At the beginning of the year, Chad Stahelski signed a deal with Lionsgate to be the creative leader of the “John Wick” franchise and any spinoffs that will be coming. We already know that “The Ballerina” is on the way, but it looks like Stahelski is ready to unveil the newest spinoff from his incredible action franchise.
According to Variety, Donnie Yen has signed on to star in the upcoming “John Wick” spinoff focused on his character Caine, who made an appearance in ‘Chapter 4.’ In the film, Caine is a blind assassin who is hired to take down Wick. He initially doesn’t want to do it, but Caine is forced to take the job when his daughter is threatened. Without getting into spoilers, the film ends with a post-credits scene that sets up a good idea for a spinoff film.
“Working on ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ was an extraordinary experience,” said Yen. “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.”
“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,” said Adam Fogelson, chair of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group. “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 Caine film is only one of what is expected to be more ‘Wick’ spinoffs. And if you’re a fan of the franchise, you know there are any number of interesting characters who could get their own film or TV series. If there’s one thing Stahelski and his crew are good at, it’s creating memorable supporting characters who show up in the ‘Wick’ films. Often, they’re brutally murdered, but they’re memorable nonetheless.
It’s still too early for a release date for the Caine spinoff, but its clear fans won’t have to wait long to see more from the “John Wick” universe.