Ballerina: Designing Ana De Armas' Entrance into the John Wick Universe

      Director Len Wiseman views Ballerina as nearly the opposite of John Wick: Ana de Armas’ character, Eve, enters the John Wick assassin universe as an aspiring hitwoman, working her way up the Ruska Roma ranks to gain the skills needed to avenge her father's murder.

      “There are many stories and characters about assassins trying to escape that life, but this one features a character seeking to enter that world,” Wiseman states, an action filmmaker returning to cinema after years in television.

      “I found that aspect intriguing because it raises the question: what motivates someone to decide, ‘I want to be an assassin and a killer?’”

      The last film Wiseman directed was the 2012 remake of Total Recall, but he is most recognized for his work in the Underworld franchise and for directing one of the better Die Hard sequels, Live Free or Die Hard.

      Ana de Armas and director Len Wiseman on the set of Ballerina. Photo by Larry D. Horricks. Courtesy of Lionsgate.

      “Film is my passion,” he tells MovieMaker, though he has spent the last decade in television, primarily because he is “extremely selective.” He co-created Sleepy Hollow, which aired from 2013-17 on Fox, and served as executive producer on shows like APB, Lucifer, The Gifted, and Swamp Thing.

      “And then Ballerina came to my attention,” he elaborates. “It’s the type of film I would want to see on its opening weekend, and I always aim to direct movies that I would be excited to watch on that day.

      “From the John Wick side, it offers a glimpse into the world. The Ruska Roma is where John Wick trained, so while we witness Eve’s journey, we can envision what John Wick experienced during his rise.”

      Wick seemingly died at the conclusion of John Wick: Chapter 4 last summer, but Ballerina is set within the timeline of Chapter 3 – Parabellum, keeping Reeves’ character relevant. (Additionally, the fact that a John Wick: Chapter 5 is in development implies that perhaps death hasn’t entirely interrupted his narrative.)

      While the Ballerina trailers emphasize de Armas, they also hint at the return of beloved franchise characters: Ian McShane reprises his role as Continental manager Winston, along with his trusted concierge Charon, portrayed by the late Lance Reddick in one of his last performances.

      Anjelica Huston also returns as the Director of the Ruska Roma’s academy for gifted criminals. This time, she plays a more significant role as Wiseman explores the secret society of assassins further.

      The familiar faces and overlapping storylines enable Ballerina to skillfully navigate the terrain between spinoff, sequel, prequel, and origin story, which seems destined to propel the franchise forward — even if Wick is, supposedly, resting peacefully beneath a gravestone marked “Loving Husband.”

      John Wick Producers Discuss Ballerina

      Ana de Armas as Eve and Keanu Reeves as John Wick in Ballerina. Courtesy of Lionsgate.

      Whatever lies ahead for Wick, franchise producer Erica Lee and her Thunder Road Films partner, Basil Iwanyk, are confident that their latest killer will resonate with audiences.

      He mentions that the film brings together Wick and de Armas, who first appeared together in Eli Roth’s 2015 horror thriller Knock Knock.

      “The first time I saw Ana was in Knock Knock with Keanu, which he shot right after John Wick. I remember thinking, ‘Wow, she’s really intriguing.’ There’s something about her that’s just cool and edgy, setting her apart from many others I’ve seen,” Iwanyk shares.

      “I believe she has a remarkable ability to shift between softness and vulnerability while also exuding brutality, action, and intensity.”

      Lee adds: “We didn’t want to create a cold heroine or a character that felt like a male role simply gender-swapped. We aimed for [the character] to feel distinctly feminine, and I think Len inherently understood how to achieve that.”

      Ballerina began as an unrelated spec script by Shay Hatten, whose agent submitted it to Thunder Road seven years ago. The producers brought it to Lionsgate to integrate into the Wick universe, eventually hiring Hatten to work on the screenplays for Parabellum and Chapter 4. Wiseman joined the project four years ago to guide its development.

      “I’ve always admired him,” Iwanyk notes. “What excited us was our meeting with him and his perspective, because when collaborating on a film within an established universe, it’s common for new directors to want to completely alter things.

      “Len arrived with a clear vision, expressing love for the franchise and identifying what needed continuation, as well as what he would approach differently. He had a firm grasp of the material and who Eve was.”

      Ana de Armas as Eve in Ballerina. Photo by Larry