How Ballerina Flips The John Wick Franchise’s Formula Around Detailed By Spinoff Producers

The John Wick spinoff movie Ballerina will seek to flip the existing franchise formula, according to the movie’s producers. The upcoming movie serves as the second spinoff of the Keanu Reeves-led action franchise, centering on Ana de Armas’ Eva Macarro who, with the skills learned from the Ruska Roma assassin’s guild, seeks revenge for the murder of her parents when she was a child. Alongside de Armas, the Ballerina cast includes new and returning John Wick stars, including Norman Reedus, Gabriel Byrne, Ian McShane, Anjelica Huston, Reeves and Lance Reddick in his final role.

With the movie set for a 2025 release, John Wick producer Erica Lee and franchise director Chad Stahelski gave an interview with The Direct, where they discussed how Ballerina will seek to flip the formula established with John Wick, and focus prominently on its female lead. Discussing how the movie will blend genres, whilst also working as something of a story of discovery for the character of Eve Macarro, the duo noted that Eve’s story of venturing further into the world of assassins rather than escape it will be the big difference. Check out the explanation from the two below:

Erica Lee:
Ballerina is really Ana de Armas’ character making her way into the world. John Wick is about getting out, and I think Anna’s character is about getting in. Just alone it being from the female POV, it’s a very different story. The way that Ana created the character, the way that she moves, her action skill set, her background, and all of that really make it a different way.

Chad Stahelski:
We get to explore the world and explore different paths or characters that we just didn’t have time for, as well as the narrative of John Wick. You gotta remember John Wick was done one at a time. We didn’t have a battle plan. We didn’t have the Marvel 10-year plan. We were just going to get through the first one, and then we’re done. Yeah, there was no hope of anything. So, every time we finished, when we had to go back to the drawing board and see if we could link it together.

Ballerina was actually part of a little bit of a plan. So, you get to see a different character, a different world, what the Ruska Roma is. I hope you’ll pick up little hints of mythology that fill in some of the questions in the first two or three of John Wick’s books. And you get to see different characters explore two different ends of the world that we didn’t explain… It’s another great wrapping to do cool action… If you’re a martial arts action genre freak, then hopefully, this will scratch your edge.

The Movie Could Launch Its Own Series

These comments should come as a positive for fans of the franchise, as Lee and Stahelski suggest that Ballerina will respect its source material, and feed into the overarching John Wick mythology in many ways, whilst still being able to function as its own movie. This is the perfect way of approaching a spinoff, as it allows audiences who have not seen a single one of the John Wick movies a window into that world, but they can do it through an entirely new and unique character.

Furthermore, the rise of female action movie stars making their mark on streaming platforms, and in theaters, has grown in recent times, and there is every reason to be optimistic about the success that Ballerina could have. As the first theatrical spinoff of John Wick, the movie has the pressure of determining whether or not the franchise can continue in some form or another, but a departure from the constraints of formula and fan expectation is bound to help make it more accessible.

Our Take On Whether Ballerina Will Be A Success

The Success That Has Come Before It Puts The Film In A Great Position

Ballerina has all the elements in place to be a successful addition to the John Wick franchise. The movie is anchored by a strong lead actor, and a supporting cast of new characters, combined with those well-known in the franchise. I also think that the addition of seasoned action director Len Wiseman behind the camera will go a long way to developing strong set pieces, and making Ballerina a thrilling spectacle, worthy of a theatrical run.

Source: The Direct