After years of delays, fans will finally get to see Ana de Armas attempt to put her stamp on the “John Wick” universe this June when “Ballerina” hits theaters.
First announced in 2019, the new “John Wick” spin-off stars de Armas as a ballerina and assassin who seeks revenge on the people who killed her family. Set between the events of the third and fourth “John Wick” films, the new movie features franchise regulars including Ian McShane, Angelica Huston, and Keanu Reeves himself. It also features an appearance from the late Lance Reddick, who shot the film before his passing in 2023. Norman Reedus, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, and Gabriel Byrne also star in the film.
“Ballerina” is written by Shay Hatten, and was originally an unrelated spec screenplay that Lionsgate acquired and reworked to fit it into the “John Wick” universe. After joining the Lionsgate fold, Hatten went on to co-write “John Wick: Parabellum” and “John Wick: Chapter 4.” But despite those films’ successes, “Ballerina” has endured a troubled road to the big screen.
“Ballerina” is directed by Len Wiseman, who originally shot the film in late 2022. However, the film was delayed for several years and underwent significant reshoots in 2024, which were overseen by “John Wick” franchise stalwart Chad Stahelski.
“Ballerina” marks Lionsgate’s latest attempt to expand the franchise beyond the flagship series of films that star Reeves as a lethal assassin working in a criminal underworld that operates through a chain of hotels. “John Wick” has become one of Lionsgate’s most lucrative properties, but the studio hasn’t found a way to successfully monetize it without Reeves front and center. A Mel Gibson-led prequel series “The Continental,” which explored the origins of the eponymous hotels, premiered on Peacock in 2023 to middling reviews. “John Wick 5” is still a possibility, thanks to the ambiguous ending of the previous film. But if Stahelski managed to capture the franchise’s distinct blend of stylized action and turn de Armas into an action hero on par with Reeve’s John Wick, “Ballerina” could turn into a lifeline for Lionsgate.
A Lionsgate release, “Ballerina” opens in theaters on Friday, June 6. Watch the new trailer below.
