Apart from the upcoming Keanu Reeves action thriller John Wick 4, a spin-off movie titled Ballerina is also in the works. Featuring Ana de Armas as a young dancer-assassin avenging her murdered family, the film’s production is already underway.
As of now, Ana de Armas is possibly the biggest name in the world of actresses. But it’s her brief but memorable role as Paloma in the James Bond film No Time to Die which has left fans awaiting her performance in Ballerina.
What is Ballerina about
Remember the scene from Parabellum where John Wick runs into a ballerina/assassin while meeting with the crime syndicate director? The idea for Ballerina came to life here.
- Fans hope Ballerina achieves a level of world-building and action choreography that lives up to the level of the John Wick franchise.
- Apart from Ballerina, the John Wick universe will expand with “The Continental,” an upcoming TV series that focuses on The Continental hotel’s owner Winston and his youth in the 1970s.
Ballerina’s cast members
Ana de Armas’ most recent outings as Blonde, The Gray Man, and Deep Water have established her as the go-to seductive femme fatale. This makes her a near-perfect choice for Ballerina.
- She is joined by Anjelica Huston, Ian McShane, and Lance Reddick who will reprise their roles from the previous three John Wick films. A cameo from Keanu Reeves is almost inevitable.
- Ana de Armas has also shared the screen with Keanu Reeves before in the 2015 erotic psychological thriller Knock Knock. Her role in Ballerina will surely set the screens on fire.
- Newcomers to the franchise include Norman Reedus who played Daryl Dixon in The Walking Dead and Catalina Sandino Moreno.
Norman Reedus joins Ana de Armas and Keanu Reeves in the ‘John Wick’ spin-off #Ballerina
(via @DEADLINE) pic.twitter.com/4UoQUiDzRK
— Culture Crave 🍿 (@CultureCrave) December 13, 2022
Crew details of Ballerina
Ballerina is written by Parabellum writer Shay Hatten and directed by Len Wiseman, the director of Underworld and Live Free or Die Hard.
- Promising Young Woman director Emerald Fennell is also part of the writing and direction team. Ana de Armas vouched for Fennell’s involvement in Ballerina as the character requires the touch of a female writer.
- Promising Young Woman is along the same line as this film about a vengeful female assassin and Oscar winner Fennell could work wonders on the script.
- The film is co-produced by Chad Stahelski, the director of the original John Wick movies. His participation ensures that Ballerina’s vision and execution will still align with the other John Wick films.
Possible release date
Production on “Ballerina” is already confirmed to be underway but only from this month. A 2023 theatrical release date is still possible but seems highly unlikely, especially since it would fall too close to John Wick: Chapter 4.
- Owing to the pandemic hampering the production process, John Wick 4 was delayed almost two years from its planned release date in 2021.
- An ideal premiere for Ballerina would be in early 2024, which puts it in the same winter release window that John Wick: Chapter 2 capitalized back in 2017.
The John Wick franchise
For the unfamiliar minds, John Wick follows the story of a hitman who is forced out of retirement when the son of a Russian mob boss kills his dog. The second and third sequels shifted the narrative from New York to Rome and later to Morocco.
Consider this a courtesy. 3/24 pic.twitter.com/oD8E719ort
— John Wick: Chapter 4 (@JohnWickMovie) December 13, 2022
- All three films are known for their striking visual style and pathbreaking stunt choreography. The John Wick franchise might be dependent on a single character/actor and relatively new to other major franchises, but it already deems a cult status among worldwide moviegoers.
The fourth installment of the Baba Yaga franchise is expected to hit theaters on March 24, 2023. Connections to Ballerina could be in store at the end of John Wick: Chapter Four. An exciting release slate waits for the fans in the next couple of years.
RELATED NEWS: John Wick: Chapter 4 – What we know so far
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