Keanu Reeves is officially hyped for Ballerina, and he wants everyone to know Ana de Armas absolutely nailed it. The John Wick star makes a brief return as the legendary hitman in the upcoming spin-off but says he’s more excited for people to see Ana’s performance than his own. Reeves, now 60, gushed about the project during a screening of the Wick is Pain documentary in Santa Monica, saying it was “really cool” to step back into the suit, even if it was just for eight days of filming.
“I’ve worked with Ana a couple of times, and she’s a wonderful artist,” he said. “She committed to the action. I just had, like, eight days on it, but it was fun to play the role again, and I’m excited for people to see the film. It’s in the spirit of John Wick and has new characters and opens up some stuff, so hopefully people like it.”
Ana de Armas plays Eve Macarro, a ballerina-turned-assassin who brings a whole new flavor to the Wick universe. The film drops on June 6, and Reeves believes it fits perfectly within the brutal, stylish world that made the original franchise such a hit. And let’s not forget, Keanu’s been leading the Wick saga for over a decade. Reflecting on his journey, he called it “a special thing to have something you love chronicled in such a way. It’s kind of like a picture book. I mean, it’s like 10 years of our lives, and it changed our lives for the better, personally and creatively.”
Ana’s dedication to Ballerina is no joke either. Speaking on stage at Caesars Palace during CinemaCon in Vegas, she admitted the training for this film was on another level. “For Bond, I only had three weeks of training. Ballerina was a whole other level. This is by far the most physical and challenging thing I’ve ever done.” Fans at the event got to watch an intense clip of her character throwing down in an abandoned bar, shooting one guy and smashing a plate over another’s head. Yeah, definitely not your average dance recital.
And this is just the beginning. Along with Ballerina, Lionsgate recently announced a fifth John Wick movie, plus an animated prequel and a standalone feature focusing on Donnie Yen’s blind assassin, Caine. The Wick universe is expanding fast, and Ballerina is kicking down the door first.
Keanu Reeves, who is globally acclaimed as John Wick, spoke about the new film Ballerina featuring Ana de Armas. From the World of John Wick: Ballerina is going to depict Armas as former dancer-turned-assassin named Eve Macarro. The 60-year-old is currently promoting his new documentary film Wick is Pain, where he talked about the upcoming movie starring the 37-year-old actress.
Reeves opened that he found it really cool to work on the project for a short period of time. While speaking at the Wick is Pain screening in Santa Monica, he said, "It was really cool to have a chance to put the suit on", he said, while adding, "I’ve worked with Ana a couple of times and she’s a wonderful artist, and she committed to the action." The Matrix actor continued, "I just had like eight days on it, but it was fun to play the role again and I’m excited for people to see the film. It’s in the spirit of 'John Wick' and has new characters and opens up some stuff, so hopefully people like it."
Ballerina serves as a spin-off set between John Wick 3 and 4. It is set to release on June 6, 2025. The excitement surrounding this film is palpable, especially with Reeves and de Armas at the helm.
As the film industry continues to evolve, the expansion of the John Wick universe through Ballerina and the forthcoming projects indicates a robust interest in action narratives that blend unique character arcs with adrenaline-pumping sequences. Fans of the franchise are eagerly awaiting the chance to see how the new storylines unfold and how they intertwine with the established lore of the John Wick saga.
Overall, the buzz surrounding Ballerina showcases not just the talent of its cast but also the enduring appeal of the John Wick franchise. With Reeves’ endorsement and Ana de Armas’ commitment to her role, this film is poised to make a significant impact in the action genre. As the release date approaches, anticipation builds, and fans are left wondering just how this new entry will redefine the boundaries of the Wick universe.
