Rina Sawayama just levelled up again, she’s officially returning to the John Wick universe.
The Hold the Girl singer and breakout actress will reprise her role as Shimazu Akira in Caine, the upcoming John Wick spin-off film led by Donnie Yen. The film picks up after the events of John Wick: Chapter 4 and promises to dive deeper into the storyline between Akira and Yen’s mysterious assassin, Caine.
Donnie Yen, who is not only reprising his role but also directing the film, couldn’t be more excited. “Most delighted to welcome Rina back into this new exciting journey with us,” he said in a statement. “It will be my pleasure and attempt to elevate her amazing character that left us mesmerized from John Wick: Chapter 4.”
Rina’s casting has been met with loud approval from fans and the John Wick creative team. Chad Stahelski, who directed the mainline films and is producing this spin-off, was full of praise: “Rina is such a badass. I love what she did with this role in Chapter 4 and can’t wait to see her cross paths with Caine once again.”
The plot is being kept mostly under wraps, but one thing is clear: Caine and Akira have unfinished business, and Lionsgate is leaning into that emotional tension. Adam Fogelson, Chair of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, said it best: “We’re beyond thrilled to have Rina coming back to the franchise… this next chapter in their stories will be explosive.”
It’s a full-circle moment for Sawayama, who made her acting debut in John Wick: Chapter 4 after years of grinding in music and sending out audition tapes behind the scenes. She called the opportunity a “miracle” and recalled getting a surprise call from Chad Stahelski, who had seen her music videos and asked if she was free for a few months. Three days later, she was in Berlin, learning stunts and fight choreography before her contract had even been finalized.
Sawayama didn’t sugarcoat the pressure. “It was the most intense thing I’ve ever done,” she told Allure. “A tour is easy compared to this… Acting is completely new, and I was learning in a very high-pressure situation.”
Still, the experience clearly lit a spark. With Caine on the horizon, she’s now fully stepping into action star territory, and not just as a singer trying out film. She’s building a real on-screen presence that’s as fierce as her stage persona.
The movie is being produced by Basil Iwanyk, Joe Drake, and Jeffrey Greenstein, with production scheduled to begin soon. No release date has been confirmed yet, but with Donnie Yen directing and Sawayama returning to throw down in the John Wick universe, Caine is already one of the most anticipated spin-offs in recent memory.
