John Wick's New Spinoff Is The Only Chance To Bring Back This Fan-Favorite Character Gone Too Soon

An upcoming John Wick spinoff is the only chance to bring back a beloved character who died way too early. There's already a slew of upcoming John Wick spinoff movies and shows in the works, from Donnie Yen's Caine spinoff to Ana de Armas' Ballerina movie, but only one has a chance to bring back the dead. That project is a planned John Wick anime prequel that is set earlier in the John Wick timeline than anything other than The Continental. The anime's setting gives it a truly unique chance to revisit a character who became a fan favorite despite dying in the first John Wick film.

After four films and a television show, plenty of famous actors have portrayed notable characters in the world of John Wick. From Ian McShane's Winston to Halle Berry's Sofia, John Wick has drawn in quite a few stars. Not all of those stars get as much time in the spotlight, however, and one major actor only appeared in the original John Wick before his character was killed. Luckily, the John Wick anime has a chance to bring the character back and finally give him the screen time he's deserved since 2014.

Willem Dafoe’s Marcus Could Return In The John Wick Anime

Dafoe's Character Died In The Original John Wick

In the original John Wick, Willem Dafoe played Marcus, an older assassin, friend, and mentor to Keanu Reeves' John. Unfortunately, Marcus dies towards the end of John Wick, after Viggo Tarasov (Michael Nyqvist) tortured and executed him for refusing to complete a contract on John. Since the next three John Wick movies all took place directly after the first, Dafoe has never had another chance to play his character again. The upcoming anime prequel, however, will take place at a time when Marcus was still alive and well, and it could easily bring Dafoe's character back.

The confirmed timeline of the John Wick anime proves that the project will depict John's "impossible task" that he had to complete to get out of his service to the Tarasov crime family. John completed that task about five years prior to the original John Wick, and Marcus' friendly relationship with John and his role as a sort of mentor would make it perfectly reasonable that he would show up in the anime. Marcus may have even helped John complete his task and marry his wife; since he attended Helen's funeral, it seems he knew her in some way.

Willem Dafoe’s Marcus Has Been Mostly Forgotten In The John Wick Franchise

After Three Sequels, Dafoe's Marcus Hasn't Even Been Mentioned Again

No matter how Marcus is involved in the John Wick anime, the show has a chance to correct a wrong the franchise has been making towards Dafoe's character for a decade now. Marcus was an incredibly important character in the first John Wick, yet the three subsequent movies forgot about him entirely. Marcus saved John's life, died for his decision, and was the entire reason John went after Viggo and earned the ire of the High Table. In a way, the entire John Wick franchise happened because of Marcus, yet none of the sequels even mention his name.

Marcus has had essentially no legacy beyond the first John Wick, but the anime has a chance to change that. Even Halle Berry's Sophia has a hinted-at backstory and a few lines teasing how she knew John, but Marcus received no such treatment. While it is a prequel, the John Wick anime can bring Marcus back into audiences' minds and give him a better sendoff, one that's more deserving of how important he was to John. Fans will see Marcus as the formative part of John's life that he was, which would go a long way in fixing how the sequels have forgotten him.

Marcus Is One Mystery The John Wick Anime Should Solve

Marcus' Backstory Deserves To Be More Fleshed Out, & It Wouldn't Ruin His Mystique

The John Wick anime's decision to depict John's impossible task has already proven controversial. It threatens to remove some of the legend and mystique surrounding Keanu Reeves' character, and those rumors about the Baba Yaga have been some of the most interesting parts of the entire franchise. Marcus, however, wouldn't be in any such danger. John Wick has revealed almost nothing about Marcus' backstory beyond his connection to John, and it could easily flesh out his story without ruining his mysterious appeal. On the contrary, fleshing out Marcus' story could actually give him even more allure.

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Marcus is an example of how John Wick's natural storytelling can actually fail. Currently, there isn't enough information about him to make him worth investigating or theorizing about. The most interesting John Wick characters are the ones who seem well-known but actually have a hidden part of their story, like Winston. The anime could do the same for Marcus by giving just enough of his backstory, perhaps in the form of his own legends and rumors. That would make Willem Dafoe's Marcus one of the most intriguing characters in John Wick without making him a completely known entity.

John Wick

"John Wick" is a neo-noir action-thriller franchise centered around a retired hitman who returns to the criminal underworld to seek vengeance. Known for its intense and stylistic action sequences, the franchise has redefined modern action cinema with its choreographed gunfights, hand-to-hand combat, and intricate world-building. The series explores themes of loyalty, honor, and survival in a secret society of assassins.

Created by Derek Kolstad

First Episode Air Date September 22, 2023

Cast Keanu Reeves , Ian McShane , Lance Reddick , Willem Dafoe , Michael Nyqvist , Alfie Allen , Laurence Fishburne , Anjelica Huston , Bill Skarsgard , Mel Gibson , Donnie Yen

Character(s) John Wick , Winston , Charon , The Bowery King , Sofia Al-Azwar , Caine , Marquis Vincent de Gramont , Ares

Video Game(s) John Wick Hex

Summary

"John Wick" is a neo-noir action-thriller franchise centered around a retired hitman who returns to the criminal underworld to seek vengeance. Known for its intense and stylistic action sequences, the franchise has redefined modern action cinema with its choreographed gunfights, hand-to-hand combat, and intricate world-building. The series explores themes of loyalty, honor, and survival in a secret society of assassins.