The John Wick franchise is expanding with a new spinoff film that was announced a few years ago titled Ballerina. The story for this film will focus on the ballerina school run by Anjelica Huston, which was introduced in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum.
Thanks to franchise director Chad Stahelski, we have some new details to share with you for the film, which will be on par with the franchise’s badass fight and action sequences. The movie is being directed by Len Wiseman.
Ballerina is described as having a similar vibe to La Femme Nikita, and little is known about the story other than it centers on a young woman raised as an assassin who must hunt down the other assassins that murdered her family. During an interview with THR, Stahelski offered the following info:
“Having him [Ballerina director Len Wiseman] on board and approaching some of the action design from a slightly different perspective, meaning the set pieces, the character involvement, how and what he wants to do during the action sequences, makes it kind of fresh. So, we’re not just copying ourselves over and over again with gun-fu or something like that. And because the character is different, we’re going to get a different take on things. But as far as the level, the competence or the style of action? Yes. I plan to be there to assist whenever I can. And our 87eleven stunt team will be very actively involved in helping Len in all his action needs.”
According to Stahelski, Wiseman was the one who initially pitched the idea of a spinoff featuring the assassin ballerinas, and he thinks that the director is going to deliver a great movie.
“He had a take that he wanted to pitch to Basil about how Ballerina fit into the John Wick world and how he could really spin it and put his taste on it. So, Basil and Thunder Road heard the pitch, and they wanted me to hear it. So, I went to dinner with Len, and he pitched me on his ideas and what he wanted to do with it. I already think he’s a really good director, and I think he gets the tone. I think he understands action, and I think he’s got a good visual style. And right off the bat, I was like, ‘Oh, we’ve got to get this guy. He gets it.'”
Ballerina has yet to set a release date, but I love the concept of assassin ballerinas, and I’m excited to see what this film ends up being. John Wick: Chapter 4 is now set for release on May 7, 2022. There’s also a spinoff series in development at Starz titled The Continental for fans to look forward to.