Summary
WithJohn Wick 5now confirmed, many fans are happy to finally have an answer toJohn Wick 4’s most burning question: Is John Wick dead? He’s most surely alive, ashe’s set to star inJohn Wick 5,but now audiences are left pondering a new, more head-scratching conundrum: How in the world is he not dead? Well, the recently announcedJohn Wickanimated prequel could help answer that question.
John Wick’s animated prequel film makes a lot of sense in a couple of ways. First, Keanu Reeves is 60 now, so telling his prequel story would only work if he was de-aged, which isn’t quite working yet with modern technology, or if he was animated. Secondly, the story being told in the prequel is truly a legendary one, so animation could excuse a certain sense of realism that the live-action films are beholden to. The resulting concern, though, is that the absent parameters of animation will see Wick as a super-powered protagonist instead of just a highly capable one.
Who’s BehindJohn Wick’s Animated Prequel Film?
Firstly, both Reeves and mainlineJohn Wickdirector Chad Stahelski are set to produce the prequel, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Additionally, Lionsgate has tappedKubo and the Two Stringswriter Shannon Tindle to helm the film.Kubo and the Two Stringswas nominated for both Best Animated Feature and Best Visual Effects at the 2017 Academy Awards. Though Tindle did not directKubo, he did direct the shockinglybrilliant Netflix filmUltraman: Rising,which was certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes at 86% and did even better with fans, garnering a 92% rating from audiences.
John Wick’s animated prequel is in decidedly capable hands with Tindle, as all of his credits have been critical hits, including his2022 Netflix limited seriesThe Lost Ollie,which earned a critic score of 94% on Rotten Tomatoes and an even higher audience score of 97%. TheJohn Wickprequel’s writer is a more curious choice.
John Wick’s animated prequel will be written by Vanessa Taylor, who co-wrote 2018’s Best PictureThe Shape of Waterwith Guillermo Del Toro. Her other films are mostly dramas or romantic comedies, except for 2014’sDivergent, which, while it is an action film, wasn’t a very good one, with only a 41% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. To be fair, Tindle hasn’t directed any adult action films himself, and Taylor is clearly a fantastic writer, capable of developing extremely engrossing characters. So, hopefully, the duo’s strong pedigree outside the action genre will work withJohn Wick’s prequel. Theplot for that prequel concerns the series hero’s legendary ‘impossible task.’
Why Is The Impossible Task A NecessaryJohn WickStory To Tell?
The argument could be made that John Wick is already a superhero, given his superhuman resilience. Heck, he’s recently been confirmed alive after his most sure death experience of the entire series - the end ofJohn Wick 4. Still, he’s technically just a human assassin, except he’s got sheer, unrivaled willpower. Before, John Wick was arguably comparable to Marvel’sDaredevilin that he had all the maximum effort without health regeneration. Well, it turns out, he might also have healing capabilities.
Fans should note that while he was shown collapsing at the end ofJohn Wick 4,followed by his headstone directly after, there was never actually a body or burial to be witnessed.If he did, in fact, die,the upcoming animated prequel could reveal Wick’s first true death-defiance and inform the method by which he could do it again forJohn Wick 5. If this turns out to be the true justification for an animated prequel to an already well-established tale, the prequel film could turn out to be essential viewing forJohn Wickfans.
TheJohn WickPrequel Could Be Important, But Will It Be Good?
‘The impossible task’ was a murderous gauntlet that Wick ran in order to initially gain his freedom, in which he killed three men with a pencil. That’s fun to imagine, and fans can only hope it’s half as fun to watch play out on screen. But, do we want to see ‘the impossible task’? As with most myths, it’s hard to believe the depiction can actually live up to the legend. The animation medium does present a slippery slope to overpowering the assassin protagonist. At the same time, ‘the impossible task’ is a story of mythical proportions and might call for a little extra sweetening on the action.
We’ve seen animation grant power boosts to another main character in a for-hire killer franchise: Geralt inThe Witcher: Sirens of the Deep. The Netflix film narrowly missed the mark with critics earning a 58% score on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences were much less generous, coughing up a meager 38% approval rating. WillJohn Wick’s animated prequel fare better? It’s quite possible, likely even, given the essential pieces in place to make it happen, especially the film’s director. Also, it’sJohn Wickwith Reeves and Stahelski producing, although the other Stahelski-produced Wick film,Ballerina,required him to step in and take the lead. The task of depicting Wick’s most legendary mission is very much possible for the dynamic duo.
