The John Wick franchise is officially stepping away from its original star. The next spinoff film, titled Caine, will center on Donnie Yen's character from John Wick: Chapter 4 and will mark the first entry in the franchise to not include Keanu Reeves. Yen will also direct the film in addition to starring in it.
According to Collider, Lionsgate confirmed a fifth main installment in the John Wick series last year at CinemaCon, with Reeves and director Chad Stahelski still attached to that project. But Caine is a separate effort, and Reeves will have no role in it. That makes it a genuine departure for a franchise that has built its identity almost entirely around one actor.
Additional cast members confirmed for Caine include Bill Nighy, Mason Thames, Dacre Montgomery, and Rina Sawayama, who played Akira in Chapter 4. Details about the film's plot are being kept quiet. Filming wrapped earlier this year, and an official release date announcement is expected soon. The film is widely expected to hit theaters before the end of 2027.
The John Wick series has grown steadily since the first film in 2014. Four main installments and multiple spinoffs have followed, including Ballerina starring Ana de Armas, which also featured a brief appearance from Reeves. That film represented the last time Reeves has been part of a spinoff entry. Going forward, the franchise appears ready to expand its universe around other characters from the world Stahelski and the writers built.
John Wick: Chapter 4 ended with the apparent death of the title character, though Lionsgate's confirmation of a fifth film suggests that story is not finished. What Caine will add to that larger narrative remains unknown for now. The film's position in the franchise timeline, and how it connects to the confirmed fifth installment, has not been publicly addressed by the studio.
For Yen, the project represents a significant step. He is known internationally for the Ip Man franchise and his role in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Taking on a directing role alongside a lead performance in a major Western action franchise is a notable expansion of his work in Hollywood.
The franchise has maintained a devoted global audience through its commitment to practical stunt work and detailed action choreography. Whether a Yen-led film can carry that reputation forward without Reeves at the center is a question the industry will be watching closely when Caine eventually arrives in theaters.
