From the World of John Wick: Ballerina’s Ana de Armas details how her character differs from John Wick.Ballerinais aJohn Wickspinoff that follows a female assassin, Eve Macarro, who seeks revenge for her father’s death. WhileJohn Wickhas previously had a spinoff television series withThe Continental,Ballerinawill be the first feature film spinoff within the franchise, which has thus far included four films.Ballerinafeatures a leading castincluding de Armas in the lead role and Keanu Reeves returning as John Wick, with a supporting cast that includes Norman Reedus, Ian McShane, and Anjelica Houston.
In an interview withCollider, de Armas explains how herBallerinalead stands out from John Wick. The actor began by noting the similarities betweenBallerinaand the rest of theJohn Wickfranchise, saying that “there are some trademarksin the style of the fights in John Wick.” She maintains, however, thatBallerinais completely from Eve’s perspective, demonstrating “the background of that training that John had.” She stated clearly “Eve Macarro is Eve Macarro. She’s not John Wick.” Check out the full quote from de Armas below:
“I think there are some trademarks in the style of the fights in John Wick, and things that he does that are very particular to him. But because in this movie we’re seeing through Eve’s eyes the background of that training that John had, and how these assassins and ballerinas, how these people become these assassins, there are some little details that are the same, but Eve Macarro is Eve Macarro. She’s not John Wick.”
What This Means For Ballerina
Ballerina Will Be Different From John Wick
De Armas' statement about Eve Macarro could have major implications for theJohn Wickspinoff film. Based on theBallerinatrailerand early publicity, it is easy to assume that the film is simply a female version ofJohn Wick. If Eve is completely distinct from John, however, this will not be the case. This differentiation could be a welcome shift for some, who might be worried aboutBallerinalacking originality.
It seems like the biggest overlap betweenBallerinaand the rest of theJohn Wickfranchiseis its style. The choreography is sure to change without Chad Stahelski at the helm, which infused the kind of gun-fu-style fighting that is part of what made theJohn Wickmovies so iconic and successful. TheBallerinalead mentions that there are some “trademarks in the style of the fights” in the rest of the franchise, indicating thatBallerinatries to carry over some key stylistic elements.
Our Take On The Ballerina / John Wick Similarities
Ballerina Should Still Try To Be Somewhat Similar
Historically, female assassin films have not done great at the box office (take, for example, the pre-COVID 2020 flopThe Rhythm Section). Even as aJohn Wickfilm,Ballerina’s success could be hindered by this unfortunate pattern. As Eve strays away from John’s leading man attitude, it will be interesting to see whetherBallerina’s differences help or hinder the film. It is good not to repeat the past, but standing out too much fromJohn Wickcould result in losing franchise fans.
From the World of John Wick: Ballerina
Cast
Ballerina follows Eve Macarro during the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, as she undergoes rigorous training in the assassin traditions of the Ruska Roma. The film expands on the John Wick universe, charting Eve’s initiation into the clandestine world of professional assassins.
