Ballerina director Len Wiseman clarifies the misconceptions which have circulated in regards to the movie’s reshoots and precisely how in depth they had been. Ballerina is the most recent entry within the John Wick franchise, with Underworld director Len Wiseman stepping in as director from franchise mainstay Chad Stahelski. Round 2024, it was reported that Ballerina was present process quite a few reshoots after disappointment amongst Lionsgate executives that it was not residing as much as the franchise’s potential and that Stahelski had been introduced in to supervise them.
Wiseman spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about how Ballerina didn’t have reshoots. As an alternative, they filmed extra scenes they initially needed to minimize attributable to funds considerations after Lionsgate noticed a draft of the movie. Wiseman feedback on each him and John Wick director Chad Stahelski’s frustration with how the extra pictures was reported within the media, which became an even bigger story than it was. Wiseman mentioned:
“We [Wiseman and Stahelski] had been each pissed off about it. It’s a extremely irritating factor [to hear such claims], and it occurs extra right this moment than it did again within the day. There was extra taking pictures as a result of the studio beloved the film. We needed to take out some scenes from the script initially as a result of we simply didn’t have the assets or the schedule. [Lionsgate] then actually believed within the [early cut of the] film after we put it collectively, so it was an thrilling alternative to return and add extra to the movie. However when the press hears about that and the reviews grow to be no matter they’re, it at all times has a unfavourable connotation. However I’m simply so glad that we had been ready to return.”
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Why Followers Typically Mistake Reshoots and Extra Images
This is not the primary time that Wiseman has downplayed the severity of the rumors. In November 2024, Wiseman beforehand clarified it was not reshoots however extra pictures added to the movie. Regardless of this, the narrative held that Stahelski was introduced in to “save” Ballerina. But the most important piece of additional footage wasn’t one of many movie’s much-talked-about climactic motion scenes however the opening sequence. Wiseman instructed the Hollywood Reporter:
“For example, it was actually essential to me that we confirmed Ana’s character as a bit woman, and we didn’t have that opening earlier than [additional photography]. It was within the script, however we simply didn’t have the time and the schedule and all the things wanted to try this. In order that was one of many scenes that we went again to do, and I used to be completely thrilled that the studio was so supportive of us going again to get what we needed.”
In recent times, reshoots and extra pictures have grow to be synonyms. Whereas extra pictures and reshoots are extra in depth than pick-ups, the 2 serve totally different functions. Extra pictures is often carried out so as to add scenes after an edit as a substitute of remodeling current scenes. Typically extra pictures is ordered as a result of the studio is assured within the undertaking and desires to speculate more cash to enhance it, as with Ballerina. There are instances of movies with new administrators coming in to remodel current movies and reshoot main segments of the movie, notably Tony Gilroy being introduced in to supervise Rogue One or Joss Whedon on Justice League, however these are exceptions.
Now that the completed film is out and getting optimistic opinions, a lot of the reward has been positioned on Stahelski somewhat than Wiseman. That is regardless of the clear distinction between what footage Stahelski seemingly oversaw within the extra pictures interval he reportedly got here on and what was in Wiseman’s authentic minimize. Followers have latched onto a story they need, as a result of it’s simpler to consider that John Wick wanted Stahelski to put it aside somewhat than accepting the director of the remake of Complete Recall might make a film like Ballerina.
Supply: The Hollywood Reporter