We’ve known for months Lionsgate is developing John Wick spinoffs. Now we know which beloved character will get to star in one. It’s our top choice. Donnie Yen will get his chance to step into the spotlight with a John Wick spinoff movie centered on his stylish, standout assassin, Caine.
Lionsgate is giving the coolest character (which is truly high praise) from 2023’s John Wick: Chapter 4 his own film. Donnie Yen will reprise his role as the blind assassin, and Baba Yaga’s seemingly only equal with a John Wick spinoff movie. Lionsgate did not share plot specifics of this Caine-centric John Wick movie, but the studio did say it will “continue Yen’s story arc” following the events of his debut film. That means Caine officially survived the end-credits assassination attempt on his life. Either that or this will be a very short movie about him bleeding to death.
The Umbrella Academy‘s Robert Askins will pen the screenplay. The John Wick movie will start filming in Hong Kong next year. Caine’s film is also one of the first to come projects to come out of the massive, franchise-leading deal John Wick director Chad Stahelski recently signed with Lionsgate. We expect other characters from the movie franchise to also reappear in the film. With a 2026 release date seemingly like the earliest it could premiere (the John Wick spinoff Ballerina arrives in theaters in 2025), we won’t know if any other familiar faces will appear in this Caine-focused John Wick movie for awhile.
In a press release, Adam Fogelson, chair, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, explained why Caine is getting his own John Wick film. “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 indelible mark and had fans asking for more,” he said.
Yen also shared his thoughts about returning to the role in Lionsgate’s official announcement. “Working on John Wick: Chapter 4 was an extraordinary experience,” he said. “The reason these films resonate so deeply is because, like myself, Chad, Basil (Iwanyk), and Erica (Lee) 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.”
We agree and can’t wait for what the future holds for Caine in the world of John Wick. He made life under the High Table better in someone else’s movie. Imagine what he can do in his own.
