John Wick’s Forgotten Hero Is Finally Getting His Time In The Spotlight!

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It’s still uncertain whether the John Wick animated prequel will hit theaters or streaming platforms, but there’s no doubt it could reintroduce one of the franchise’s most beloved characters. The potential for the John Wick series was evident from the debut of the first film, yet there were some questions. Following the conclusion of John Wick: Chapter 4, it appeared that prequels might be the only option for the storyline to progress. However, this was proven wrong as the announcement at CinemaCon 2025 revealed that a new chapter is indeed planned to continue the tale of John Wick.

The announcement of both John Wick 5 and an animated prequel titled “John Wick’s Impossible Task” was made simultaneously. Since the films haven’t revealed much about the task that led to John Wick’s retirement, this upcoming movie promises to offer fresh insights on the franchise. Additionally, while it remains unclear how this will impact the lore of the High Table in John Wick’s world, it paves the way for further exploration and potentially introducing a new backstory.

John Wick’s Anime Prequel Means That Marcus Can Return

Marcus Can’t Appear In Sequels For Obvious Reasons

Among the two upcoming “John Wick” films, excluding “Ballerina”, it is only the prequel that provides an opportunity for Willem Dafoe’s character from the original series to reappear. Marcus, who was once a fellow associate and tutor to John Wick, initially appears to have intentions of eliminating Keanu Reeves’ character to claim Viggo’s bounty in the first movie. However, he ultimately refuses Viggo’s offer and becomes John Wick’s most valuable ally in the initial film. Tragically, this alliance results in him sacrificing his life so that John Wick can retire once more.

The possibility of Marcus rejoining the John Wick series has never been greater due to the upcoming prequel. Since John Wick is tackling this Impossible Task, it seems logical that he may require guidance or even hands-on help from his former mentor. Reintroducing Marcus could expand his character’s participation in the film’s action sequences, given that the historical backdrop and animation techniques can minimize Dafoe’s age-related limitations on screen performances. If this happens, it would be a welcome addition to the series.

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

In the movie “John Wick,” Willem Dafoe’s character can be seen as an understated yet significant hero who may not have received as much recognition as some later characters due to fewer high-profile action sequences compared to them. Characters like Common (Cassian) and Halle Berry (Sofia), who appeared in the second and third installments, have more prominent action scenes where they excel. However, Dafoe’s character, Marcus, enters the scene early on, before the franchise had built much hype, and as a result, doesn’t get to showcase the same type of action sequences.

The prospective animated prequel to “John Wick” could potentially alter our perception of Marcus significantly. While we primarily recognize Marcus as a sniper from the original film, a prequel implies he’s young enough to possibly outperform Keanu Reeves’ best stunts as John Wick. Given that the franchise director has demonstrated impressive fight choreography in the anime “Lazarus”, it seems this animated series won’t hold back on action sequences. If there’s anything that offers fans a fresh perspective on Marcus, it should be this prequel.

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2025-04-22 01:30