John Wick’s Caine Spinoff Gets Major Directing Update From Donnie Yen

John Wick‘s Caine spinoff movie receives a major directing update from Donnie Yen. The Chinese actor debuted in 2023’s John Wick: Chapter 4 as the blind High Table assassin who is forced to come out of retirement and kill his former friend, John Wick, in order to save his daughter. In May 2024, it was revealed that a Caine spinoff movie is in the works with Yen reprising his role, franchise director Chad Stahelski developing the project, and Robert Askins (The Umbrella Academy) writing the script.

Now, the John Wick spinoff movie has received a major directing update. In an interview with Collider, Donnie Yen revealed that he is not only set to reprise his role, but he is also in talks to direct the Caine spinoff movie himself. In fact, Stahelski has floated the possibility of Yen directing. Read his full comments below:

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. But at the same time, I hold responsibility as well as a pressure that I don’t want to ruin the franchise. I try to do my best to bring something fresh to the franchise itself. I don’t want to bring down the expectations for the fans. I try to do my best, like always.

What Donnie Yen Directing Means For The Caine Spinoff

It Seems To Be Making Progress

Chad Stahelski, who has directed all four films in the franchise, is developing the Caine spinoff movie as part of his larger deal with Lionsgate to expand the franchise. The ever-expanding universe also includes the upcoming Ballerina movie starring Ana de Armas and directed by Len Wiseman. However, the film reportedly underwent two to three months of reshoots with Stahelski taking over as director and refilming the majority of the movie with Wiseman absent from the set.

When it was first announced back in May 2024, the Caine spinoff movie was reportedly set to start shooting in Yen’s native Hong Kong in 2025. With Yen possibly directing, the project is potentially making progress and could begin filming sometime later this year, as previously planned. With the Ballerina movie undergoing a rocky production process that required Stahelski to oversee months of extensive reshoots, the Caine spinoff will want to make sure it has found the right director before beginning production.

Our Take On Donnie Yen Directing The John Wick Caine Spinoff

Why He’s A Great Choice

Not only is Donnie Yen known for starring in the Hong Kong martial arts movies, Ip Man, but he also has extensive experience directing action going back to 1988’s Tiger Cage, his feature directorial debut Legend of the Wolf in 1997, and most recently, 2025’s The Prosecutor. All of these showcase his talent for directing visually dynamic action sequences with a stylish flair similar to the John Wick movies. As the actor portraying Caine, Yen’s understanding of the character and action cinema itself makes him an ideal choice to direct the John Wick spinoff.

Source: Collider

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John Wick

“John Wick” is a neo-noir action-thriller franchise centered around a retired hitman who returns to the criminal underworld to seek vengeance. Known for its intense and stylistic action sequences, the franchise has redefined modern action cinema with its choreographed gunfights, hand-to-hand combat, and intricate world-building. The series explores themes of loyalty, honor, and survival in a secret society of assassins.

Created by

Derek Kolstad

First Episode Air Date

September 22, 2023

Cast

Keanu Reeves
, Ian McShane
, Lance Reddick
, Willem Dafoe
, Michael Nyqvist
, Alfie Allen
, Laurence Fishburne
, Anjelica Huston
, Bill Skarsgard
, Mel Gibson
, Donnie Yen

Character(s)

John Wick
, Winston
, Charon
, The Bowery King
, Sofia Al-Azwar
, Caine
, Marquis Vincent de Gramont
, Ares

Video Game(s)

John Wick Hex

Summary

“John Wick” is a neo-noir action-thriller franchise centered around a retired hitman who returns to the criminal underworld to seek vengeance. Known for its intense and stylistic action sequences, the franchise has redefined modern action cinema with its choreographed gunfights, hand-to-hand combat, and intricate world-building. The series explores themes of loyalty, honor, and survival in a secret society of assassins.

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