A year following it’s announcement, filming for a new John Wick spinoff is about to commence. Following the triumph of four John Wick films featuring Keanu Reeves as the iconic assassin, the franchise broadened it’s horizons in 2025 with Ballerina, a spinoff film focused on another assassin, Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas).
However, this is just the start of the expansions within this fictional universe, as a fifth John Wick movie is currently in development, alongside an animated prequel film.
Another spinoff, the untitled Caine movie revealed at CinemaCon 2025, is set to start production in April. This film will see Donnie Yen returning to his role as the blind assassin Caine, taking place after the events of John Wick – Chapter 4, with Rina Sawayama also reprising her role as Akira.
Yen is not only starring but also directing the film, which features a screenplay crafted by Mattson Tomlin and Michael McGrale. Chad Stahelski, who has directed all four John Wick films, is on board as a producer, alongside Yen, Reeves, and franchise stalwarts Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee.
According to Adam Fogelson, “Following the release of John Wick – Chapter 4, it was evident that audiences were especially captivated by Caine, making his narrative the most logical progression for the franchise. We are genuinely thrilled to initiate a strategic collaboration with Donnie—his creative vision will authentically realize this expansion of the John Wick universe, showcasing his unique style, flair, and filmmaking expertise.”
As per Donnie Yen, “The aspect that captivated me about Caine is the inherent contradiction within him. He embodies love, responsibility, and sacrifice in a world governed by consequences. This unique blend results in a distinctly different type of action hero. This film presents a chance to advance the genre. My ambition is to craft the most definitive martial arts-infused action film ever, one that pays homage to what fans cherish about John Wick while introducing a fresh emotional depth and visual storytelling to the narrative. As both the director and actor, I’m thrilled to mold this chapter in a manner that encapsulates everything I’ve absorbed over decades in action cinema, while creating something that feels completely original.”
As highlighted in these remarks, Yen boasts an extensive background as an actor, filmmaker, martial artist, and stunt choreographer.
He shines as the lead in the Ip Man films, appeared in Once Upon A Time in China II alongside Jet Li, and portrayed the blind Guardian of the Whill, Chirrut Îmwe, in Rogue One – A Star Wars Story, which notably earned over $1 billion globally.
His directing portfolio features works such as Legend of the Wolf, Ballistic Kiss, Shanghai Affairs, and more recently, The Prosecutor.
At the conclusion of John Wick – Chapter 4, Caine finds himself liberated from the High Table and returns to Paris to reunite with his daughter. However, Akira is depicted as pursuing him after he spares her life, despite having killed her father, Shimazu Koji (Hiroyuki Sanada), earlier in the film.
The upcoming spinoff will delve into Caine’s journey as a new kind of action hero and Akira’s relentless quest for revenge, all while infusing more martial arts into the narrative of this cherished action franchise.
In the timeline of John Wick, Ballerina takes place between the third and fourth films, making the Caine movie the most advanced point in the franchise’s timeline. However, this could shift as more information becomes available regarding the upcoming John Wick – Chapter 5.
With a global revenue of $447.3 million, John Wick – Chapter 4 stands as the most successful film in the franchise to date. Numerous elements contributed to this achievement, but Yen’s performance as Caine and his international appeal certainly played a significant role.
This success could pave the way for the forthcoming spinoff to become another blockbuster. Such a turn of events would be particularly appreciated following the underwhelming performance of Ballerina, which earned $137.2 million globally against a reported budget of $90 million.
Regarding the creators of the upcoming John Wick spinoff centered on Caine, Tomlin has collaborated with Matt Reeves on the script for The Batman – Part II, is working on an adaptation of the comic book BRZRKR penned by Reeves, and is also involved with Netflix’s Terminator Zero.
Meanwhile, McGrale boasts a portfolio that includes Netflix’s The Rip, the Kevin Bacon-starring series The Following, and CSI – Miami.