Donnie Yen in Talks to Direct His Own JOHN WICK Spinoff: "Fans and the Studio Want This to Happen"
Martial arts legend Donnie Yen is not just stepping back into the world of John Wick to reprise his role as the blind assassin Caine in spinoff film, he might be directing it as well!
The John Wick: Chapter 4 star recently confirmed he's in discussions to helm a project centered on his character.
While speaking with Collider, Yen said: “It is true. I think both the fans, as well as the studio, want this to happen, and we’ll see. I don’t know. I can only tell you that much. But yes, we are talking, and we are talking intimately. We’ll see what happens.”
It would be awesome if Yen got to step in and direct his spinoff film! I have no doubt that he’d deliver a badass action film!
In John Wick: Chapter 4, Caine is forced to hunt down John Wick to protect his daughter, and it was one of the highlights of the story. The spin-off was first announced in May 2024, and it will dive deeper into the character’s complex story.
Yen has previously directed films such as Legend of the Wolf, Shanghai Affairs, and The Prosecutor. His potential role as both director and star could bring a unique and personal touch to the project, bringing his martial arts expertise and cinematic vision to the film.
The project is being developed by John Wick director and producer Chad Stahelski, who is overseeing the expansion of the John Wick universe at Lionsgate.
The film will continue Caine’s story arc after the events of John Wick: Chapter 4. Caine was freed from his obligations to the High Table and there was a post-credits scene teasing the continuing story.
In the scene, Caine is shown stumbling through a city where he finds and embraces his daughter. Caine is still in danger, though, as Akira (Rina Sawayama), the former concierge of the Osaka Continental, has tracked him down and brandishes a knife before the film cuts to black.
Caine killed Akira’s father, so she is obviously out for revenge. I imagine the story for the spinoff film will pick up from there.
Yen previously talked about his experience with John Wick: Chapter 4 calling it “extraordinary,” and said that “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.”
The Script is being written by Robert Askins (The Umbrella Academy and The Son) and it’s set to shoot in Hong Kong sometime this year.
Fans of the John Wick universe are currently gearing up for Ballerina, the next entry in the franchise. The film, starring Ana de Armas as a Ruska Roma-trained assassin on a revenge mission, is set between the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 and Chapter 4.
The star-studded cast includes Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, Anjelica Huston, Norman Reedus, and the late Lance Reddick in one of his final performances.
Ballerina hits theaters on June 6, but Yen’s potential spin-off is shaping up to be the next must-watch installment in the expanding John Wick universe.