The world ofJohn Wickis set to expand this summer with the release of the first spin-off in the high-octane action series,Ballerina. But it isn’t the only spin-off film in the works. CinemaCon 2025 was a big event for Lionsgate, as the production company revealed that severalJohn Wickfilms were planned for the next few years, includingan animated prequelandJohn Wick: Chapter 5. Among the exciting announcements was the reveal of another spin-off, which will center onDonnie Yen’s blind assassin Caine. Now, a new casting announcement has shed some light on what fans can expect from the film.
A new report fromVarietyhas revealed thatRina Sawayamawill be joining the cast of the Caine spin-off and reprising her role as Akira. The character first made her debut inJohn Wick: Chapter 4, where she was introduced as the daughter of Osaka Continental Manager Shimazu Koji (portrayed by Shogun star Hiroyuki Sanada). Akira was shown to be acapable and deadly fighterin the movie’s first big action sequence, though her role was limited to just the first act ofChapter 4.
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While the capacity of Sawayama’s role in the Caine spin-off is unknown, it’s not hard to guess that it could more than likely be a substantial one, given what happened to Akira inChapter 4.In Caine’s mission to kill Wick, Koji is killed by the blind assassin in a duel, with Akira watching it all unfold. Yen’s character tells her to face him when she’s ready, and it’s revealed in the post-credits scene ofChapter 4that Akira is watching Caine before he reunites with his daughter.
The Caine Spin-off Could Be Another Story of Revenge
With how muchJohn Wick: Chapter 4foreshadowed that Akira would go after Caine because he killed her father, it could be that the Donnie Yen-centered spin-off will be another story of revenge. The entireJohn Wickseries started because of the titular assassin’s thirst for vengeance, so it’s no surprise that the tradition would continue withBallerinaand now the Caine spin-off. However,with Donnie Yen also directing and producingthe film, it could turn out very differently from the mainlineJohn Wickfilms.
Chad Stahelski, who will serveas an executive producer on the Caine spin-off, commented on the actress’s return, saying, “Rina is such a badass. I love what she did with this role inChapter 4and can’t wait to see her cross paths with Caine once again.” Stahelski has his hands full with multiple other film projects in development, so seeing another action-driven creative like Yen take the reins in the world of assassins and gun-fu will be interesting.
Yen provided his own comments on the casting, saying that he is “most delighted to welcome Rina back into this new, exciting journey with us. It will be my pleasure to attempt to elevate her amazing character, which left us mesmerized fromJohn Wick:Chapter 4!” With this latest casting, all that remains to be seen is whether any other characters from the world ofJohn Wickmight be returning to play a role in the Caine spin-off movie.
Source:Variety
Caine John Wick Spinoff
