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There was some cause for concern in regard to the Donnie Yen led John Wick spin-off project from which will see him reprise his role of Caine after Ballerina underperformed at the box office. Yen is set to not only star in, but he will also helm the film, and we are here to lay your fears to rest as reports have come in confirming a production start for next month! Yen’s Caine, the Wick universe blind assassin, was a standout from the last John Wick flick, and a spin-off was announced almost immediately but things cooled when the Ana de Armas starring Ballerina failed to pull in serious numbers. Never count Yen out though as Lionsgate is still totally on board with this one as well they should.
Per Deadline: 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.
Yen will also serve as executive producer on his film with Thunder Road’s Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee (John Wick: Chapters 1 through 4, Ballerina) producing alongside John Wick c0-creator Chad Stahelski for his 87Eleven production banner. Keanu Reeves is also listed as producer with John Saunders.
“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,” Yen stated publicly.
Yen added, “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.”
Even if Ballerina made only 10 dollars at the box office it would still be a no brainer to give Yen his own movie as the martial arts action icon has more than earned it. Having a John Wick universe film with Japanese extreme fight design in it will surely satisfy rabid action fans and Yen still looks as good as ever while deploying his signatures kills. I cannot wait for this one and to finally find out what they will do with the planned John Wick 5.
I firmly believe that Donnie yen finally abandoned the Sleeping Dogs live adaptation which will now see Simu Liu take over in order to make the Caine spin-off. I would have loved to have seen Yen do that first, but I think Liu will kill it and Yen deserves this spin-ff.
