Ballerina: Everything You Need to Know About Ana de Armas’ John Wick Spin-Off

Tanisha Sharma March 23, 2025 action thriller 2025, Ana de Armas, Ballerina movie, Gabriel Byrne villain, John Wick spin-off, Keanu Reeves cameo, Len Wiseman director, revenge film, Ruska Roma assassin, summer blockbuster

A deadly dance of vengeance awaits in the highly anticipated expansion of the John Wick universe.

Ana de Armas steps into the spotlight in “Ballerina,” the first spin-off film from the acclaimed John Wick franchise set to hit theaters on June 6, 2025. This neo-noir action thriller promises to deliver the franchise’s signature stylized violence while introducing audiences to a compelling new protagonist with her own vendetta.

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The Deadly Dancer: Ana de Armas Takes Center Stage

At the heart of “Ballerina” is Eve Macarro, played by Ana de Armas, a character who embodies the deadly fusion of artistry and assassination. Trained in the traditions of the Ruska Roma, Eve is a ballerina-turned-assassin whose graceful movements mask her lethal capabilities.

The film follows Eve’s relentless quest for vengeance after the murder of her father. Her journey showcases how the disciplined precision of ballet translates into the equally methodical execution of revenge – a thematic parallel that runs throughout the narrative.

De Armas, fresh off critical acclaim for recent performances, brings both emotional depth and physical prowess to the role, performing many of her own stunts to authentically capture Eve’s balletic fighting style.

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Expanding the John Wick Timeline

“From the World of John Wick: Ballerina” (its official title) cleverly positions itself in the existing franchise timeline, taking place between the events of “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum” and “John Wick: Chapter 4.” This strategic placement allows the film to explore previously unseen corners of the assassin underworld while maintaining consistency with the established lore.

Fans will be delighted to see familiar faces returning to the screen:

Keanu Reeves reprises his iconic role as John Wick in what’s described as an “extended cameo”
Ian McShane returns as Winston, the sophisticated manager of The Continental Hotel
Anjelica Huston appears again as The Director, the head of the Ruska Roma crime syndicate
Lance Reddick makes his final posthumous appearance as Charon, The Continental’s concierge

The film also introduces new characters who will expand the John Wick universe:

Gabriel Byrne stars as the Chancellor, the film’s primary antagonist
Norman Reedus joins as Daniel Pine, a character whose details remain closely guarded
Catalina Sandino Moreno appears in an undisclosed role that’s generating speculation among fans

Behind the Scenes: Creating a Ballet of Violence

Director Len Wiseman, known for the “Underworld” franchise, takes the helm of “Ballerina” with a screenplay by Shay Hatten. The script received additional contributions from Emerald Fennell (Oscar-winning writer of “Promising Young Woman”) and Michael Finch, suggesting a multifaceted approach to the story.

Notably, Chad Stahelski, director of all four main John Wick films, has supervised additional action sequences to ensure the spin-off maintains the franchise’s reputation for innovative and meticulously choreographed combat.

The production wasn’t without challenges. Originally slated for release in June 2024, “Ballerina” underwent significant reshoots that delayed its premiere by a full year. These additional filming periods, completed by April 2024, were reportedly focused on enhancing the action sequences and strengthening connections to the broader John Wick narrative universe.

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Anticipation Builds: Marketing Momentum

The marketing campaign for “Ballerina” began gathering momentum with the release of the first trailer on September 26, 2024. Set to Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer” – a brilliant musical counterpoint to the film’s violent themes – the trailer offered glimpses of Eve’s brutal journey interspersed with appearances by Keanu Reeves’ John Wick.

Subsequent promotional materials have included an extended preview at CCXP and a television spot during the 2025 Oscars broadcast, each revealing new facets of the story while carefully preserving its major plot elements.

With a concise runtime of 89 minutes, “Ballerina” aims to deliver a tightly paced narrative that balances character development with the adrenaline-fueled action sequences that have become the franchise’s hallmark.

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A New Chapter in the John Wick Saga

As the first spin-off in a franchise that has redefined modern action cinema, “Ballerina” represents an important test of the John Wick universe’s expandability. While centered on a new protagonist, the film maintains its connections to the broader mythology through returning characters and shared settings.

For fans of Ana de Armas, the film offers an opportunity to see the actress fully embrace an action-heavy role, building on her brief but memorable appearance in 2021’s “No Time to Die.” For devotees of the John Wick franchise, “Ballerina” promises to enrich the world they’ve come to love while delivering the stylish action sequences that have become its signature.

With its summer 2025 release date, “Ballerina” is positioning itself as a major contender in next year’s blockbuster season. Whether Eve Macarro will dance her way into a franchise of her own remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: her debut will be executed with the precision, style, and intensity that has made the John Wick universe a phenomenon.

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