Latest news with #87ElevenEntertainment
Geek Tyrant
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Rina Sawayama Returns as Akira in Donnie Yen's JOHN WICK Spinoff Film CAINE — GeekTyrant
After her breakout performance as Akira in John Wick: Chapter 4 , the fierce daughter of Shimazu Koji (Hiroyuki Sanada), Rina Sawayama will reprise her role in Caine , the upcoming spinoff film starring and directed by Donnie Yen. First teased at CinemaCon, Caine will dive deeper into the aftermath of John Wick: Chapter 4 , focusing on Yen's titular character, an assassin newly freed from his obligations to the High Table. The return of Akira hints at unfinished business, and that tension is part of what's making this next chapter so compelling. As Yen put it: 'Most delighted to welcome Rina back into this new exciting journey with us. It will be my pleasure and attempt to elevate her amazing character that left us mesmerized from John Wick: Chapter 4!' Franchise director Chad Stahelski, who's producing through his 87Eleven Entertainment banner, added: '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 spinoff is being produced by John Wick veterans Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee, alongside Stahelski. Yen also joins as an executive producer, ensuring his creative vision carries through both in front of and behind the camera. While plot specifics are still under wraps, we know Caine will lean heavily into Hong Kong-style action, something Yen is synonymous with. The latest draft of the screenplay is written by Mattson Tomlin ( The Batman Part II , BRZRKR ), building on a previous version by Robert Askins. Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson previously said: ' John Wick: Chapter 4 introduced us to so many compelling, original characters, including Akira. We're beyond thrilled to have Rina coming back to the franchise—Caine and Akira have unfinished business, and this next chapter in their stories will be explosive.' It's all part of Lionsgate's broader push to expand the Wick universe. Ballerina , the Ana de Armas-led spinoff, is already slated for release on June 6. There's also an animated film in development, directed by Shannon Tindle and written by Vanessa Taylor, as well as a fifth John Wick film currently being worked on. As producer Basil Iwanyk summed up: 'Rina will be a tremendous addition to this film, and we're excited to be returning to Caine's corner of the John Wick Universe as we start production soon.' Akira is back. And this time, the fight just got even more personal. Are you excited to see Rina Sawayama return to the John Wick universe? Source: Variety
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Donnie Yen to Direct, Star in ‘John Wick' Spinoff Movie
Donnie Yen is returning to the world of 'John Wick,' this time with some additional responsibilities. The martial arts legend will star as Caine, the blind assassin from 'John Wick: Chapter 4,' in a new spinoff film for Lionsgate. Yen will also direct the movie, which will begin production in Hong Kong later this year. The announcement was made as part of Lionsgate's CinemaCon presentation. Like all other installments in the ever-growing 'John Wick' franchise, the Caine movie will be produced by Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee through their Thunder Road banner and by series director Chad Stahelski, who produces through his 87Eleven Entertainment production company. Yen will also serve as an executive producer. The movie's logline is being kept under wraps, probably in a locked drawer at the Continental. Mattson Tomlin has also joined the project to write the film; a previous draft was written by Robert Askins. Tomlin previously worked on Matt Reeves' 'The Batman' and is a co-writer on the script for 'The Batman: Part II.' He's very familiar with the world of Keanu Reeves, as he is working on the adaptation of Reeves' comic book 'BRZRKR.' According to Lionsgate, the Caine spinoff is 'stylistically modeled on the uniquely designed action films that Yen helped make famous, while being developed through Chad Stahelski's deal with Lionsgate as he oversees the expansion of the 'John Wick' universe.' 'From the moment Chad and Donnie pitched the idea of a Donnie Yen-style action film in the mode of John Wick, I was all in,' said Adam Fogelson, chair of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group. 'Donnie is not only an incredible, charismatic star, but a smart, cinematic director who knows how to deliver massively entertaining action for a global audience. We're thrilled that he's in the director's chair to tell Caine's story.' 'The 'John Wick' films have set an immensely high standard for action filmmaking and I greatly appreciate Lionsgate giving me the opportunity to further elevate the franchise,' Yen said of the project. 'I am both thrilled and deeply inspired to make this happen.' Stahelski added, 'One of my favorite characters in the John Wick world is Caine. To have the chance to dive into his world and discover all his adventures excites us all. We envision a modern day kung-fu classic that explores the John Wick world, and who better to helm it than Donnie Yen himself. His understanding of the culture, the world, and, of course, the action, make him the perfect director for this project.' Yen's contribution to international cinema cannot be overstated. He is maybe best known for portraying Ip Man, the real-life figure who was a Wing Chun grandmaster (and teacher of Bruce Lee), in four films of the same name. He starred as the bad guy in 'Once Upon a Time in China II' opposite Jet Li and has served as director, action director and martial arts choreographer on countless films. Western audiences will probably know him from supporting roles in 'Blade II,' 'Shanghai Knights,' 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story' and the live-action 'Mulan.' The Caine film joins the ever-expanding roster of 'John Wick'-related films. The next film in the franchise is 'Ballerina,' starring Ana de Armas, which opens on June 6, 2025. The post Donnie Yen to Direct, Star in 'John Wick' Spinoff Movie appeared first on TheWrap.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Animated ‘John Wick' Prequel in the Works From ‘Ultraman: Rising' Director, Keanu Reeves Expected to Return
Yeah, we're thinking he's back. 'John Wick' will return – but perhaps not in the way that you'd expect. An animated 'John Wick' prequel is on the way from 'Ultraman: Rising' director Shannon Tindle. Keanu Reeves is expected to return to voice the character in the animated feature. The announcement was made from the CinemaCon stage by Adam Fogelson, chair of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group. This animated 'John Wick' will recount the 'impossible task' that Wick had to complete to get out from under the High Table and marry his wife Helen (played in the films by Bridget Moynahan). It will be written by Vanessa Taylor, who was nominated for an Oscar for her work with Guillermo del Toro on 'The Shape of Water.' The animated feature will be produced by Thunder Road's Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee, 87Eleven Entertainment's Chad Stahelski and Reeves. 87Eleven Entertainment's Alex Young and Jason Spitz will executive produce. Tindle is coming off of the Annie-nominated Netflix film 'Ultraman: Rising,' which featured a beautiful art style that was inspired by the original series and Japanese manga and was brought to life with eye-popping animation from Industrial Light & Magic. Before that, he was the showrunner and executive producer of Netflix's Emmy-winning 'Lost Ollie.' He also created 'Kubo and the Two Strings' for Laika. Lionsgate promised that the film will 'deliver highly stylized and defined action that 'John Wick' fans expect and will be aimed at more mature audiences,' meaning, yes, this will be rated-R like the live-action films. Since 2014, there have been four 'John Wick' features. The latest, 'John Wick: Chapter 4,' came out in 2023 and made $440 million worldwide. A prequel streaming series 'The Continental' also premiered in 2023 and the first spinoff film, 'Ballerina,' is out on June 6. Another streaming series, a fifth mainline film and a spinoff centered around Donnie Yen's character are also in development. Fogelson said, 'In both animation and the world of 'John Wick,' the possibilities are endless. And there is no 'John Wick' story fans are clamoring for more than the Impossible Task. Shannon's take on that story is an incredible one and we are beyond excited to see what John Wick can do in animation.' Stahelski added, 'I've always been fascinated with anime. It has always been a huge influence on me, especially with the 'John Wick' series. To have the opportunity to develop a 'John Wick' anime seems to be the perfect progression for the 'John Wick' world. I feel 'John Wick' is the perfect property for this medium — anime holds the potential to expand our world, our characters and our action in ways unimaginable before.' Iwanyk and Lee said, 'Shannon has a breathtaking vision for a film we've all long wanted to make. Alongside Vanessa's story, we're hugely excited to bring it to audiences.' No timetable for the movie has been revealed. The post Animated 'John Wick' Prequel in the Works From 'Ultraman: Rising' Director, Keanu Reeves Expected to Return appeared first on TheWrap.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘John Wick Experience' Opens Doors In Las Vegas; First Photos Unveiled
Lionsgate and Egan Productions' immersive John Wick Experience is now open at Area15, which is located just off the Las Vegas Strip. If you want to know what it looks like inside, take a gander above and below. John Wick filmmaker Chad Stahelski and his team at 87Eleven Entertainment were creative collaborators on the experience, from design to special stunt work. The fun spot is based on the billion-dollar Lionsgate franchise and counts more than a dozen themed rooms from the pics, as well as live interactions and interactive game play. More from Deadline Date Set For Expected Shareholder Vote On Lionsgate Studios Split From Starz Cynthia Erivo Boards Lionsgate's 'Karoshi' Action Thriller 'Monopoly' Movie Lands John Francis Daley And Jonathan Goldstein As Writers Each group of guests passing through the John Wick Experience are tasked with completing a mission that plays out in unique ways with characters, mythology, and iconography inspired by the feature film universe. Visitors may rub elbows or grab a drink with John Wick Continental Las Vegas staff, assassins, crime bosses, or other curious guests like themselves The roughly 12,000-square-foot ticketed attraction includes two themed bars and a retail shop. To bring audiences into the world of Wick, Lionsgate and Stahelski worked closely with Egan Productions, the producer of the experience. Egan is also Lionsgate's collaborator on two other Las Vegas attractions based on the studio's beloved IP: The Official SAW Escape, which opened in 2018 and was named Best Escape Room by USA Today, and Escape Blair Witch, which opened in 2021. 'In the films, Chad Stahelski has created a complex, alternate reality with exquisite design, deep mythological influence and meticulous action,' said Jenefer Brown, EVP & Head of Global Products and Experiences at Lionsgate. 'The most important part of creating this experience was honoring that and making sure that our guests truly feel like they are part of the world of the films. The experience delivers wholeheartedly on that promise, and we are excited to share it with fans.' 'The John Wick Experience drops you into the sleek, sophisticated world of The Las Vegas Continental,' said Jason Egan. 'This is the ultimate destination for anyone seeking a unique and captivating Vegas experience, and a must-visit for John Wick fans.' The John Wick Experience is opening just months before the first John Wick spinoff movie, Ballerina, hits theaters June 6. There's also a second spinoff movie starring Donnie Yen in the works. In addition, Lionsgate is developing the series John Wick: Under the High Table, which Stahelski and Keanu Reeves are executive producing, and the studio has a John Wick AAA video game in the works. More info can be found at Best of Deadline 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery All The Songs In 'Severance' Season 2: From The Who To Ella Fitzgerald 10 Brand New Emmy-Eligible Shows Coming This Spring
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Netflix hops aboard Sifu movie adaptation, assigns a screenwriter
We learned in December 2022 that a production company had signed on to turn Sloclap's excellent martial arts game Sifu into a film. Today, the news dropped that Netflix is involved with the project, which seems to have caused some personnel shuffling behind the scenes. The initial announcement saw Story Kitchen, which has since amassed a huge catalog of video game adaptations, securing a treatment of Sifu with John Wick creator Derek Kolstad attached as the writer. Story Kitchen is still working on the film, but Kolstad is no longer serving as the screenwriter and T.S. Nowlin has instead been tapped for that role. Nowlin's past credits include the screenplays for the Maze Runner adaptations and most recently he was a writer for Netflix's splashy Ryan Reynolds vehicle The Adam Project. However, there is still a John Wick connection with Sifu. The director for all four John Wick films, stunt performer Chad Stahelski, has joined the producer team, as have members of Stahelski's 87Eleven Entertainment company.
