John Wick Anime Prequel Lets Loose: “Anime Just Goes Pop,” Says Creator.
June 8, 2025
John Wick co-creator Chad Stahelski reveals why the upcoming anime project is a prequel and how the medium offers creative freedom beyond the live-action films. 🎥💥 John Wick’s Next Chapter Goes Anime – and It’s a Prequel! 🔫🐶
Chad Stahelski, co-creator of the John Wick franchise, just confirmed that the long-rumored anime project is officially a prequel film—and there's a powerful reason why:
“Anime just goes pop,” he told THR. “You don’t have to explain weird stuff or de-age Keanu. You just tell a badass story.”
🧩 Why anime?
Total creative freedom
No timeline constraints
No need to "explain" Wick’s past
More fun, more action, more crazy
💬 The anime will explore the “impossible task” that earned Wick his retirement before Chapter 1, using bold, stylized animation to expand the universe in new ways. 🎞️✨
🎬 No studio confirmed yet, but Stahelski’s past work on Lazarus with Shinichiro Watanabe hints at serious anime credibility. And no, Keanu isn’t involved—at least not yet...
👀 What we know:
Set before Chapter 1
Will go all-in on action, lore, and world-building
Aiming for fun, not filler
🔥 If this hits like it should, the Wickverse might just find its boldest form yet—in anime.