It’s not yet known if theJohn Wickanimated prequel will release in theaters or on streaming, but it can definitely bring back one of the franchise’s best characters.John Wick’s franchise potential was obvious from the first movie’s release, but there almost seemed to be some doubts. AfterJohn Wick: Chapter 4’s ending, it seemed like prequels were the only way to move forward. That turned out to be untrue, however, as it was announced at CinemaCon 2025 that a new adventure will indeed continue the chronicles of John Wick.
But that didn’t put an end to the extended franchise of prequels and spinoffs. The announcement of a newJohn Wickanimated prequel detailing John Wick’s Impossible Taskwas announced at the same time asJohn Wick 5. Given thatwe don’t know much from the movies about what"Impossible task"was required for John Wick to earn his retirement, the film should be a huge eye-opener for the franchise. And while it remains yet to be seen how this affects the backstory ofJohn Wick’s High Table, it opens the door to establishing another backstory as well.
John Wick’s Anime Prequel Means That Marcus Can Return
Marcus Can’t Appear In Sequels For Obvious Reasons
Of thetwo upcomingJohn Wickmovies besidesBallerina, only the prequel truly makes room for the return of Willem Dafoe’s character from the flagship movie of the franchise.Marcus was a former colleague and mentor of John Wick’s, although the first movie initially makes it seem as if his plans on killing Keanu Reeves' character to collect Viggo’s bounty. In the end, he turns down Viggo’s offer and turns out to be Wick’s greatest ally in the first film. Unfortunately, this leads to him losing his own life in the hopes Wick will get to retire once again.
ButMarcus’ return to theJohn Wickfranchiseis more possible than ever thanks to the new prequel. If Wick’s going to accomplish this Impossible Task, it makes sense that he might need advice or even active assistance from his past mentor.Bringing Marcus back could also allow him to play a larger role in the movie’s action scenes, particularly since the past setting and the advantages of animation mean that Dafoe’s age won’t hamper his character’s ability to do things onscreen the actor might not have been able to do himself. If so, his return would be long overdue.
Willem Dafoe’s Marcus Is One Of John Wick’s Most Overlooked Characters
He Arrived Too Early For Many To Strike A Chord With Him
Willem Dafoe’sJohn Wickcharacteris arguably the most unsung hero of the movie. Although he plays a major role in the first movie, he doesn’t demand the same attention as later side characters due to his comparative lack of major action scenes. Common and Halle Berry, respectively, playing Cassian and Sofia in the second and third installments, get to command major action scenes in which their characters truly shine. Marcus comes in early, before the film has earned franchise hype, and he doesn’t get to do the same kind of scenes.
But the animated prequel toJohn Wickhas the potential to change all of that. We might primarily know Marcus as a sniper in the original movie, but a prequel means he’s younger enough that he might still be able to matchKeanu Reeves’ best stunts as John Wick. Given the franchise director’s work on the animeLazarus, it certainly appears that he doesn’t skimp on fight choreography when it comes to animation. If there’s anything that allows fans to see Marcus in a new light, it should be this prequel.
John Wick Animated Prequel
Cast
This animated prequel explores John Wick’s fabled “impossible task,” in which he eliminates numerous rivals in one night. Set before the first film, it reveals his desperate effort to break free from the High Table’s control to start a new life with his beloved Helen, offering deeper context to his violent past and emotional motivations.
