Ballerina: John Wick's murderous spin-off delights fans!

Ballerina: John Wick's murderous spin-off delights fans!

In the shadow of the extremely successful “John Wick” franchise, a first spin-off has now been announced: “Ballerina”. The film, which opens in theaters on June 6, 2025, takes place between “John Wick: Chapter 3” and “John Wick: Chapter 4”. The director is Len Wiseman, who has retired from directing since 2012, which makes the curiosity about the production all the greater. “Ballerina” is produced by Chad Stahelski and Keanu Reeves, who want to ensure quality with their experience from the main series. As TV-Media reports, the film features typical “John Wick” elements: brutal action, impressive images and a hypnotizing soundtrack.

The script was written by Shay Hatten and tells the story of Eve Macarro (played by Ana de Armas), a former ballerina who trains to be an assassin and seeks revenge for her father's death. As part of her training with the Ruska Roma, Eve meets John Wick, who wants to warn her about the violence. But the young woman doesn't let herself be deterred from her goal and takes decisive action against the cult that is responsible for her father's death. In this context, she is introduced to various characters, including her sister Lena and the Chancellor, played by Gabriel Byrne. The return of Ian McShane as Winston Scott and Lance Reddick as Charon, who makes his final screen presence here, provides additional attention. Keanu Reeves himself will not be missing either, which delights fans of the series Wikipedia).

Development and Box Office

The first thoughts on “Ballerina” began back in 2017 when Shay Hatten wrote a spec script. In October 2019, Len Wiseman was signed on as director, and filming took place from November 2022 to January 2023 in scenes in Prague and Budapest. After a few reshoots in February 2024, the film was finally ready for the screen. Despite the hype, “Ballerina” seems to be a little bit out of touch with reality at the box office. The first weekend grossed $24.5 million, which was enough for second place in the box office charts, even if it fell short of the hugely successful “Lilo & Stitch” The Numbers.

In total, “Ballerina” grossed around $101.3 million worldwide by June 25, 2025. Critics seem to be mostly positive about the film, with a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 76 percent and a Metacritic score of 59, indicating mixed to average reviews. Interestingly, the film received a CinemaScore of “A-” from viewers, indicating solid fan acceptance. The production is already planning a sequel starring Ana de Armas, while Wiseman hints that the story is far from being told Wikipedia).

The future of the John Wick universe

“Ballerina” may not be the biggest innovation in the “John Wick” universe, but the film still impresses with its typical style, impressive action sequences and an exciting narrative. Fans of the series can be excited to see how the story of Eve Macarro continues and whether we will soon see more of this fascinating universe. And who knows, maybe “Ballerina” will become a hit in the cinemas after a few initial problems. It is clear to the filmmakers that the way is paved for further adventures in the “John Wick” universe.