When you’ve got huge names in the action genre such as Keanu Reeves and Donnie Yen, it’s not easy to carve out a place for yourself to shine. And yet, that’s what Rina Sawayama did in John Wick: Chapter 4, shining in her badass role as Osaka Continental concierge, Shimazu Akira. In fact, she stood out so much that Sawayama will be returning for Yen’s upcoming spinoff, Caine.
Variety confirms that the British/Japanese singer-songwriter Rina Sawayama will return as Akira in Caine, to be directed by star Donnie Yen. The film will have a script by The Batman co-writer Mattson Tomlin.
“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’!” Yen said in a statement.
A post-credits scene at the end of John Wick 4 saw Akira going off to seek vengeance against Caine after he killed her father Shimazu Koji, played by Hiroyuki Sanada. Expect Akira and Caine to have a deadly clash that will settle things once and for all. That said, she could be just one of many foes for Caine to face, and it’s always possible John Wick shows up in a cameo. The film marked Sawayama’s feature debut role.
No release date for Caine yet, but Lionsgate is bringing it to the Cannes market where it should have no trouble finding international buyers.
