Get ready for a new kind of assassin — one who moves with the grace of a dancer and the lethality of a Wick. Ballerina, the first official spinoff of the John Wick universe, is poised to expand the franchise’s brutal, neon-lit world with a fresh protagonist at its center. Starring Ana de Armas as a young assassin raised and trained by the infamous Ruska Roma syndicate, the film promises the same stylized action, rich lore, and emotional stakes that have made the John Wick series an international phenomenon.
Ana de Armas: The Next Great Action Star?
Known for her roles in No Time to Die, Knives Out, and Blonde, Ana de Armas is no stranger to complex characters or high-intensity roles — but Ballerina may be her most physical performance yet. She plays Rooney, a ballerina-turned-killer who hunts down the people responsible for murdering her family. Trained in the same merciless traditions that shaped John Wick himself, Rooney’s path to vengeance is set to be bloody, balletic, and deeply personal.
With de Armas already praised for her fierce presence in past action-heavy roles, fans are eagerly awaiting to see how she carves her own legacy in a franchise built on precision, pain, and poetic violence.
The Legacy of John Wick Lives On
John Wick: Chapter 4 left a high bar to clear — both critically and commercially. The film became the highest-grossing entry in the franchise, raking in over $430 million globally and earning a stellar 95% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences were captivated by its bold storytelling, kinetic choreography, and Keanu Reeves’ soulful performance.
Now, Ballerina steps into that spotlight — not to replace Wick, but to build on his legacy.
Returning Faces and Familiar Forces
While Ballerina shifts focus to a new lead, it’s still deeply embedded in the Wick-verse. Keanu Reeves returns as John Wick, likely serving as both a mentor and mysterious force in Rooney’s journey. Other returning characters include:
- Anjelica Huston as The Director, head of the Ruska Roma and master of deadly discipline.
- Ian McShane as Winston, the enigmatic manager of the Continental Hotel.
- The late Lance Reddick in one of his final performances as Charon, the Continental’s beloved concierge.
- Gabriel Byrne, Catalina Sandino Moreno, and Norman Reedus round out a powerhouse supporting cast — each bringing their own edge to this underground world of killers, codes, and consequences.
Expanding the World, Deepening the Mythology
Ballerina isn’t just an action flick — it’s another window into the secretive societies and sacred traditions of the John Wick universe. Audiences will return to the Ruska Roma’s haunting ballet theater — a training ground that mixes classical performance with combat readiness — and dive deeper into the inner workings of assassin culture. Expect brutal elegance, intense world-building, and the kind of visual storytelling that turns violence into art.
As Ballerina pirouettes toward its theatrical debut (June 6, 2025), it stands as a bold experiment — a female-led action spectacle that honors its roots while forging a new path forward. With Ana de Armas leading the charge and Reeves passing the torch (perhaps literally), the Wick universe is proving that it has plenty of stories left to tell.
Whether you are here for the action, the characters, or the lore, one thing is certain: Ballerina is not just a spinoff — it’s a statement.
