Ana de Armas: The Perfect Choice to Revive the John Wick Franchise!

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The movie titled “Ballerina” has been released and, just like John Wick, it embodies the essence that made the original series a hit, spawning a profitable franchise. This spin-off features a main character who is as stoic as they come yet brimming with revenge, intense and agile fight scenes, and an intriguing subterranean realm populated by highly skilled and fiercely competitive assassins, sometimes illuminated by neon lights. In essence, “Ballerina” aims to emulate the success of the disappointing miniseries “The Continental.” Interestingly, the storyline slows down only when the character from the original series appears, thankfully a rare occurrence. (No disrespect meant, Mr. Wick.)

Essentially, Ballerina and Eve Macarro are characters who don’t rely on John Wick for their appeal. With the captivating performance of Ana de Armas, both women possess an equal amount of charm as Keanu Reeves’ character, John Wick.

Spoilers for Ballerina Follow.

The Future of John Wick Doesn’t Even Really Need John Wick

What’s next for the John Wick series? While it may seem uncertain, there is actually a clear path ahead. Although John met his end at the close of John Wick: Chapter 4, director Chad Stahelski has confirmed that John Wick: Chapter 5 is indeed in development, and this was announced at CinemaCon in April 2025. However, if the primary character’s journey has concluded, it would make perfect sense for the franchise to explore new territories, as evidenced by the success of Ballerina, which demonstrates that the John Wick universe can thrive beyond its main character.

The ballerina’s story shares a similar ending as ‘John Wick: Chapter 2’. In her wake, Macarro has left a trail of bloodshed. One of the injured, battered individuals is the Chancellor (Gabriel Byrne), whose life is not one that can be taken lightly without facing the repercussions. A bounty has been placed on her head, much like Wick encountered in ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum’ (and indeed, throughout the other films, but particularly in ‘Parabellum’). This means she will now have to confront numerous skilled assassins, eager for their reward and a boost in reputation.

The key elements that make a “Wick” film successful have been identified, and these elements can be effectively utilized even without John Wick himself. We’ve come to appreciate Macarro just as we grew fond of John Wick when he lost his dog. We don’t want to see her meet her end, but we understand that the situation will only intensify. This momentum is sufficient for two more “Ballerina” sequels, and these sequels would maintain the “Wick” brand both in people’s minds and generally relevant, given a change in the storyline from taking out the High Table to something else, which is inevitable.

As a movie enthusiast, I’d say it’s unlikely that Ballerina will rake in as much money as John Wick: Chapter 4. The reason being, Ballerina is a soft reboot while Chapter 4 served as the climactic conclusion to an established storyline. However, given its quality and potential appeal, I believe it will certainly be profitable. And since it’s good, it will undoubtedly have more admirers than critics. In essence, Ballerina could work as a standalone film while also passing the baton to something new, much like Captain America: Civil War functioned as The Avengers 2.5. It was a significant step in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, particularly marking the initiation of Tony Stark’s torch being passed to Peter Parker. Although we mourn the loss of Stark, it’s a little less painful because we still have Parker.

The movie titled “Ballerina” takes place during the time period between “Parabellum” and “Chapter 4,” making it essentially “John Wick: Chapter 3.5.” Therefore, we can continue developing our new main assassin character without requiring John Wick to reappear or headline another film from beyond the grave. Since John Wick’s story arc was so masterfully concluded, it would almost be disrespectful to try and prolong it for additional content. John Wick successfully avenged his dog and defeated Marquis Vincent Bisset de Gramont of the High Table, making it appropriate for him to find peace.

Of course, Reeves’ shoes are quite large to step into, but De Armas has shown she’s more than capable. However, she doesn’t need to carry this burden alone. Donnie Yen‘s character, Caine, can assist in this endeavor as he prepares for a spin-off movie. This seems to be the optimal route for the John Wick franchise, considering its extensive development of a captivating universe over four films. The world created is rich and diverse, offering numerous paths for exploration. No world belongs solely to one person, and it should reflect this diversity.

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2025-06-07 17:10