‘John Wick’ Director Chad Stahelski Is Desperate to Direct More Anime After ‘Lazarus’

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Chad Stahelski, who has directed all four John Wick films featuring Keanu Reeves, is considering venturing beyond the franchise to work on different action projects. Despite the fact that John Wick 5 is now in development, Stahelski is eager to explore new directions in his career. So, what’s next for Stahelski? Perhaps a war film, a heist, or a romantic comedy from the ’00s? Not quite. Instead, he seems drawn to anime! Stahelski has recently shared his action design expertise with Shinichiro Watanabe (known for Cowboy Bebop) on their latest series, Lazarus. It appears that Stahelski might have developed a fondness for anime… or perhaps it’s been there all along.

As a movie enthusiast, I recently had the opportunity to chat with Chad Stahelski during his promotional tour for “Lazarus.” In our conversation, he confessed his longstanding admiration for anime and his regret that he didn’t delve into this medium earlier in his career. With a hint of envy, he praised the skill of animators, expressing that if he could draw just a fraction as well as Watanabe-san, the ideas bursting from his mind would be phenomenal. If only he could capture these ideas on paper, he mused, he’d never leave the room.

The inaugural episode of “Lazarus,” now airing on Adult Swim and streaming on the Max app, has given us a glimpse into Stahelski’s exceptional action choreography. This unique blend of the gritty realism of “John Wick” with the boundless creativity of anime is nothing short of breathtaking.

In the time to come, Chad Stahelski expressed his eagerness to delve further into the realm of anime. He stated, “Given the chance, I’d love to have a career in anime as an action designer – it wouldn’t be a bad deal at all.” He added, “I’m amazed we haven’t been asked to do more of this work. Frankly, I’m a bit disappointed. I wish there were more opportunities for us in this area.” Fortunately, Stahelski’s aspirations are being realized. Alongside John Wick 5, he is also crafting a fresh John Wick prequel anime. This new project aims to unfold the story of how the main character, John Wick, was able to retire and live peacefully with his wife.

Chad Stahelski Worked on ‘Lazarus’ for Free

Lazarus isn’t Chad Stahelski’s debut in anime production; he has previously designed action sequences for Fist of the North Star and Ninja Kamui. Interestingly, Shinichiro Watanabe unveiled that Stahelski voluntarily took on Lazarus without any payment, as Stahelski’s previous works like Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo significantly impacted John Wick – a fact that inspired him to work on Lazarus.

In a conversation with Anime News Network, Watanabe shared how Chad Stahelski was brought in to choreograph the action sequences for the film “Lazarus”. He expressed his desire to learn how they crafted such scenes and proposed that perhaps Stahelski’s team could offer some guidance. However, instead of offering tips, Stahelski replied, “Leave it to us! We’ll handle the choreography.” This left Watanabe slightly worried about the potential cost, but in a phone call, Stahelski reassured him saying, “Don’t worry about the cost. ‘Cowboy Bebop’ and ‘Samurai Champloo’, two series that have inspired me for years, have led me to this point. I want to create these action scenes for you.

In a future where a groundbreaking painkiller has eradicated illness, the series Lazarus is set. However, following a three-year absence, Dr. Skinner, its creator, discloses that those who took it will perish unless they locate him within 30 days to receive the antidote. Fresh episodes of Lazarus can be found weekly on Adult Swim.

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2025-04-12 15:04