. How Lionsgate links the two will be key to reading what comes next.
Sources: screenrant.com, variety.com
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Questions
- What is Keanu Reeves doing in the John Wick anime prequel?
- He has reportedly signed a deal to return as John Wick. Whether he will voice the role or take part in another capacity is not clear from confirmed information.
- Who is directing and writing the anime prequel?
- Shannon Tindle is directing, and Ryan Firpo and Kaz Firpo are writing the script.
- What's the status of John Wick 5?
- Lionsgate announced in April 2025 that it had both the anime prequel and a fifth film in development.