The John Wick franchise is expanding its universe with a spinoff film titled Ballerina, which will star Ana de Armas as a female assassin seeking revenge. The movie is set to hit theaters on June 7, 2024, after being delayed due to the pandemic. Here is everything you need to know about Ballerina, the upcoming action thriller from the makers of John Wick.
The Plot of Ballerina
Ballerina will follow the story of Eve, a young woman who was orphaned and trained as a government assassin. She works for a secretive agency that uses ballerinas as cover for their missions. However, when her family is killed by a rival organization, she goes rogue and vows to hunt down those responsible.
The movie will explore the world of the ballerina assassins, who were briefly seen in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum. They are part of a network of criminal enterprises that operate under the rules of the High Table, the governing body of the underworld. Eve will have to face not only her enemies, but also the consequences of breaking the code of the assassins.
The Cast and Crew of Ballerina
Ballerina will star Ana de Armas as Eve, the titular protagonist. De Armas is best known for her roles in Knives Out, Blade Runner 2049, and No Time to Die. She will be joined by Keanu Reeves, who will reprise his role as John Wick, the legendary hitman who helped Eve escape from the agency. Reeves will also serve as a producer for the film.
Other cast members include Lance Reddick as Charon, the concierge of the Continental hotel; Ian McShane as Winston, the manager of the Continental; Anjelica Huston as the Director, the leader of the ballerina assassins; Catalina Sandino Moreno as a fellow ballerina; Gabriel Byrne as a villain; and Norman Reedus as a mysterious character.
Ballerina will be directed by Len Wiseman, who is known for his work on the Underworld franchise, Live Free or Die Hard, and Total Recall. The script was written by Shay Hatten, who also co-wrote John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and Army of the Dead. The movie will be produced by Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee of Thunder Road Pictures, Chad Stahelski and David Leitch of 87Eleven Entertainment, and Reeves and Stephen Hamel of Company Films.
The Production and Release of Ballerina
Ballerina was first announced in 2017 as a potential spinoff of the John Wick franchise. The project was confirmed in 2019, with Wiseman attached as the director and de Armas in talks for the lead role. The movie began filming in November 2020 in Prague, Czech Republic, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The production faced some challenges due to the health and safety protocols, but managed to wrap up in February 2021.
Ballerina was originally slated for a 2022 release, but was pushed back to 2024 due to the impact of the pandemic on the film industry. The movie will now open on June 7, 2024, in the United States, as part of the summer blockbuster season. It will compete with other big releases such as Avatar 3, Indiana Jones 5, and Fantastic Beasts 4.
Ballerina is expected to be a thrilling and stylish addition to the John Wick universe, showcasing a new perspective and a new heroine. Fans of the franchise can look forward to seeing de Armas kick some ass and team up with Reeves in this action-packed spinoff.
