The John Wick universe continues to expand, with Caine marking the next spin-off in the acclaimed action franchise. The film will see Donnie Yen reprise his role as the blind assassin Caine from John Wick: Chapter 4, this time also stepping into the roles of director and executive producer. Fans will also be pleased to learn that Rina Sawayama is set to return as Shimazu Akira, following her brief but impactful appearance in the previous film.
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The return of Akira comes as little surprise to fans who stayed until the post-credits scene of Chapter 4, which showed a tense confrontation between her and Caine in Paris. Donnie Yen expressed his excitement about working with Sawayama again, stating he was “most delighted to welcome Rina back into this new exciting journey” and hoped to elevate her “mesmerising” character. Chad Stahelski, director of the main John Wick films and producer on Caine, praised Sawayama’s performance and said he looked forward to their characters crossing paths once again.
Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson highlighted the strong reception to Akira’s character, noting the upcoming film would explore the “unfinished business” between her and Caine. Producer Basil Iwanyk echoed these sentiments, calling Sawayama a “tremendous addition” to the continuing saga. While plot details remain limited, the film will reportedly follow Caine after he is freed from the grip of the High Table, and will draw inspiration from the Hong Kong action thrillers that first made Yen a global star.
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Caine marks the third official spin-off of the franchise. The first, The Continental, debuted as a three-part miniseries on Prime Video in 2023 and explored the backstory of Winston Scott. Next in line is Ballerina, starring Ana de Armas as a deadly assassin out for revenge, which is set for release in cinemas on 6 June. With Caine now in production, the John Wick universe shows no signs of slowing down.
