Martial arts legend Donnie Yen has been set to direct Lionsgate’s standalone film centered on Caine, the blind assassin he played in John Wick: Chapter 4. As previously announced, Yen will also reprise his role as Caine in the English-language project which is billed as a Hong Kong-style action thriller. Production is due to begin […]Martial arts legend Donnie Yen has been set to direct Lionsgate’s standalone film centered on Caine, the blind assassin he played in John Wick: Chapter 4. As previously announced, Yen will also reprise his role as Caine in the English-language project which is billed as a Hong Kong-style action thriller. Production is due to begin
Martial arts legend Donnie Yen has been set to direct Lionsgate’s standalone film centered on Caine, the blind assassin he played in John Wick: Chapter 4. As previously announced, Yen will also reprise his role as Caine in the English-language project which is billed as a Hong Kong-style action thriller. Production is due to begin later this year, it was announced this morning at CinemaCon.
Mattson Tomlin, writer of the upcoming The Batman Part II and the adaptation of the Keanu Reeves-created comic book BRZRKR, has joined to write the film. The previous draft of the screenplay of the new film was written by Robert Askins.
The as-yet untitled film’s logline is being kept under wraps, but will continue Yen’s story arc following the events of John Wick: Chapter 4, as Caine has been freed from his obligations to the High Table.
The film will be produced by franchise producers Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee (John Wick: Chapters 1 through 4, Ballerina, Monkey Man) through their Thunder Road shingle, and by Chad Stahelski (John Wick: Chapter 3—Parabellum, Day Shift, John Wick: Chapter 4, Ballerina), who produces through his 87Eleven Entertainment production banner. Yen will also serve as an executive producer.
Stylistically modeled on the uniquely designed action films that Yen helped make famous, the Caine project is being developed through Stahelski’s deal with Lionsgate as he oversees the expansion of the John Wick universe.
Yen’s films have helped introduce mixed martial arts to mainstream cinema with such titles as Flashpoint and the iconic IP Man franchise, among many others. He recently directed, produced and starred in The Prosecutor and the period wuxia film Sakra. His Hollywood movies have included Star Wars: Rogue One, xXx: Return of Xander Cage and Mulan.
“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,” said Adam Fogelson, chair, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group. “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.”
Commented Yen, “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. I am both thrilled and deeply inspired to make this happen.”
Stahelski added, “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 said, “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.”
Yen is repped by Independent Artist Group, Yorn Levine, and Cissy Wang at Bullet Films. Tomlin is represented by CAA, Brillstein Entertainment Partners, SSML and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, Smelkinson & Christopher.
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