Shinichiro Watanabe Explains How John Wick Director Became Part of the Team

Exciting New Collaboration: Shinichiro Watanabe and Chad Stahelski Join Forces for Lazarus

Anime enthusiasts can anticipate a thrilling new entry in the genre, as renowned director Shinichiro Watanabe teams up with acclaimed action director Chad Stahelski of John Wick fame. Their collaborative project, titled Lazarus, is set to debut in 2025, promising to bring a fresh perspective to sci-fi anime.

Key Highlights of the Upcoming Series

Watanabe’s partnership with Stahelski heralds a blend of artistic storytelling and exceptional action choreography.
Stahelski, motivated by Watanabe’s previous works, has graciously agreed to manage the production costs for Lazarus.
The series will consist of 13 high-quality episodes, featuring a stellar lineup of voice talent and an immersive musical score.

Understanding the Collaboration

The origins of this collaboration reveal interesting insights into the creative process. Watanabe initially reached out to Stahelski’s team for advice on crafting compelling fight scenes. In response, Stahelski enthusiastically offered to handle the choreography. However, Watanabe expressed concerns regarding the potential financial implications of such high-caliber action sequences.

Shinichiro Watanabe first approached Chad Stahelski’s team only looking for tips on how to create action scenes like them for “LAZARUS,” to which Chad’s response was: “Leave it to us! We’ll do the choreography for you!”

Ultimately, Stahelski reassured Watanabe, stating that he would bear the costs, inspired by the influence of Watanabe’s iconic series like Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo. Their interaction not only underscores the mutual respect between the two industry giants but also illustrates how inspiration can lead to groundbreaking collaborations in animation.

What to Expect from Lazarus

The team behind Lazarus is an impressive assembly of talent from across the entertainment spectrum. Here’s a closer look at the key personnel:

Director: Shinichiro Watanabe (Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, Blade Runner: Black Out 2022)
Action Director: Chad Stahelski (John Wick, Day Shift)
Music Composed By: Kamasi Washington, Bonobo, Floating Points
Studio Collaboration: MAPPA, Sola Entertainment

Voice Cast and Roles

The voice cast of Lazarus includes notable names bringing their talents to life:

Mamoru Miyano (Hunter x Hunter, Pluto, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood) as Axel
Makoto Furukawa (Kaguya-sama: Love Is War, One Punch Man, Blue Lock) as Doug
Maaya Uchida ( High School DxD , Noragami ) as Christine
Yuma Uchida ( Jujutsu Kaisen , Blue Lock , Boruto ) as Leland
Manaka Iwami (Fruits Basket, Spy × Family) as Eleina
Akio Otsuka (One Piece, Vinland Saga, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure) as Abel
Koichi Yamadera (My Hero Academia, Gintama, Dragon Ball Super) as Dr. Skinner
Megumi Hayashibara (Cowboy Bebop, Shaman King) as Hersch

Release Information

Originally announced in July 2023 and anticipated for release in 2024, Lazarus experienced delays due to production timelines. Viewers can look forward to 13 episodes featuring high production values when the series premieres in 2025.

Stay tuned for more updates on this highly anticipated project that merges the creative visions of two of the industry’s top directors!

Source: X (Formerly Twitter), this page