Movie Reviews – The John Wick universe is expanding once again, and this time, it’s taking center stage with a fierce new protagonist. “Ballerina,” the highly anticipated spin-off of the acclaimed action franchise, stars Ana de Armas as a deadly assassin seeking revenge. With its blend of ballet-inspired choreography, emotional depth, and bone-crushing combat, Ballerina promises to deliver the same adrenaline-fueled energy that made John Wick a global phenomenon while adding a fresh perspective and a powerful female lead.
As audiences prepare to re-enter this stylish yet brutal underworld, Ballerina stands poised to redefine what a spin-off can be. This film doesn’t merely extend the franchise; it builds upon it, exploring the emotional cost of vengeance and the artistry behind violence.
The John Wick series, launched in 2014, revitalized the modern action genre. With its minimalist storytelling, elegant cinematography, and intricate “gun-fu” choreography, it became a benchmark for how action films could combine style with substance. Starring Keanu Reeves as the legendary hitman forced out of retirement after a personal tragedy, the franchise quickly grew into a cinematic universe.
Now, Ballerina emerges as the first major spin-off to take that universe in a new direction. Set between the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and Chapter 4, the film dives deeper into the secretive underworld of assassins known as The High Table. It focuses on a character first glimpsed briefly in Parabellum: a young dancer at the Ruska Roma, the same shadowy organization that trained John Wick himself.
This connection to Wick’s origin story gives Ballerina both familiarity and intrigue. The film promises to expand on the mythology introduced in the main series particularly the role of the ballet academy, which doubles as an assassin training ground.
At the center of Ballerina is Ana de Armas, whose versatility and charisma have made her one of the most exciting stars in Hollywood today. Known for her breakout performances in Blade Runner 2049, Knives Out, and No Time to Die, de Armas has proven she can handle emotionally layered roles and physically demanding action sequences with equal skill.
In Ballerina, she portrays Rooney, a young assassin trained in ballet and combat who embarks on a mission of vengeance after her family is murdered. While the John Wick films often explored revenge as a catalyst for chaos, Ballerina approaches it through a lens of transformation how pain and loss can shape one’s identity.
De Armas trained extensively for the role, undergoing months of martial arts, weapon handling, and dance conditioning. Her preparation reflects the film’s commitment to realism and precision, hallmarks of the John Wick franchise. Speaking in interviews, de Armas described the training as one of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences of her career, saying that combining the elegance of ballet with the brutality of action choreography pushed her to her limits.
Her portrayal of Rooney is expected to blend physical intensity with emotional vulnerability a combination that gives Ballerina its unique heart.
While the John Wick series has always been about revenge, Ballerina aims to delve deeper into the psychological toll it takes. Rooney’s journey begins after the slaughter of her family, setting her on a path of retribution that forces her to confront her own past as part of the Ruska Roma.
As she hunts down those responsible, she navigates a labyrinth of assassins, criminal overlords, and betrayals within The High Table. Along the way, she uncovers secrets about her family, her training, and the true cost of loyalty in a world ruled by violence.
Thematically, Ballerina explores the duality of art and death how the discipline and grace of dance mirror the precision and rhythm of combat. This poetic contrast sets it apart from traditional action films. Rooney is not just a killer; she’s a performer of death, each movement as deliberate as a pirouette, each strike as elegant as choreography.
The film is expected to intertwine visual beauty with raw brutality, presenting action as a form of dark art.
Fans of the main series will find plenty of familiar faces and references woven throughout Ballerina. Keanu Reeves reprises his role as John Wick in a supporting appearance, bridging the narrative between the main franchise and the spin-off. Reeves reportedly collaborated closely with de Armas and the stunt team to ensure that the film’s tone and fight choreography remain faithful to the original series.
Also returning is Anjelica Huston, who plays The Director, the stern matriarch of the Ruska Roma. Her character, first seen in Parabellum, oversees the ballet academy where assassins are trained through physical discipline and endurance. Huston’s return provides vital continuity, linking Rooney’s story directly to the larger John Wick mythology.
Additionally, Ballerina will feature Ian McShane as Winston, the enigmatic manager of The Continental Hotel, and Lance Reddick, reprising his beloved role as Charon, the hotel’s concierge marking one of Reddick’s final performances before his passing in 2023. Their inclusion reinforces that Ballerina is not a standalone offshoot but an integral chapter within the John Wick timeline.
Ballerina is directed by Len Wiseman, known for his work on the Underworld series and Live Free or Die Hard. Wiseman’s experience blending sleek visuals with high-octane action makes him a fitting choice for a film that must balance artistry with adrenaline.
The screenplay was developed by Shay Hatten, who also co-wrote John Wick: Chapter 3 and Chapter 4. Hatten’s deep understanding of the franchise’s tone ensures that Ballerina feels authentic while exploring new emotional territory.
Chad Stahelski, the creator and director of the John Wick series, serves as a producer and action consultant. His involvement guarantees that the film maintains the signature fight choreography, realistic weapon handling, and immersive world-building that fans expect.
Cinematography, handled by Dan Laustsen (The Shape of Water, John Wick: Chapter 4), promises to elevate the film visually. Expect the same stylized lighting, dynamic framing, and color contrasts that have defined the franchise only this time, infused with the elegance of ballet aesthetics.
One of the most intriguing aspects of Ballerina is how it visually and thematically integrates dance into the mechanics of violence. The training sequences at the ballet academy are expected to echo the discipline of assassins both worlds governed by control, precision, and endurance.
The choreography team has worked to fuse classical ballet movements with combat techniques, resulting in a unique fighting style that’s both graceful and lethal. Imagine pirouettes turning into evasive spins, or leaps transforming into takedowns every movement serves a dual purpose of beauty and destruction.
This approach continues the John Wick tradition of transforming violence into visual poetry. Where Wick’s fights resembled a deadly waltz, Rooney’s are more akin to a dark ballet structured, expressive, and hauntingly beautiful.
At its core, Ballerina is not just an action film but a story of empowerment. Rooney’s journey from victim to avenger mirrors a universal struggle for agency and self-definition. While her vengeance drives the plot, her emotional evolution gives it depth.
The film’s portrayal of a strong, complex female lead stands out in a genre often dominated by male heroes. Ana de Armas’s Rooney is not a side character or love interest she is the center of her own narrative, commanding both physical power and emotional gravity.
In interviews, de Armas has emphasized that the film’s message is about resilience and transformation. “It’s about reclaiming strength through pain,” she explained. “Rooney’s story is violent, but it’s also deeply human. She’s not just fighting others she’s fighting for herself.”
Ballerina represents the next evolution in the John Wick universe. With plans for additional spin-offs and television adaptations (including The Continental prequel series), the franchise is steadily building its own cinematic ecosystem one that rivals major universes like Marvel or Star Wars in scope and ambition.
If successful, Ballerina could pave the way for more standalone stories centered on secondary characters within the world of assassins. It may also explore corners of the franchise that remain mysterious, such as the inner workings of The High Table or the global network of Continental Hotels.
What makes the John Wick universe so enduring is its combination of mythic world-building and personal stakes. Ballerina continues that legacy, proving that every assassin has a story worth telling.
Fans and critics alike are eagerly awaiting Ballerina’s release, viewing it as both a test and an opportunity. Can the franchise succeed without John Wick as the main character? Early indications suggest yes especially with Ana de Armas’s commanding presence and the film’s emotional depth.
Moreover, Ballerina reflects the natural evolution of the action genre itself. Audiences today crave not just spectacle, but storytelling character-driven narratives that combine physicality with feeling. If the John Wick films were operas of vengeance, Ballerina is poised to be a symphony of survival.
As the film’s marketing teases haunting visuals, intricate fight choreography, and a gripping revenge story, it’s clear that Ballerina is not merely riding on the success of its predecessor it’s stepping boldly into its own spotlight.
Ballerina stands at the crossroads of art and action, blending the elegance of ballet with the ferocity of revenge. Ana de Armas’s portrayal of Rooney promises to bring new emotional weight to the John Wick universe, offering a perspective that’s both fierce and deeply personal.
More than a spin-off, the film is a statement that strength can coexist with vulnerability, and beauty can emerge even from violence. Through its graceful yet brutal choreography, Ballerina reminds audiences that revenge is not just about destruction but about reclaiming power, identity, and purpose.
As the curtain rises on this new chapter in the Wick saga, Ballerina invites viewers to witness a dance like no other one choreographed in blood, discipline, and defiance.
