Ballerina is an upcoming American action thriller film directed by Len Wiseman from a screenplay by Shay Hatten and Emerald Fennell, based on a story by Hatten. It is the first spin-off of the John Wick franchise and is set between the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019) and John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023). It stars Ana de Armas, Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, Lance Reddick, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Norman Reedus, Ian McShane, and Keanu Reeves. In the film, ballerina assassin Rooney (Armas) hunts down those who killed her family.
Lionsgate acquired Hatten’s spec script for the film in 2017, leading to him contributing to the final Parabellum script and later serving as head writer for Chapter 4. In October 2019, Wiseman was hired as director, with franchise director Chad Stahelski confirmed as director/producer by May 2020. Ballerina was officially announced in April 2022, with de Armas confirmed to replace Unity Phelan, who portrayed the character in Parabellum, in the title role; by November of that year, the remainder of the main cast was complete. Principal photography began shortly after, taking place in Prague. The film is scheduled for release on June 7, 2024.
