Since its debut in 2014, the John Wick franchise has been a major success for Lionsgate, with each installment surpassing the previous one at the box office. From $43 million for the first film to over $187 million for the latest, John Wick: Chapter 4, the series continues to thrive. Beyond movies, the franchise has expanded to the small screen with the prequel series, The Continental. Now, John Wick is venturing into the world of anime, marking the next chapter in its impressive journey.
Recently, the ‘John Wick’ anime series was revealed
No release date or trailer is available yet for the John Wick anime series, as the project was recently announced. Chad Stahelski, the director of the John Wick movies, discussed the upcoming TV spinoff and anime adaptation in a recent interview on The Discourse Podcast.
“So we’re really looking forward to that; we’re really excited about it because we’re doing that and a Japanese anime because I love Japanese anime so much. So to create all the cool stories that anime could achieve better than we could and the TV show to expand our world, we’ll still get our fix, you know what I mean? And we’ll still have all the fun.”
Chad Stahelski’s involvement with The Continental is reportedly limited, but he will play a more active role in future projects within the Wickverse, including the newly announced anime series. In addition to The Continental, a new John Wick show is in development, shifting its focus to the present-day world of John Wick rather than exploring the past. Lionsgate is keen on expanding the universe further, exploring the High Table, and integrating characters from John Wick: Chapter 4, such as Cain (Donnie Yen), Akira (Rina Sawayama), and The Tracker (Shamier Anderson).
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Japanese Animation Companies Possibly Associated with the ‘John Wick’ Anime
While there’s no official information on the John Wick anime series, speculation suggests Lionsgate may collaborate with a top Japanese animation studio. Some potential candidates include:
- A1 Pictures is known for Lycoris Recoil, an anime with a premise close to John Wick, offering a great story and intense action.
- Mappa Studio is renowned for their quality work, including Attack on Titan, Vinland Saga, and Jujutsu Kaisen. Their animation style might be familiar to Western audiences.
- Madhouse Studios is known for shows like Black Lagoon, Hellsing Ultimate, and Trigun, with movie-quality animation and flexibility.
- Production I.G.: Recognised for emotional storytelling (Run with the Wind, Bunny Drop) and impressive action and worldbuilding (Ghost in the Shell, Psycho-Pass, Attack on Titan).
- Wit Studio is comparable to Mappa, known for versatile storytelling and adapting to different genres, making them a suitable choice for the John Wick series.
Ultimately, the choice will depend on factors such as budget, style, and the studio’s ability to capture the essence of the John Wick universe.
How many movies are available for John Wick?
- John Wick (2014): The first film introduces the character of John Wick, a former hitman seeking vengeance for the death of his dog.
- John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017): The second installment follows John Wick as he is forced back into the world of assassins, leading to a global adventure.
- John Wick: Chapter 3: Parabellum (2019): In the third film, John Wick is on the run after being declared “excommunicado” by the High Table, facing numerous challenges and formidable opponents.
- John Wick: Chapter 4 We know Reeves will gun-fu his way through the criminal underworld in Berlin, Paris, Japan, and then back to the franchise’s home base of New York City.
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