"From the World of John Wick: Ballerina" New Trailer: Ana de Armas Battles Assassins and John Wick in This New Action-Packed Spinoff
This new 'John Wick' spinoff sees Ana de Armas take on assassins, mobsters, and even John Wick himself in a deadly battle for survival.
It’s funny—John Wick had a concept that, at first glance, seemed like an eye-roll: a retired assassin waging war against the entire Russian mafia because they killed his beloved pooch. Now, we love dogs, but that’s a little extreme, don’t you think?
But lo and behold, John Wick, despite its campy premise, turned out to be a phenomenal action film, tapping into a generation raised on first-person shooter video games and superhero movies. It also reaffirmed Keanu Reeves' status as an action icon, proving once again that few can command the screen like he does—ultimately becoming the face of a global box office franchise.
But after a decade and four adrenaline-fueled chapters, it’s time to look for new blood to take over. After all, Reeves is no spring chicken at 60 (yes, that’s right—he’s 60!), and he’s looking to pass the torch to someone who can carry the franchise forward for the next few years before things start to dissipate.
Well, enter Ana de Armas! Now, she might not have been at the top of our list, but that doesn’t mean she hasn’t impressed us before. There’s no denying the Cuba-born actress has a magnetic and alluring presence onscreen—something she’s put to great use in roles like No Time to Die, Knives Out, and Blade Runner 2049.
But if you look at her Oscar-nominated portrayal of Marilyn Monroe in Netflix’s highly controversial biopic Blonde—a film maligned for its graphic sex scenes and unsettling depiction of the Hollywood icon—Ana de Armas might just be its one saving grace. It’s certainly a performance she poured everything into, delivering a haunting and deeply committed portrayal that, despite the film’s polarizing reception, was undeniably compelling and deserving of the recognition she earned from the Academy.
And to be honest, we initially thought she was the wrong choice to play Marilyn—but after seeing what she did with the role, we’ll gladly defend her performance. That being said, leading a high-octane action franchise is a different beast entirely. But if there’s one thing we’re sure of, it’s that Ana de Armas is more than up for the challenge. And no matter how this new spinoff turns out, we have no doubt she’ll bring something impressive to the role.
And there will be some big shoes to fill, indeed, as De Armas carves out her own space in the John Wick universe as Eve Macarro, a ballerina assassin.
If you remember correctly, John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum introduced the concept of a secret Russian sect of tattooed “ballerinas” who are trained not only in the art of dance but also in the art of killing with pure efficiency.
Esteemed actress Anjelica Huston returns to reprise her role as “The Director,” the formidable leader of this underground organization.
The story is fairly simple: De Armas’s ballerina-assassin, Eve, goes rogue, setting her sights on a well-connected mob boss (played by Hereditary’s Gabriel Byrne) in a bloody quest for vengeance. Her actions lead her to seek sanctuary at the Continental Hotel under the protection of Winston (franchise staple Ian McShane) and Charon (the late Lance Reddick, in his final role). With a bounty now on her head, Eve must fight through a relentless wave of highly skilled assassins, including one played by The Walking Dead’s Norman Reedus.
However, Eve’s biggest challenge may be facing off against John Wick himself (Keanu Reeves), who has been ordered to eliminate her to honor his oath to the Russian underworld.
Just a quick reminder: Ballerina is set between the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 and Chapter 4, filling in some of the franchise’s story gaps.
Co-starring Catalina Sandino Moreno, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, and David Castañeda, From the World of John Wick: Ballerina is directed by action veteran Len Wiseman (Underworld series). The film hits theaters this summer on June 6th.
Watch this new full trailer, above.
