During the massive studio and exhibitor occasion of CinemaCon in April, Lionsgate introduced that motion star Donnie Yen (“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”) can be directing his “John Wick” spinoff, “Caine,” with a script from screenwriter Mattson Tomlin (“The Batman Part II”) because the Hong Kong-set pic has landed one other “John Wick 4” actor.
Variety has now confirmed at this time that Japanese-British singer-turned-actress Rina Sawayama is returning as Akira Shimazu after an end-credit scene teased her pursuit of revenge after Caine killed her father Koji Shimazu (performed by Hiroyuki Sanada) throughout a conflict on the Osaka Continental. However, given how in-flux these “John Wick” tasks are, it wasn’t automated that Sawayama would find yourself within the taking pictures model of “Caine” till this casting replace.
Another neat ingredient is that Lionsgate is launching gross sales on the Cannes Film Market this month because the studio is probably going looking for worldwide companions.
“Most delighted to welcome Rina back into this new, exciting journey with us. It will be my pleasure and attempt to elevate her amazing character that left us mesmerized from ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’!” Yen mentioned in an announcement.
It’s unknown if Akira will certainly tackle a most important antagonist function or just be one in every of many as Caine is predicted to see his personal hero’s journey within the type of a movie extremely influenced by the Hong Kong motion/crime genres from notable names like John Woo, Jackie Chan, Johnnie To, Ringo Lam, Andrew Lau, and Alan Mak.
Yen isn’t a stranger to directing himself or motion tasks, having beforehand helmed motion pictures like “The Prosecutor” and “Sakra.”
Tomlin, who can be writing Reeves and Justin Lin‘s “BRZRKR,” is working from a earlier draft of the script by Robert Askins.
While we will’t say if Keanu Reeves will present up as Wick in “Caine” like he does in “Ballerina” this June. But Lionsgate has introduced “John Wick 5” is in lively growth with franchise director Chad Stahelski and Reeves returning. Making it extraordinarily doable that Wick’s off-screen loss of life was a doable fake-out, permitting him to do extra cameos in these spinoffs, serving to to cement their connective tissue.
“Caine” is shaping up properly, and we’ll doubtless be taught extra casting additions with manufacturing mentioned to be gearing up “soon.”