Ana de Armas’ John Wick spinoff film Ballerina is set to begin filming soon, as anticipation for the next major edition of the franchise rises. The story will revolve around the titular young woman, who wishes to exact revenge on the hitmen who murdered her family. The Ballerina world was first introduced in John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum by Anjelica Huston’s The Director, the head of the Ruska Roma crime organization who also runs a ballerina show and assists Keanu Reeves’ character in escaping the dangers of New York in order to reach the Elder in Casablanca.
According to IndieWire, Lionsgate and the producers of the John Wick trilogy are aiming to create a AAA game based on Keanu Reeves’ character. The report included a preview of what’s to come from its future, including Ana de Armas’ spinoff film Ballerina from director & co-writer Len Wiseman. According to the rumor, the John Wick spinoff will begin filming next week.
Could Ballerina be released in theaters before John Wick 5?
After two years in production, Ballerina has gained traction in recent years, with Underworld director and co-creator Len Wiseman signed on to helm the John Wick spinoff, and de Armas confirmed to star earlier this year. Production was supposed to begin this summer, but it was secretly pushed back until the fall, with no explanation provided. However, it was recently announced that de Armas had chosen to hire a female writer for Ballerina to assist to Wiseman and former John Wick writer Shay Hatten’s initial script, landing on Talented Young Woman’s Emerald Fennell.
With Ballerina’s filming schedule reported to begin next week, it will be fascinating to see if Lionsgate reveals a release date for the John Wick spinoff film anytime soon. In the past, the Reeves-led films have seen production run for a few months before hitting theaters an estimated 5-6 months later, with the exception of the upcoming John Wick: Chapter 4, which has been delayed several times due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and competition with Top Gun: Maverick. If Ballerina follows in the footsteps of its predecessors, it might hit theaters as early as Fall 2023.
The concern then becomes if Lionsgate is willing to take a chance on two John Wick-based films releasing in the same year. Given that Fall 2023 already has a full slate of tentpole releases ranging from Dune: Part Two to Kraven the Hunter, as well as Lionsgate’s own The Expendables 4 and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, it appears more likely that Ballerina will arrive in early 2024. However, with the prospective John Wick: Chapter 5 still in limbo, Ana de Armas’ spinoff will indeed least keep audiences hooked in the action brand following the March 2023 release of John Wick: Chapter 4.
Source: IndieWire