John Wick animated prequel movie to finally spare poor Keanu's knees

Although currently untitled, the film reportedly centers on the biggest question mark in the Baba Yaga’s personal backstory, i.e., the “impossible task” he completed in order to earn his way out of the hitman game for a shot at what turned out to be some extremely short-lived marital bliss. (Darn it, narratively convenient terminal diseases!) And while we’re a bit hesitant at the idea of animated Wick—since the series derives such huge amounts of its joys from the extremely grounded and realistic kinesthetics created by Stahelski’s direction, an incredible fight choreography team, and Reeves’ full-body commitment to the bit—we will admit that this is probably the only way to tell this particular story without committing the genuinely unthinkable sin of recasting Reeves with a younger performer. 

Per The Wrap, the film is being directed by Shannon Tindle, a veteran animator whose credits include Samurai Jack, Kubo And The Two Strings, and 2024 Netflix film Ultraman: Rising, and written by Eternals writers Ryan and Kaz Firpo. Stahelski and Reeves are both expected to produce. The project is one of several Wick spinoffs in the works, including Donnie Yen’s Caine, and another potential TV series titled Under The High Table.