The upcoming John Wick spin-off centring on Donnie Yen’s Caine has gotten an exciting update, with production on the highly-anticipated action film set to begin in the very near future.
The currently untitled film will see Yen reprise his role as the blind assassin, who made his debut in the action franchise in 2023’s John Wick: Chapter 4. In addition to a starring role, Yen will also direct the feature.
After being announced in May 2024, progress on the spin-off has been slow in the subsequent years, but Deadline has reported a sizeable development as production will begin next month.
Murray Close/Lionsgate
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The screenplay is being penned by Mattson Tomlin, with the action being set after the events of John Wick: Chapter 4. Specific plot details are scarce, though we know that Caine is now free from the shackles of the High Table.
Given that Rina Sawayama is reprising her role as Shimazu Akira, we can surmise that she will have a thirst for revenge after Caine butchered her father in John Wick: Chapter 4. In a post-credits scene for the film, she was depicted facing her old foe.
“Most delighted to welcome Rina back into this new exciting journey with us,” said Yen following Sawayama’s casting. “It will be my pleasure and attempt to elevate her amazing character that left us mesmerised from John Wick: Chapter 4!”
“Rina is such a badass,” added producer Chad Stahelski, who directed all four entries in the main series. “I love what she did with this role in Chapter 4 and can’t wait to see her cross paths with Caine once again.”
The film is the third spin-off in the franchise, with The Continental: From the World of John Wick and Ballerina being released in 2023 and 2025 respectively. Furthermore, an animated prequel film and new series, Under the High Table, are in development.
Lionsgate
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Stahelski is also working on the fifth film in the main series, with Lionsgate Studios confirming in April 2025 that the project was in active development despite the apparent death of Keanu Reeves’s titular character.
“Keanu, Chad, Basil [Iwanyk] and Erica [Lee] would not return unless they had something truly phenomenal and fresh to say with these characters and this world,” teased Lionsgate boss Adam Fogelson at CinemaCon in April.
The John Wick movies are available to buy or rent on Prime Video, plus DVD, Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD.
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Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.