Released in June 2025, the John Wick universe received its first theatrical spin-off film with Ballerina, marketed as “From the World of John Wick: Ballerina.” I say spin-off film, because Peacock does have a mini-series called The Continental, which I still haven’t seen. The film follows Eve Maccaro, a kikimora of the Ruska Roma who seeks vengeance against the violent cult leader who murdered her father many years ago. Like the John Wick franchise, the film is incredibly violent, over-the-top, and an adrenaline rush from start to finish. It might not quite reach the highs of the original franchise of the main series, but it’s still a fun watch. Be aware, spoiler alerts are likely. You have been warned.
To understand the origins of the project, we need to go back to 2017. Hatten, a 23-year-old aspiring screenwriter, was gaining some traction. He wrote a script called Maximum King! The script followed Stephen King behind the scenes as he directed his only film, Maximum Overdrive! It ended up on the 2016 Blacklist, which is a huge honor. For those unfamiliar with The Blacklist, it is an annual list where industry professionals list the best unproduced screenplays of the year. Getting on the list can be a major career booster. His next screenplay he wrote on spec, was an action thriller titled Ballerina. The script was purchased by Basil Iwanyk’s Thunder Road, who hired Hatten to rework the script into the Wick universe. Impressed with his screenplay, Hatten was brought onto the writing team of John Wick Chapter 3 and later co-wrote Chapter 4 with Michael Finch.
Production of the film was announced in late 2019, the same year Chapter 3 was released, and a good three years before Chapter 4. Len Wiseman, director of the Underworld films and Live Free or Die Hard, was hired to direct. The producers used Chloe Grace Moretz as a template for the type of actress they were looking to hire, and in October 2021, there were rumors of Ana De Armas starring. These rumors were confirmed in July 2022. Though principal photography was set to start in summer 2022, filming didn’t begin until November. In December, Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, Lance Reddick, and Anjelica Huston would be reprising their roles from the main franchise. Throughout December, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Norman Reedus, and Gabriel Byrne were cast in supporting roles.
By February 2023, the film was in post-production. Lionsgate and Thunder Road were not happy with what they were seeing. By October, rumors were swirling in Hollywood that the film was a hot mess. Test scores were allegedly much lower than the studio expected, and the executives worried that the film could be a franchise killer. Needing to act, the release date was pushed from June 7, 2024, to June 6, 2025. Going into damage control mode, the studio dismissed Wiseman and brought in producer and series director Chad Stahelski to oversee reshoots. Many months were spent retooling certain scenes, adding characters, and stunt pieces. When asked by the press, Wiseman denied that the film was undergoing reshoots, calling it “additional photography,” but made no comment on whether or not he was replaced for the shoot. In an October 2024 test screening showing Stahelski’s changes, the film’s score skyrocketed. The film was finally released on June 6, 2025, eight years after the sale of the script and three years after the start of principal photography. To put it into perspective, Lance Reddick appears in this film. He died in March 2023, right before the release of Chapter 4.
Whether Wiseman or Stahelski is responsible for the final product, I may never know. I may have more of a soft spot for the main series, but as far as spin-offs go, this one was enjoyable. It had the same stylized violence, gung-fu, and stunning cinematography as the main franchise. In a way, the film is just as violent, if not more violent, than any other film in the series. On more than one occasion, you see someone’s entire body blown up, pieces of flesh flying everywhere. On the same token, the film manages to amaze me with the simplicity of everyday items becoming weapons. In one scene, Eve tapes a knife to the bottom of a gun, making it a more useful killing machine. In another, she fights a would-be assassin using only the blades of ice skates. In one of the major fight scenes, a hitman armed with a flamethrower goes up against Eve, who finds a firehose. To see the hose and the fire used as weapons and to see the fire and water neutralize each other was a simple yet innovative shot.
Let’s talk about casting. Ana De Armas, of course, is the real star here. She’s had a great run the last few years, appearing in Knives Out, No Time to Die, and earning an Oscar nomination for playing Marilyn Monroe in Blonde. Now, she’s moved into action stardom. As a man, I can say that I think De Armas is incredibly beautiful, but she’s also a complete badass. If there was any question of her being a badass, the movie squashed any doubts in my mind. As always, the returning cast was great. Ian McShane, Lance Reddick, and Anjelica Huston know their characters inside and out. It was the new characters that intrigued me. Catalina Sandino Moreno as an assassin, later revealed to be Eve’s sister, and Norman Reedus as Daniel Pine were two characters that left a big impact on me, despite their limited screen time. To me, the real star (second to De Armas) was Gabriel Byrne as The Chancellor. I had heard of Byrne, but outside of The Usual Suspects, I couldn’t tell you any of his other films. As the Chancellor, Byrne can be both sweet, intimidating, and downright menacing. That was a great casting choice.
Now, let’s talk about the Boogeyman himself, John Wick. I have mixed feelings about Wick appearing in the film. He shows up once in the beginning, and we see his scenes with Roma Ruska in Chapter 3 from Eve’s perspective. That, I am okay with. It seemed like Wick’s coming back was more of a cash grab. It also tells me that the studio wasn’t that sure about either De Armas’ ability to carry the movie or if the audience would accept a Wick film without Wick. He has a small but important part. He doesn’t overstay his welcome, which I appreciate, but I still think with better writing, they could have not included him and found ways to make the story work. What confuses me most is the timeline. I understand that the film takes place between Chapters 3 & 4, however, I’m confused about the timeline within Chapter 3.
As mentioned, we see the scene from Chapter 3 from Eve’s perspective, where John’s ticket is punched and he can never come back. They give him safe passage to Casablanca, where he meets Sophia (Halle Berry), the holder of his marker. She reluctantly gives him safe passage to the desert to meet the one who sits above the table. John meets him, cuts off his ring finger to show loyalty, and then returns to the hotel, where he has to kill Winston. Then, of course, a battle ensues. I just don’t understand where this event falls in regard to John’s journey in Chapter 3. Add to that, the Director tore his ticket and told him he can never come back, and now, just a short time later, he’s doing her a favor by going to the island with the cult town to take care of Eve. It makes no sense to me. Additionally, I understand that the Chancellor called off any attacks on Wick, but the man is excommunicado with a large bounty on his head. What are the chances he made it to the island unscathed? Finally, at the end of the movie, we see The Director with no injuries to her hand. In Chapter 3, the Adjudicator’s men stab her through her hands with a sword as punishment for providing him passage. These are little things that do bug me, but not enough to let them ruin the story.
All in all, I enjoyed this movie. It’s everything you want from a Wick film: stylized and over-the-top violence, gunplay, a compelling story, and mind-blowing action sequences. While a sequel has not been formally announced, if the box office proves right, I have no doubt one will be greenlit. The film’s open ending leaves plenty of room for a sequel. I, myself, hope that the film gets a sequel. I think each Wick film got better, so I am hoping the same can be done with Ballerina. Up next is a spin-off film featuring Donnie Yen’s character, Caine, from Chapter 4.