EXCLUSIVE: Lionsgate‘s John Wick spinoff, the untitled Caine project which will see Donnie Yen directing and reprising his role as the blind assassin, will begin production next month, we understand.
The project, which was announced at CinemaCon last spring, will follow Caine’s story in the events post 2023’s John Wick: Chapter 4; the hitman freed from his obligations to The High Table. Mattson Tomlin wrote the screenplay, his most recent credits being the upcoming Matt Reeves’ The Batman Part II and the adaptation of the Keanu Reeves-created comic book BRZRKR. Michael McGrale also co-penned.
John Wick fan-favorite, Rina Sawayama, who plays Akira, is also coming back opposite Yen.
John Wick producers Thunder Road are also back including Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee (John Wick: Chapters 1 through 4, Ballerina) as well as John Wick filmmaker Chad Stahelski (John Wick: Chapter 3—Parabellum, John Wick: Chapter 4, Ballerina), who produces through his 87Eleven Entertainment production banner. Reeves and John Saunders will also produce. Yen will also serve as EP.
The Guangzhou, China native, Boston raised Yen is known for such action movies as Ip Man, Flash Point and Hero. The stunt choregraphy he brought to those movies will also find its way into Caine. Among his directed credits are Legend of the Wolf, Ballistic Kiss, Shanghai Affairs, Protégé de la Rose Noire, 2023’s Sakra and 2024’s The Prosecutor (94% critical score on Rotten Tomatoes). Yen has crossed over into the domestic market with global blockbusters including the $1 billion-plus grossing Star Wars: Rogue One, xXx: Return of Xander Cage, the Disney feature Mulan, and the aforementioned John Wick: Chapter 4, which was the highest grossing title in the franchise with $447M-plus.
Adam Fogelson, chair, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, said, “It became clear after John Wick: Chapter 4 that fans were particularly intrigued by Caine, which made his story the most natural next chapter of the franchise. It’s truly exciting to be embarking on a strategic partnership with Donnie—he has the vision to bring to life this extension of the John Wick universe in a way that’s authentic to his own signature style, flair, and expertise as a filmmaker.”
“What drew me to Caine is the contradiction. He carries love, responsibility, and sacrifice in a world built on consequence. That creates a very different kind of action hero,” said Yen.
He continued, “This film is an opportunity to push the genre forward. My goal is to create the most definitive martial arts-infused action film ever made, one that honors what audiences love about John Wick while bringing a new emotional depth and visual language to the story. As both director and actor, I’m excited to shape this chapter in a way that reflects everything I’ve learned over decades in action cinema, while building something that feels entirely new.”
