Donnie Yen has signed on to reprise his role as the blind assassin Caine, who appeared in John Wick 4 hunting down the titular character. Lionsgate officially announced the film on Wednesday and stated that filming would start next year in Hong Kong.
Though the official synopsis is still under wraps, Umbrella Academy’s Robert Askins’ screenplay is confirmed to follow Caine’s story after being released by The High Table.
This announcement comes as part of John Wick’s original director Chad Stahelski’s package deal to oversee the expansion of the Wick cinematic universe. In addition to Caine’s film, Lionsgate premiered the 2023 Peacock series The Continental: From the World of John Wick and has greenlit the 2025 film Ballerina, which will follow an assassin ballerina (Ana de Armas) trained under the ruthless Ruska Roma.
Lionsgate and Yen have expressed their eagerness regarding the film’s potential and focus on Caine. Lionsgate chair Adam Fogelson noted how Yen’s performance “created an authentic, emotional connection that left an indelible mark and had fans asking for more.” Thanks to “a tapestry of fascinating characters brought to life by the most extraordinary performers,” Fogelson believes they will succeed in their pursuits.
Yen called his experience working on John Wick 4 “exciting” since he, Stahelski, and franchise producer Erica Lee developed action sequences 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,” Yen gushed.