It has already been 8 months since we’ve last heard an update on Lionsgate’s first John Wick spinoff film titled Ballerina, and now producer Chad Stahelski has finally opened up about the female-led project, confirming that the Len Wiseman-directed film will feature a different kind of action design from the first three John Wick films. Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Stahelski also noted that despite having a new action design, the film will still have the high-level intensity of action that fans have come to love about the franchise.
“Having him 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.” Stahelski said. “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.”
He also revealed Wiseman and Shay Hatten are still developing the script for the film. “So, right now, I know that him and Shay are developing Ballerina. I’m not exactly sure what stage it’s at, but it’s something I know that both Lionsgate, Thunder Road and myself would like to see happen sooner rather than later. And from what I’ve heard recently, they’ve got a good angle on it and they’re actively developing.”
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Ballerina focuses on a young female assassin who seeks revenge against the people who killed her family. Shay Hatten (Army of the Dead, John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum) wrote the script. The movie will be overseen by James Myers for Lionsgate. Recently, reports have also been circulating that Kick-Ass actress Chloe Grace Moretz is being reportedly eyed by the studio for the titular role.
The spinoff is produced by Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee, Keanu Reeves, and Chad Stahelski. In John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, John (Keanu Reeves) comes across what could be the titular ballerina, or, at least, where the new character likely comes from.
Lionsgate is developing John Wick 4, which is scheduled to arrive in theaters on May 27, 2022. There is also a television spinoff prequel series in the works from Starz, titled The Continental.
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The original John Wick, directed by David Leitch and Chad Stahelski, hit theaters 2014 and found an immediate fanbase. A first sequel, John Wick: Chapter Two, hit theaters in 2017. In it, John Wick (Keanu Reeves) is forced back out of retirement by a former associate plotting to seize control of a shadowy international assassins’ guild. Bound by a blood oath to help him, John travels to Rome where he squares off against some of the world’s deadliest killers. John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum released earlier this year and followed John going on the run as he’s being hunted for a global $14 million dollar open contract on his life and for breaking a central rule: taking a life on Continental Hotel grounds. The movie earned more than $323 million at the worldwide box office.
