Ever since the first John Wick film came out, fans have been clamoring for more action in its sequels. And true enough, director Chad Stahelski has never disappointed the fans with every movie.
The franchise, now on its fourth movie, continues to wow and leave moviegoers speechless after every film. And this is only proof of why the John Wick cinematic universe continues to expand.
This is why the producers are coming up with a John Wick spinoff called Ballerina. Not to mention, a John Wick video game is said to be in the works.
But going back to the spinoff film, it's unfortunate that Stahelski will only be producing Ballerina. He has given the director's role to Len Wiseman, who is behind the films: Underworld and Underworld: Evolution.
Here's what we know about Ballerina right now.
Ballerina Release Date
The John Wick franchise continues to expand with the new spinoff film, Ballerina. At this time of writing, a release date for Ballerina has not yet been revealed. Production for the film is only expected to begin this month, November 2022. As confirmed by Collider, the film's actors have been spotted in Prague where they are currently shooting.
For now, we'll have to make do with the upcoming John Wick: Chapter 4, which is set to hit theaters on March 24, 2023. There's also a prequel series bound for Peacock in 2023. The prequel series will highlight the famous Continental Hotel and the story behind it.
What Is Ballerina John Wick Spinoff About?
Right now, the official synopsis of Ballerina is not yet available. But as Deadline reveals, Ballerina will follow the same motive that drove John Wick (played by Keanu Reeves) to hunt down the bad guys-- revenge. In Ballerina, we'll be seeing Ana de Armas seek vengeance against those who killed her family.
Looper shared that a screenplay for Ballerina had actually been online since September 2017. The screenplay, written by Shay Hatten, was meant to be a standalone feature before it was adapted into the John Wick franchise in 2020.
ScriptShadow.com reviewed the original screenplay. The original screenplay was about an orphan trained up to be a government assassin. As she grows older, she is employed by a secret government organization. This lands her as an enemy of Sunnyvale, a community situated in the Swiss Alps filled with killers. The lead character decides to visit the community and kill her enemies.
According to Heroic Hollywood revealed that some details of the script were adjusted after getting adapted into the John Wick franchise. The new version shows Rooney Brown working for the Director, the same ballet instructor/crime boss role that Anjelica Huston played in John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum.
The new script also shows that Rooney kills people who she believes really deserve to die. Sunnyvale has also been turned into a "rival organization that slaughtered her family."
Who Will Be In Ballerina Cast?
The biggest news from Ballerina casting is that the spinoff will star Ana de Armas, who recently did a stunning job in the Marilyn Monroe biopic, Blonde.
Keanu Reeves has also been reported to be in Prague right now where the film is shooting. It is not clear if his John Wick role will be a cameo in Ballerina or if it will be a bigger role in the spinoff movie.
Another report revealed that Ian McShane will be reprising his role as The Continental Hotel's manager, Winston. Producer Basil Iwanyk has revealed to Variety magazine that McShane will have a "pivotal role" in Ballerina.
It's also possible that Anjelica Huston will be back in this film since she will be de Armas' boss. However, no confirmation has been made.
While we wait for more information and a trailer from Ballerina, we have John Wick: Chapter 4 to look forward to. Here's a trailer of the film that made its debut at the San Diego Comic Con:
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