Deadline reports John Wick: Chapter 4 has cast Japanese-British pop singer Rina Sawayama to star alongside Keanu Reeves in the highly-anticipated fourth entry of the franchise.
Sawayama began her popstar career in 2017, but released her full debut album ‘Sawayama’ last year to wide critical acclaim and has even performed a duet with the legendary Elton John for her single ‘Chosen Family’. John Wick: Chapter 4 will be her big screen film debut.
“I’m so glad to have Rina on board to make her feature film debut in John Wick: Chapter 4,” director Chad Stahelski said. “She’s an incredible talent who’ll bring so much to the film.”
There is no word on who Sawayama is playing, but it could end up being a number of different roles from a fellow assassin, another Adjudicator or a member of the High Table that has been trying to kill John Wick for the past couple of films.
John Wick: Chapter 4 and Chapter 5 were meant to be shot back-to-back, but Lionsgate changed their plans due to the coronavirus which pushed back production. Now Chapter 4 will begin shooting sometime this summer and 5 will take place sometime after its completion. Unlike the first three films which take place primarily in New York City, it has been reported Chapter 4 will be an international affair with the shoot taking place in Berlin and Paris, with additional photography in New York City and Japan.
Earlier this year, Derek Kolstad, who wrote all three previous John Wick films, revealed he won’t be returning to write the screenplay for John Wick: Chapter 4. Instead, John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum co-writer Shay Hatten and Michael Finch (American Assassin) will write the script with Chad Stahelski returning to direct once again.
While plot details are being kept under wraps, it’s safe to assume that Chapter 4 will possibly pick up after the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum with Keanu Reeves’ John Wick aiming to get revenge against Ian McShane’s Winston for betraying him and taking the fight to the High Table directly.
Ricky Church – Follow me on Twitter for more movie news and nerd talk.