The captivating world of the John Wick franchise is set to expand in new and thrilling directions, with the upcoming spin-off film Ballerina poised to introduce a fresh protagonist and explore different facets of this high-octane universe.
Director Len Wiseman and producers Basil Inawyk and Erica Lee of Thunder Road Pictures have been diligently at work crafting Ballerina, which will feature Ana de Armas in the lead role. And in a surprising twist, they’ve also managed to secure the return of Keanu Reeves as the iconic John Wick himself.
According to Inawyk, de Armas was instrumental in bringing Reeves on board for the project. “She’d known Keanu for years and kind of helped to reach out and go, ‘Let’s do this; come on, it’s going to be fun.’ And so she was definitely helpful in getting Keanu excited about the movie,” he revealed. “And Keanu’s a gigantic fan of Ana, so I think he got really excited about Ballerina once Ana came on board.”
The interplay between de Armas and Reeves is sure to be a highlight, with Inawyk teasing that the two actors have “a lot of great scenes together.” Lee further described their dynamic, noting that “they have scenes together; it’s really cool.”
A Feminine Gaze On The ‘John Wick’ World
While the John Wick films have established a distinct and captivating visual style, Ballerina is poised to offer a fresh perspective by centering on a female protagonist. As Inawyk explains, this shift presents both opportunities and challenges:
“In some ways, it is a lot more feminine, because our hero is a woman, obviously, but at the same time, the Wick movies have always, less so in the fourth movie, but in the first, second, and third movie, we reminded the audience many, many times that the reason why this whole franchise exists is just because of how much this guy loves his wife, and that his whole journey really is to get back to his wife.”
Inawyk acknowledges the high expectations that come with expanding the John Wick universe, noting that “people go in with a high expectation of action and look and feel and vibe, which is terrifying.” However, he believes that the core of the franchise—the emotional connection and romantic elements—will remain intact, even with a female protagonist.
“The franchise primarily revolves around a romantic relationship,” he asserts. “So I think for audiences that like John Wick—ffor whatever spin-off, or prequel, sequel, whatever it is, first and foremost, they’ve got to care, and they’ve got to care like they cared for him and were invested in his relationship.”
A Glimpse Of ‘Ballerina
While details about the plot of Ballerina remain tightly guarded, the producers have shared some tantalizing details. According to Lee, de Armas’ character, Eve Macarro, is “trying to figure out what happened in her past and is searching for answers.” This setup seems to echo the personal motivations that have driven John Wick’s own vengeful journey.
Inawyk further teases that Eve is “no victim, no damsel in distress, and she kills almost as many people as John Wick did in the first movie.” This suggests that the film will deliver the same high-octane action and intense set pieces that have become the hallmark of the John Wick franchise.
As fans eagerly await the release of Ballerina, the promise of a new protagonist exploring the depths of the Wickverse has generated significant excitement. With de Armas’ impressive action chops and the involvement of key creative forces behind the original films, this spin-off appears poised to captivate audiences and potentially pave the way for further expansions of the John Wick cinematic universe.
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