Donnie Yen gets his very own John Wick spin-off

What started as a straightforward revenge flick about a man who wanted the heads of the Russian gangsters who killed his dog and stole his car is now an action movie juggernaut. The satellites orbiting the John Wick franchise, which now includes a TV show, an upcoming spin-off, and three sequels to the original, are getting yet another moon. Donnie Yen will reprise the role of the blind assassin Caine in a spin-off movie about his character.

For those without a veritable John Wickipedia at the ready, Caine was one of the bad guys in John Wick: Chapter 4. Hired by the High Table’s Bill Skarsgård to kill Wick, Caine accepts the contract after his bosses threaten his estranged daughter. Wick and Caine reflect each other’s shared damnation and familial interests. In contrast, though, Wick focuses on revenge, while Caine tends to protect his daughter after finishing his noodles. The most glaring difference between the two isn’t their personalities but Caine’s blindness. He uses his lack of sight to his advantage, rigging doorbell triggers to alert him when enemies draw near. With some of the most original moves in the series, Yen executes intricate fight choreography, making it appear like he can’t glimpse his attackers. Caine is an honorable killer who would make for a good protagonist in his own spin-off movie. Lionsgate agrees.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Caine movie will begin production in Hong Kong next year off a script by Umbrella Academy writer Robert Askins. No director or supporting cast has been announced, so we don’t know if Keanu Reeves will drop by to wish his old friend good luck. The Caine movie joins the upcoming Ballerina and The Continental: From The World Of John Wick as a member of Wick’s expanding universe.

Though Yen might not be an above-the-marquee performer in the U.S., around the world, he’s an international superstar known for the Ip Man movies. In the States, he’s been appearing as a star supporting player in blockbusters like Rogue One, xXx: Return Of Xander Cage, and Blade II. As one of the most beloved and respected names in action cinema, it’s about time Yen took centerstage in Hollywood.