Audience members weren’t the only ones dazzled by Ana de Armas as the high-kicking/straight-shootin’ CIA agent Paloma in No Time To Die. Clearly, the femme fatale attracted the attention of a few executives over at Lionsgate, who promptly offered her what could potentially be a full-time gig leading the first John Wick spin-off series starting with Ballerina.
In case you’ve somehow missed the news, the Golden Globe-nominated actress of Blade Runner 2049, Knives Out, and Blonde fame has inherited the role of “Rooney” slash the titular Ballerina – originally portrayed by professional ballet dancer Unity Phelan in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (see: below) – which effectively reunites her with Knock Knock and Exposed co-star Keanu Reeves.
The only additional details we’ve been fed about the character is that she’s no longer in training; a fully-fledged assassin who “seeks revenge against the people who killed her family,” and with that obviously comes a full plate vis-a-vis stunt work.
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“We’ve been in Prague filming for four months. We still have one more month to go. And I’m in pain. You know, my body, my back, everything hurts. I’m complaining, I’m sore, I’m bruised,” Ana de Armas revealed of the ongoing production during her recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
“Bond was fifteen minutes. This is a whole movie, another level. But the other day, Keanu and I were rehearsing our very difficult stunt scene, and this man is just rolling and throwing me and doing crazy stunts. And I’m like — I can’t complain anymore. Because he is doing it! He truly is the best.”
Ana de Armas has been joined by Ian McShane, Lance Reddick, Anjelica Huston, and of course, Keanu Reeves himself, who all reprise their respective roles as Continental Hotel owner Winston Scott, Continental Hotel concierge Charon, “The Director,” and Johnathon “John” Wick / Jardani Jovonovich. Gabriel Byrne, Norman Reedus, and Catalina Sandino Moreno will also make an appearance.
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Ballerina has been directed by Len Wiseman, who you may have encountered via the Underworld series starring Kate Beckinsale, Live Free or Die Hard, as well as the Total Recall remake fronted by Colin Farrell. Wiseman was also attached to the now-cancelled Die Hard sequel/prequel hybrid McClane.
In terms of the screenplay, the story has been written by Shay Hatten, who penned John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, the forthcoming John Wick: Chapter 4 slated for release later this year in March 2023, as well as Zack Snyder’s Army of Thieves. Hatten is also attached to John Wick: Chapter 5, slated for release sometime in 2024/2025. After being personally requested by Ms De Armas herself, thespian-turned-scribe Emerald Fennell (Killing Eve, Promising Young Woman) came on board to contribute in the literary sense.
Franchise director Chad Stahelski, Basil Inwanyk, Erica Lee, Brady Fujikawa, and Chelsea Fujikawa have signed on to producers.
Ballerina, the John Wick spin-off movie, is scheduled to release on June 7, 2024.
