Sawayama made her film debut as Akira in 2023’s 'John Wick: Chapter 4', as NME reports.
The singer made her feature film debut in 2023’s John Wick: Chapter 4 as Shimazu Akira, the concierge at the Osaka Continental Hotel and the daughter of Hiroyuki Sanada’s Shimazu Koji, who is the hotel manager and a friend of Keanu Reeves’ lead character.
Now, Variety has reported that Sawayama will be playing Akira again in an upcoming spinoff film that will revolve around Donnie Yen’s Caine, a blind assassin and former friend of Wick’s who is coerced into returning to action in the fourth film to kill Wick in order to save his daughter.
The spinoff film will also be directed by Yen while regular John Wick director Chad Stahelski will be producing. The film is set to go into production later this year.
Speaking about Sawayama’s return to the franchise, Stahelski has said: “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.”
Yen added: “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 mesmerised from John Wick: Chapter 4!”
