©John Wick : Chapter 4, Courtesy of Lionsgate
Donnie Yen will be starring in a John Wick spinoff film that will be shot in Hong Kong in 2025. The Guangzhou-born actor will be reprising his role of the blind assassin, Caine, that he played in John Wick 4.
No director has yet been named for the film, which is being developed by Lionsgate from a screenplay by Robert Askins. It will be produced by Thunder Road’s Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee, and Chad Stahelski under the aegis of 87Eleven Entertainment.
Yen starred in the highly successful Ip Man film series before appearing in the billion-dollar grossing Rogue One: A Star Wars Story as well as Disney’s live-action remake of Mulan. Screenwriter Robert Askins has previously written for Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy and AMC’s The Son, and garnered a Tony nomination in 2015 for his play Hand to God.
In acknowledging his role in the upcoming John Wick production, Yen said, “Working on John Wick: Chapter 4 was an extraordinary experience. The reason these films resonate so deeply is because, like myself, Chad, Basil and Erica push themselves to create action, fights and stunts that are not only thrilling, inventive and artistic, but also expressive of character, story and emotion. Caine is an incredible character with a haunted past, and I am excited to return to the role.”
Adam Fogelson, who chairs the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, endorsed Yen’s participation by saying, “From the moment Donnie Yen appeared on screen in John Wick: Chapter 4, he captivated audiences and created an authentic, emotional connection that left an inedible mark and had fans asking for more. The John Wick universe that Chad, Basil, Erica, and Keanu have built offers a tapestry of fascinating characters brought to life by the most extraordinary performers, and we’re excited to have one of the world’s biggest superstars on board to continue this journey.”
The next spinoff in the John Wick universe will be Ballerina, set for release on June 6, 2025. It stars Ana de Armas, who has been trained as an assassin like many of her male counterparts.