The world of John Wick is increasing with the newly launched spinoff movie Ballerina, which follows Ana de Armas’ Eve Macarro as she embarks on a revenge-fueled path. Whereas the 2025 film launch is unquestionably Eve’s movie it additionally options the Baba Yaga himself, performed by the returning Keanu Reeves. As a lot as excited as some followers might have been to see Reeves reprise his well-known position, although fellow franchise veteran Chad Stahelski actually didn’t need him to return. In order that begs the query of why it occurred regardless.
Having directed all 4 of the John Wick movies and served as a producer on the collection as properly, Chad Stahelski is aware of quite a lot of issues about this beloved IP. So, at this level, he’s undoubtedly not shy about voicing his opinion in terms of particulars he’s not too keen on. The Ballerina producer spoke to THR, throughout which he confirmed that he wasn’t eager on Wick himself popping up on this newest story. Whereas Stahelski didn’t dive deep into his reasoning, he was “trustworthy” in admitting the advantage of having the character within the combine:
That wasn’t within the unique script. To be trustworthy, I used to be sort of towards it. However I do see the profit and we needed to assist out [director Len Wiseman]. We had simply opened John Wick 4 and it was enormous. He couldn’t return to the mannequin of the primary John Wick and perform a little $18 million indie factor and attempt to construct it up. So as to keep in the identical recreation, you bought to offer him a preventing probability. And the best option to switch that over — not less than, from the studio perspective — was have Wick in Ballerina in a particular timeline.
Total, that logic is comprehensible, contemplating that Lionsgate is making an attempt to prop up a brand new character, Eve, with this newest movie. So it might make sense for the execs and filmmakers to attempt to give the spinoff a bump by having Wick play a supporting position. I’m unsure what the producer’s precise concern was in regard to including Wick to the story. Perhaps he was anxious that having the notorious murderer pop in may take the shine away from Eve. That will be a real concern, however I’d argue that Wick doesn’t step on Eve’s toes an excessive amount of.
Ballerina might muck up John Wick’s timeline a bit, however it’s laborious to disclaim the sheer awesomeness that outcomes from the movie’s chronological placement. With out getting too particular, Wick exhibits up a couple of occasions within the movie, along with his preliminary look being a part of a extra private scene. After all, because the trailers and TV spots have teased, he and Eve come to blows in a giant method, and the sequence makes the film tickets properly well worth the value of admission.
Nevertheless, followers ought to know that simply because Keanu Reeves reprised his position for this newest spinoff, it doesn’t essentially imply he’ll return in different offshoots. Chad Stahelski went on to verify to THR that Reeves is not going to seem within the movie centered on Donnie Yen’s Caine. Stahelski went on to elucidate why he’s not anxious about having the franchise’s signature character seem in that flick:
The Donny Yen spinoff doesn’t have the John Wick character. It’s obtained Donny Yen and it’s an ode to kung fu films. If John Wick 1 was about Charles Bronson and Lee Marvin, that is about Chow Yun-fat, John Woo and Wong Kar-wai. So I believe that one is just a little simpler to get it throughout to audiences as a result of it’s in a sub-genre of what we love.
Regardless of that, there’s excellent news for individuals who are hoping to see Wick seem as soon as extra. John Wick: Chapter 5 was formally introduced earlier this 12 months and, whereas Chad Stahelski says it will not be fully set in stone, he believes Lionsgate goes to “will it into existence.” I stay up for seeing extra of the character however stay hopeful that different characters, like Eve and Caine, can carve out their very own paths alone as properly. For now, take a look at Ballerina in theaters, and be looking out for upcoming motion films.