Lionsgate‘s popular world of assassins is expanding as veteran British actor Billy Nighy has joined the growing cast of the latest “John Wick” spinoff film, “Caine,” which is currently shooting with Hong Kong action star Donnie Yen (“Rogue One,” “John Wick 4”), both in the titular role and helming. Of course, Nighy is hardly a stranger to action-adventure franchise roles after participating in multiple installments of “Pirates of the Caribbean” as the supernatural big bad Davy Jones, and played an evil ancient vampire in the “Underworld” films
The Hollywood Reporter has revealed Nighy nabbing the new part as he joins Yen, singer-turned-actress Rina Sawayama, Aussie actor Dacre Montgomery (“Dead Man’s Wire, “Stranger Things”), and the on-the-rise Mason Thames (“Idiots,” “How To Train Your Dragon”). After being released from obligations to The High Table, Yen’s blind assassin Caine is seemingly now free to reconnect with his estranged daughter, although Akira (Sawayama) is looking to avenge her father (Horiyuki Sanada) after being reluctantly slain by Caine in “John Wick 4.”
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Yen’s film has a neat, creative team tasked to work on the script with Mattson Tomlin, who co-wrote ”The Batman Part II” with director Matt Reeves, and Justin Lin‘s upcoming Netflix live-action adaptation of the Keanu Reeves-created comic book “BRZRKR,” alongside Michael McGrale (“The Umbrella Academy”). Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee of Thunder Road lead the producing team, which also features Chad Stahelski via 87Eleven Entertainment and Keanu Reeves. Exec producers include Courtney Brock and Yen.
Interestingly enough, there is already an “Underworld” connection to the “John Wick” universe as Len Wiseman recently directed Ana de Armas in “Ballerina,” the last spinoff, which featured a minor presence of Reeves’ Wick as the movie’s timeline took place between sequels before his off-screen death after a duel in Paris, France (we’re a little shocked that Kate Beckinsale hasn’t been recurited by now). It remains to be seen if Reeves will be showing up in “Caine,” but we can’t rule out a flashback of sorts or the movie planting seeds for Stahelski’s gestating “John Wick 5” (likely next up after he completes the “Highlander” reboot with Henry Cavill and is said to move away from The High Table as being adversaries).
“Caine,” filming in Budapest and Hong Kong, doesn’t have a concrete release date from Lionsgate, but the goal is to get the latest action-packed installment in theaters sometime in 2027. Given Yen’s extensive career in the martial arts genre, there is a huge expectation that this latest pic will be a very satisfying actioner.
- Christopher Marc
- Christopher Marc
- Christopher Marc
- Christopher Marc
- Christopher Marc
- Christopher Marc
