Ana de Armas stars as ballet-trained assassin in John Wick spin-off ‘Ballerina’

In ‘Ballerina’, a spin-off of the John Wick franchise set between the third and fourth films, Ana de Armas stars as Eve Macarro, a ballerina trained from childhood in both classical dance and martial arts. Raised by the Ruska Roma organization after her father’s murder by a cult led by a character known as the Chancellor (Gabriel Byrne), Eve is driven by vengeance. Directed by Len Wiseman and written by franchise veteran Shay Hatten, the film combines stylized violence with the aesthetics of ballet. While the premise plays with the idea of merging grace and brutality, de Armas does not perform actual combat in a tutu, despite the title’s implications. Her performance, following her action role in ‘No Time to Die’, is confident and effective, proving her action credentials. The film features a cameo by Keanu Reeves as John Wick and reintroduces characters like Anjelica Huston’s ‘Director’. Although heavy on stylized combat, the film leans into familiar franchise tropes, with the ballet angle offering thematic flair rather than literal execution. Critics note that while the title might mislead viewers into expecting a more dance-heavy film, ‘Ballerina’ delivers solid action anchored by a compelling female lead.