We’ve been waiting for Ana de Armas to get a proper action movie ever since she was one of the standout Bond women in “No Time to Die.” Now she’s joining another iconic action franchise: the “John Wick” universe.
“Ballerina,” a spinoff movie within the “John Wick” franchise, has finally landed a trailer from Lionsgate. The long-awaited project originated as an original story by screenwriter Shay Hatten back in 2017; the script was re-written to bring it into the “Wick” universe of assassins. The titular ballerina killer was briefly introduced in “John Wick 3: Parabellum.”
Unlike Peacock’s “Wick” prequel series “The Continental,” “Ballerina” is set in between the events of the third and fourth “John Wick” movies and even features brief appearances from both Keanu Reeves and the late Lance Reddick. As Lionsgate film group president Adam Fogelson previously confirmed, the film avoids the fate of John Wick as revealed in the fourth film.
De Armas leads “Ballerina” as a young female assassin and ballerina who seeks revenge on those who killed her family. The highlights of the trailer include de Armas wielding a flamethrower, getting a massive back tattoo, and asking the Baba Yaga (Reeves) himself for advice.
“How do I start doing what you do?,” de Armas’ character asks Reeves’ Wick, who responds, “Looks like you already have.”
“Ballerina” also stars returning “John Wick” actors Ian McShane and Angelica Huston, along with Norman Reedus, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, and Gabriel Byrne. The film is directed by Len Wiseman, known for the “Underworld” movies and the “Total Recall” remake.
Reeves told Screen Rant that his return to the Wick character made sense for “Ballerina.”
“I felt that there was a cool handoff of stewardship,” Reeves said, “and it was fun to put the suit on again, however briefly. There’s a reason for [John] to be in ‘Ballerina’; it’s very organic.”
De Armas also told Collider that the reshoots, which delayed the film’s release by a year, turned out to be “really spectacular.” Returning “John Wick” director Chad Stahelski helmed the additional action sequences.
“All we did in those reshoots had to be there,” de Armas said. “We got amazing footage. It’s really spectacular. A trailer is coming out soon, I’ve been told. I saw it, and it’s beautiful.”
She added, “I’m very proud of it. It’s really exciting. It’s dangerous, it’s sexy, it’s very ‘John Wick.’ I think people are going to be surprised. I’m biased. Of course, I like the movie, but I think it’s really cool. It’s going to be amazing.”
“Ballerina” opens in theaters June 6, 2025. Check out the first trailer below.
