Ana de Armas shared how Tom Cruise showed strong support for her new movie Ballerina during its Hollywood premiere. The John Wick spin-off releases in theaters on June 6, 2025, and Cruise has been vocal about encouraging audiences to watch films on the big screen.
At the TCL Chinese Theatre event, de Armas expressed her gratitude for Cruise’s endorsement. She mentioned how he actively promotes not just her film but cinema in general.
“You know what, he supports every movie,” de Armas told Variety. “He really wants the industry and cinema to do well and [wants] people going to the theaters. We’re working together, so he got to see ‘Ballerina’ and he actually really liked it. He loved the ‘John Wicks.’”
Cruise, known for his dedication to theatrical releases, praised the John Wick franchise while promoting his own film, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. He highlighted the hard work behind action films like Ballerina.
“‘John Wick,’ I love that franchise and what those guys do,” Cruise told AP. “I know what it takes to create these kinds of stories and do it. And now they have ‘Ballerina’ coming out with Ana, that’s outstanding.”
Ballerina follows Eve Macarro, a ballerina-turned-assassin seeking revenge for her father’s death. The film is set between John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and Chapter 4, featuring returning stars like Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, and the late Lance Reddick in his final role.
De Armas underwent intense training for the physically demanding role. She described the challenges of performing high-energy stunts while maintaining a ballerina’s grace.
“Everything hurt,” she said. “My hands, my nails were broken, bruises everywhere, my neck. It was a lot of fun actually.”
The film’s director, Len Wiseman, worked closely with John Wick creator Chad Stahelski to ensure the action sequences matched the franchise’s high standards. Additional filming took place in early 2024 to perfect fight scenes.
Ballerina also stars Gabriel Byrne as the main villain, Norman Reedus in a mysterious role, and Anjelica Huston reprising her character from previous John Wick films. Early reactions from CinemaCon praised the movie’s fast-paced action and de Armas’ performance.
The Hollywood premiere saw Keanu Reeves attending with his longtime partner, Alexandra Grant. Reeves, who has a cameo in the film, shared his excitement about expanding the John Wick universe.
De Armas also discussed her next project, Deeper, where she will star alongside Tom Cruise. She revealed they are currently in training for the underwater thriller directed by Doug Liman.
“Training, just training, getting ready for what’s going to come,” she said about preparing for the film.
With Ballerina, Lionsgate aims to attract both John Wick fans and new audiences. The studio has already hinted at potential sequels, depending on the film’s success.
The official trailer, released in September 2024, showcased de Armas in brutal fight scenes and teased Reeves’ return as John Wick. A final trailer in May 2025 gave a deeper look at Eve’s revenge mission.
Early box office projections suggest Ballerina could open with $28–30 million in the U.S., competing with Disney’s Lilo & Stitch remake. Industry analysts believe strong word-of-mouth could boost its performance.
De Armas’ rise as an action star continues after her roles in No Time to Die, The Gray Man, and Ghosted. Her dedication to performing stunts has drawn comparisons to Cruise’s own commitment to practical action.
“It is very special that someone like him is supporting [‘Ballerina’],” she said. “It is really special in general to have other actors and people supporting each other. We can do well all together.”
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