CinemaCon: Donnie Yen Set To Direct and Star in New John Wick Spinoff Featuring Caine

The John Wick Universe continues with yet another feature film spinoff. During today’s Lionsgate studio showcase at CinemaCon 2025, the studio announced a new Caine spinoff, featuring the Donnie Yen character introduced in John Wick: Chapter 4. Yen reprises his role as the blind assassin, and he will also direct the upcoming feature. The studio also announced the next installment of the franchise, John Wick: Chapter 5 during today’s showcase.

The upcoming Caine spinoff will start production later this year. It’s being co-produced by Thunder Road Pictures and 87Eleven Entertainment. The Batman Part II scribe Mattson Tomlin has been tapped to pen the upcoming feature. Tomlin is also writing the film adaptation of the Keanu Reeves-created comic, BRZRKR. The previous draft of the script was written by Robert Askins.

Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee are producing under their Thunder Road banner, with longtime franchise producer and director Chad Stahelski producing for 87Eleven Entertainment. Yen is also serving as executive producer for the project.

The film will be stylistically modeled on Hong Kong action cinema, the action films that helped make Yen famous, and it will be developed through Chad Stahelski’s deal with Lionsgate, which has him overseeing the expansion of the John Wick Universe.

Speaking on today’s news, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson commented, “From the moment Chad and Donnie pitched the idea of a Donnie Yen-style action film in the mode of John Wick, I was all in.” He continued, “Donnie is not only an incredible, charismatic star, but a smart, cinematic director who knows how to deliver massively entertaining action for a global audience. We’re thrilled that he’s in the director’s chair to tell Caine’s story.”

Yen stated via a press release, “The John Wick films have set an immensely high standard for action filmmaking and I greatly appreciate Lionsgate giving me the opportunity to further elevate the franchise.” He added, “I am both thrilled and deeply inspired to make this happen.”

Stahelski also stated via press release, “One of my favorite characters in the John Wick world is Caine. To have the chance to dive into his world and discover all his adventures excites us all. We envision a modern-day kung-fu classic that explores the John Wick world, and who better to helm it than Donnie Yen himself. His understanding of the culture, the world, and, of course, the action, make him the perfect director for this project.”

Iwanyk and Lee added, “There is no one who knows this character better than Donnie, and he knows exactly how to deliver what audiences want and expect from Hong Kong-style action. He’s clearly the best choice to direct, and we’re excited to begin production.”

Story details on the new spinoff are being kept under wraps, but Lionsgate states that the new film will continue Caine’s story arc following the events of John Wick: Chapter 4, with Caine being freed from his obligations to the High Table.

The next installment of the John Wick Universe, Ballerina, starring Ana de Armas, will be hitting theaters on June 6, 2025. The Donnie Yen Caine film will be released exclusively in theaters later on.