Movies - TV
Donnie Yen Didn't Just Want To Be An Old, Blind Guy With A Cane In John Wick: Chapter 4
By ERNESTO VALENZUELA
The “John Wick” franchise has always brought a colorful cast of characters played by some remarkable actors to its excessively violent films. Whereas “Chapter 2” and “Chapter 3 — Parabellum” introduced new faces like Cassian (Common) and Sofia Al-Azwar (Hally Berry), the upcoming movie will see Hong Kong martial arts actor Donnie Yen’s Caine face off against John Wick.
Yen plays a blind character, similar to his “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” role, and is seen simultaneously brandishing a gun and a sword in the trailer for “John Wick: Chapter 4.” While the actor was excited to join the franchise and bring a blend of familiar samurai tropes to the slick, modern assassin style of “John Wick,” Yen was less than enthused about his character.
Director Chad Stahelski first imagined Yen’s character as similar to Zatoichi, a blind, unassuming older swordsman from a series of 1960s and ‘70s films. However, Yen convinced Stahelski to change the idea, saying, “I get what you’re going for. I just don’t want to be the old, blind guy with a cane. [...] I’d rather be the cool guy in the suit ... It’s ‘John Wick.’ It’s a suit movie. It’s cool!”