John Wick: Chapter 4 director Chad Stahelski breaks down Keanu Reeves' role as John Wick in Ballerina. The spin-off movie will follow a new character played by Ana de Armas who is training under the same tutelage that John Wick did many years ago. Ballerina is set between the third and fourth John Wick movies, and the assassin will make an appearance in the spin-off.
In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant for the digital and home release of John Wick: Chapter 4, Stahelski teased what John Wick's role will be in Ballerina. He revealed that because it is set before John Wick: Chapter 4, Reeves' character and the audience will have almost an inside joke. Stahelski also broke down the dynamic between John Wick and Ana de Armas' character. Check out Stahelski's full quote and interview below:
Chad Stahelski: As far as what you get from John Wick, it's kind of almost an inside joke between the audience and John Wick. We all know where he's going. We all know the route he's been. So when they have their scenes, you kind of get the inside joke, even if Ballerina character doesn't understand. It's a little bit of meta conversation when you go, which is kind of interesting, because we're all in on what John's up to and where he's going. So his philosophy or his point of view, is when someone gives you advice, it's good, but because you haven't lived through the event, yet, you don't have the experience to accept the advice.
I think that's the way to look at it. John's giving advice and tutelage. Maybe even a little bit of advice on how to choose and choose wisely. But until that choice is really put to you that advice doesn't really mean much. So, it's an interesting little dilemma that they've created in it.
How Ballerina Can Fill In Unexpected Gaps In John Wick's World-Building
Ballerina will give audiences new insight into John Wick through Ana de Arams' character. The John Wick franchise has largely explored the titular assassin's past through his relationships rather than flashbacks, and Ballerina can follow this trend. De Armas' character is training at the same ballet academy that John Wick did to become an assassin in this world. This can show what the early days of his life may have looked like.
John Wick's story has been told from his perspective. Although the films have shown antagonists' views on the legendary killer, this has been John Wick's story. Ballerina will be the first story told entirely from a different character's perspective, and with that comes a different interpretation of John Wick. Ballerina can show John Wick through de Arams' character's eyes, either leaning into his infamy or exploring what those new to this world who aren't actively trying to fight him think.
Stahelski sets up an intriguing dynamic between the two characters, with John Wick trying to help de Armas' character, but she's either not willing to listen yet or simply can't understand the lessons he is attempting to impart. The audience knows where John Wick will end up after this adventure, which also gives the filmmakers an opportunity to further set up that final mission or flesh out what he wants to leave behind. Ballerina is an opportunity to truly take a step towards fleshing out the world of John Wick beyond the titular anti-hero while still incorporating him into the story.