Donnie Yen Leads the Charge as Cameras Roll on John Wick Spinoff Caine

If you thought John Wick: Chapter 4 was the end of the road, think again. The Wick-verse is expanding faster than you can reload a pistol—and to be honest, it doesn’t look like Lionsgate is planning to slow down anytime soon. Let’s break down what’s happening, because there’s a lot, including a new spin-off starring Donnie Yen that’s already started filming.

The Never-Ending Wick Franchise

What started as a simple revenge movie about a guy and his dog has turned into a massive, globe-trotting action series. Every time they pump out a new John Wick movie, it gets more praise and sells even more tickets. So of course, Lionsgate wants to keep milking this thing for everything it's worth.

Here’s where we’re at right now:

• John Wick 5: Officially announced, but we have no firm release date. Lionsgate first teased this one at CinemaCon in 2023, but mum’s the word on when it actually hits theaters.
• Ballerina: The first Wick spin-off, and it stars Ana de Armas. This one drops in 2025. Timeline-wise, it slides between John Wick: Chapter 3 and Chapter 4.
• Animated Prequel: Yup, this universe is getting an animated prequel, because apparently live-action assassination isn’t enough.
• Caine Spin-Off: Donnie Yen’s Caine—aka everyone’s favorite blind contract killer—gets his own feature film. That’s the big news right now.

Caine: Production Kicks Off

Remember Caine from John Wick: Chapter 4? The blind hit man with the cane sword, channeling definite Zatoichi vibes? He was easily one of the best new faces in the series, so giving him his own film isn’t exactly a hard sell. We now know production is officially underway on the Caine movie, thanks to a recent Instagram post—you gotta love how movie news breaks these days.

Here's the interesting twist: Donnie Yen isn’t just starring, he’s also stepping behind the camera to direct himself as Caine. He’s done the director-star thing before (four times, actually), so he’s no rookie at balancing action choreography and acting. Considering how much fun he brought to Ip Man and his legendary martial arts films, it’s a safe bet the fight scenes in this one are going to be something special.

What’s This Movie Actually About?

So far, they’re keeping plot details quiet, but here’s what we do know: John Wick: Chapter 4 ended on a juicy cliffhanger for Caine. Akira (played by Rina Sawayama) is out for blood, gunning for Caine after he killed her father. Vengeance is basically the fuel that keeps the John Wick engine running, so your guess is as good as mine whether this movie will flash back to Caine’s past, pick up after Chapter 4, or do some combination of both. Either way, expect a lot of personal grudges and creatively violent solutions.

When Can We Actually Watch This Thing?

No official release date yet, so don’t hold your breath. Since they’re only just now filming, late 2026 or early 2027 would be a realistic guess—assuming everything goes smoothly. The same goes for John Wick 5: no date, just vague promises that it’s coming eventually.

Why Give Caine His Own Movie?

In a series packed with memorable weirdos and tough guys, Donnie Yen’s Caine came in late and basically stole the show. Stylish, deadly, and genuinely sympathetic, he hit that sweet spot of 'dangerous but you kind of want to root for him anyway.' He’s more than earned a spin-off, and Yen’s action pedigree pretty much guarantees that at least the fight scenes will deliver.

'I am thrilled to step behind the camera again and further explore what makes Caine tick,' Donnie Yen shared on social media.

Stay tuned—if the John Wick world has taught us anything, it’s that it’s never really over.