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Keanu Reeves insists he hasn’t paid attention to how many people have been killed in the “John Wick” franchise.

“John’s just focused on one thing at a time,” Reeves told me at the “Ballerina” premiere on Tuesday. “He doesn’t look at that. He’s just trying to survive.”

But Chad Stahelski, who directed the first four “John Wick” movies and oversees the franchise across all media for Lionsgate, has a hunch at the franchise’s body count. “I would like to think we cracked a thousand,” he said. “I think we’re probably right around there.”

Stahelski also gave an update on the fifth “John Wick” movie.

“That’s a good question,” he said when I asked about a possible shooting start date. “Still working on it. It’s all about time for us. When everything feels right and we’ve really seen the movie in our heads,...

Keanu Reeves’ appearance in Ballerina may not be a secret, but it was something John Wick director Chad Stahelski was initially opposed to.

“[Wick’s appearance] wasn’t in the original script,” Stahelski told THR. “To be honest, I was kind of against it. But I do see the benefit and we wanted to help out [director Len Wiseman]. We had just opened John Wick 4 and it was huge. He couldn’t go back to the model of the first John Wick and do a little $18 million indie thing and try to build it up. In order to stay in the same game, you got to give him a fighting chance. And the easiest way to transfer that over — at least, from the studio point of view — was have Wick in Ballerina in a special timeline.“

It sounds like Stahelski would have preferred if Ballerina stood alone, but understood that an appearance from...

After four successful John Wick movies under the direction of Chad Stahelski, a change of director seems like a logical move to potentially give the film franchise a fresh perspective. But attaching Len Wiseman onboard for Ballerina – officially titled From the World of John Wick: Ballerina – doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. Although he did well in the first two stylish B-movie action horror in Underworld and Underworld: Evolution, his subsequent transition to big-budget studio pictures including Live Free or Die Hard a.k.a. Die Hard 4.0 and Total Recall reboot were basically all style but little substance.

It didn’t help either when Ballerina was plagued by reshoots and a delay on its release, originally due last June but pushed back for a full year. Still, whatever that’s been going on behind the scenes, I remain hopeful for Ballerina to emerge as a worthy addition to the John Wick franchise.

Ballerina is finally hitting screens this weekend and our Editor-in-Chief, Chris Bumbray, was happy to report that despite a delay for lengthy reshoots, the film is still a lot of fun. He says in his review, “Ballerina is one of the more satisfying franchise spin-offs in recent memory. In this era of IP, every studio is desperate to max out the potential sequels and spinoffs their key franchises can handle, and Lionsgate has a whole slew planned around the John Wick franchise. Yet, what makes Ballerina different is that this doesn’t feel like much of a derivative of the franchise.”

Ballerina joins The Continental in attempting to expand the John Wick universe and Lionsgate had also announced that Donnie Yen would be reprising his role from Chapter 4 as Caine in a solo outing. While Reeves was brought in to merge Ballerina with Wick‘s world, franchise director Chad Stahelski...

Chad Stahelski still can’t believe that a fifth “John Wick” film is in the works. Or is it? While Stahelski and co-writer Mike Finch have developed a story for “John Wick 5,” the franchise director is skeptical of whether or not the film will actually get made. In fact, he hasn’t even brought the concept to lead star Keanu Reeves yet — despite Lionsgate announcing in April 2025 that Reeves would be back in the role.

“John Wick 5” was first confirmed in 2020 and later officially announced in 2025. Reeves’ titular character seemingly died in the fourth film; however, the Lionsgate release declared that Wick lives and will return for the fifth installment.

Stahelski now told THR that he is unsure if a possible fifth film could even be “satisfying” to make. “Me and Mike Finch — the writer on ‘4’ who’s also writing ‘5’ — we’ve got a pretty good story that I think is cool.

It’s been 10 years since John Wick introduced us to a grieving hitman who just wanted to mourn his wife and pet his dog in peace. That small film, directed by Chad Stahelski and written by Derek Kolstad, sparked a full-blown action franchise, resurrected Keanu Reeves’ career, and added “gun-fu” to the pop culture dictionary. Now, after four adrenaline-drenched films and a misfired detour in the form of The Continental, we’re back in that violent, suit-tailored universe with Ballerina, a new spin-off that gives Ana de Armas all the powers of Baba Yaga. Unlike The Continental, which takes place in 1970s New York, it doesn’t quite coincide with the legend that is John Wick and takes a look back at the early days of the titular hotel. In the latest film, Derek Kolstad returns as the co-writer, this time alongside Shay Hatten and director Len Wiseman, to breathe...

John Wick creator Chad Stahelski is attempting one of the trickiest pivots in Hollywood: Turn a series of hit movies with a dead hero into a broader franchise. His four John Wick films starring Keanu Reeves as a stoic ronin gunslinger have been a rousing success for studio Lionsgate. But his last effort, 2023’s John Wick: Chapter 4, killed off its world-weary protagonist in a finale that felt perfectly fitting. After the film grossed nearly half a billion dollars, Lionsgate and Stahelski suddenly had a high-class problem: John Wick the franchise clearly has a lot more life left in it, while the John Wick character was seemingly six feet under.

What to do? Lionsgate attempted (without Stahelski and Reeves) a Peacock spinoff TV limited series titled The Continental, which fell flat (Stahelski has thoughts about this). This week sees the release of the franchise’s first spinoff movie, Ballerina, which...

Where To Watch All John Wick Movies & Series On Ott(Photo Credit –Facebook)

After a delay of one year, the eagerly anticipated John Wick spin-off Ballerina, starring Ana de Armas in the titular role, is slated for a theatrical release on June 6, 2025, in the US and on June 13 in Indian theatres. The action thriller film has been directed by Len Wiseman and has already received a critics’ score of 78% on Rotten Tomatoes. If you’re interested in checking out or revisiting all John Wick films and the spin-off series The Continental, then we have got you covered. Here is where you can watch them on Ott platforms in India.

1. John Wick Release Year – 2014 Director – Chad Stahelski IMDb Rating – 7.5/10 Streaming On – Lionsgate Play & Amazon Prime Video (Rent)

Plot: This high-octane action thriller follows legendary former hitman John Wick (played by Keanu Reeves), who has left the world of crime behind to live a peaceful life.

From the World of John Wick: Ballerina takes place during the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, and follows Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas), who is beginning her training in the assassin traditions of the Ruska Roma.

There's been some scepticism surrounding the movie, particularly after reports of issues on set. However, Lionsgate would later deny that Chad Stahelski had to step in and take charge of things from Len Wiseman, a filmmaker with a spotty track record at best (his credits include Underworld and Total Recall).

Still, de Armas has showcased her action star abilities in No Time to Die, and it sounds like she and Wiseman have delivered with this first big screen John Wick spin-off.

The review embargo for Ballerina lifted last night, and critics have mostly positive things to say. While it doesn't sound like the movie breaks any new ground, de Armas is being unanimously praised,...

After being in the works for literally years, the world of "John Wick" is finally expanding with its first spin-off movie. Ana de Armas is entering this wild world of international assassins as Eve Macarro in "Ballerina," aka "From the World of John Wick: Ballerina." Taking place between the events of "John Wick: Chapter 3" and "Chapter 4" (which allows for Keanu Reeves to show up as Mr. Wick), this is a big step forward in terms of expanding the scope of this beloved action franchise.

Lionsgate, the studio behind the very successful "John Wick" series, has plans to expand this universe beyond Reeves and Wick in the future. The question is, will the studio tee up some of what's to come in "Ballerina" by including some sort of credits scene? It's a question that must be asked, as credits scenes have been all the rage in franchise filmmaking for nearly...

Ana De Armas has loved becoming part of the 'John Wick' franchise.The 37-year-old actress plays Eve Macarro, a ballerina who trains as an assassin, in 'Ballerina', the new 'John Wick' spin-off film, and Ana has relished becoming part of the action franchise.She told The Hollywood Reporter: "I love the character and I think we can go anywhere from where we left it."Ana hailed Chad Stahelski, the director of the 'John Wick' movies, and Keanu Reeves - who plays the legendary hitman - for helping to establish the film franchise. And Ana is now excited to see what the future holds.The actress - who worked with Keanu on 2015's 'Knock Knock' and 2016's 'Exposed' - said: "It’s really cool. I really like this character and the story and the universe and everything that...

Ana de Armas as Eve in ‘Ballerina’ (Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate)

For the past 10 years, the original John Wick has spawned three sequels. After four adventures of its title character, the next logical step for any franchise worth its salt is a spinoff. So that’s what we get with From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, or, for short, just Ballerina.

Ballerina is about a young woman named Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas from Knives Out) whose father is killed by a band of marauding murderers. She is sent to live with her father’s “family,” which happens to be the Ruska Roma organization that also produced famed assassin John Wick. There, Eve is trained as both a ballerina and as an assassin. When, on an unrelated mission, she unexpectedly encounters an agent from the group that killed her father, Eve goes rogue to get her revenge.

Ballerina was written by Shay Hatten,...

The John Wick franchise has always thrived on its tight choreography, minimalist storytelling, and relentless pace, but Ballerina, the latest entry in the universe, takes a noticeably different approach—and not always to its benefit.

Directed by Len Wiseman, rather than franchise stalwart Chad Stahelski, the film presents a tonal shift that might intrigue some fans, but will ultimately leave others wanting more.

Set between John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and Chapter 4, the film centres on Eve Macarro, played by Ana de Armas, a ballerina trained in the deadly arts by the Ruska Roma. Eve embarks on a mission of revenge, traveling deep into the criminal underworld we’ve come to know through Wick’s exploits. Along the way, she crosses paths with familiar faces including Keanu Reeves – in an all too brief cameo – as John Wick, Anjelica Huston as The Director, Ian McShane as Winston, and the late Lance Reddick...

Try as one might, you could hardly blame any Hollywood studio for holding onto the “John Wick” franchise for dear life; in an age of increasing financial uncertainty and endless failed attempts at burgeoning franchises, who could truly begrudge any studio executive for returning again and again to what seems like the one and only enduring Western action series born from scratch in the last decade? Having done the legwork to establish itself as a quality name brand, it was only inevitable that the Keanu Reeves-led saga would enter territory befitting any franchise once it reaches beyond the point of reasonable extension.

That means, of course, spin-offs, and in keeping with the times, the “Wick” series has thrown its first theatrical attempt (anyone remember that “Continental” show?) into the ring with a title so appropriately ludicrous in its desperation to recall the name we all recognize that viewers will...

A serviceable addition to that most storied of sub-genres (action films about ballerina-assassins), Len Wiseman’s “Ballerina” is a movie that was ostensibly made to address a specific question that’s been haunting the good people at Lionsgate since at least March of 2023: Can the “John Wick” franchise survive without Keanu Reeves?

In that light, perhaps the most encouraging thing I can say about the series’ first proper spin-off is that it manages to answer that question — with an emphatic “probably?” — despite searching for every excuse not to ask it in the first place. On the one hand, Keanu Reeves is very much in this movie, which is set in between the events of “John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum” and “John Wick: Chapter 4.” On the other hand, the actor’s ornamental presence here emphasizes the extent to which his character had been subsumed into the ridiculously elaborate — and elaborately ridiculous...

Finally coming to theaters after a year-long delay, From the World of John Wick: Ballerina is the first attempt to expand the universe of everyone’s favorite assassin. Well, considering the delay and the fact that Lionsgate already announced they were reversing Reeves’s death in the fourth entry to create a new sequel, fans may be smelling trouble. While it’s not as bad as you may fear, this spin-off doesn’t ever feel like anything more than a cash grab.

From the World of John Wick: Ballerina Review

Ballerina follows Eve Macarro (Ana De Armas), a member of the Ruska Roma family — the same family to which John Wick belongs — as she sets out on a quest to get revenge on the people who killed her father when she was a child. Along the way, she gets caught up in a conspiracy involving a kidnapped child and a killer cult.

If Keanu Reeves’ John Wick is modern action’s heir apparent to Buster Keaton, then Ana de Armas’ Eve Macarro may be its Jackie Chan.

Series creator and mastermind Chad Stahelski has been anything but shy in sharing his affinity for Old Stone Face, with all four Wick films positively packed with references to the action genre’s first great star, and Len Wiseman’s From the World of John Wick: Ballerina does not break from that mold. But Macarro is no Wick, and where Reeves attacks with a stoic, nearly tranquilized delivery, barreling through a crumbling world teeming with inveterate assassins, de Armas is both brasher and more human. Perhaps it is the difference between a relative novice in this world and a legendary veteran, but she is a teary-eyed killer whose trail is marked with sensitivity. Wick wants solace; Macarro wants justice.

That does seem to be part...

Whether or not Lionsgate’s John Wick spinoff Ballerina clears or falls under $30M this weekend in U.S./Canada, consider the win in favor of exhibition which will have that much more money in the marketplace.

The Ana de Armas action movie is also bowing in 82 countries in what’s expected to be another $30M for a global take, give or take, around $60M; that offshore cash on par to the start of John Wick: Chapter 3. Lionsgate is self-distributing in the UK and Latin America.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

The Len Wiseman $80M-$90M directed movie (largely funded from foreign sales), which was delayed by a year for additional shooting is expected to rank second during the first weekend of June where Disney’s Lilo & Stitch will threepeat No. 1 with $35M, -43%. Lilo & Stitch is flying past $300M this week,...

Lionsgate hasn’t exactly been in the best shape, especially after several setbacks in 2024, including the Borderlands fiasco and the bombing of Henry Cavill’s The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. However, amidst its box-office misses, the studio faced major scrutiny in the wake of its deal with an AI startup, Runway Partners.

Moreover, it appears the studio is eyeing a deal with Runaway, and some of its biggest and most revered IPs may not be out of its reach.

Lionsgate’s biggest IPs could be subject to AI repackaging Lionsgate is eying to double down with its Runaway deal | Credit: Runaway

Given how much of a polarizing subject AI has been, especially in terms of its impact on an artist’s expression, becoming the first major Hollywood studio to ink a deal with an AI startup after some heavy setbacks was bound to pull some flak. But despite the backlash,...

The John Wick franchise has redefined modern action cinema, transforming it from a modest man-on-a-revenge thriller into one of the most prolific action franchises of all time. Today, the franchise has grossed more than a billion dollars at the global box office across four epic films (via Box Office Mojo). With its kinetic gun-fu choreography, richly imagined underworld lore of crime, and Keanu Reeves’ portrayal of the titular assassin, the series has built a loyal fan base and garnered critical acclaim.

Each installment has escalated in scope, budget, and box office returns, with John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023) setting a franchise high at $440 million worldwide against a $100 million budget. Now, Lionsgate is expanding this universe with Ana de Armas-starrer From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, the first feature film spinoff, set to release on June 6, 2025. Starring Ana de Armas as Eve Macarro, a ballerina-turned-assassin seeking revenge, Ballerina promises to...

Ballerina is a new action movie that we can look forward to. It takes place in the John Wick universe. It’s the fifth film in the series and takes place between John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and Chapter 4. The movie stars Ana de Armas as the main character, with Gabriel Byrne, Catalina Sandino Moreno, and Norman Reedus in supporting roles.

Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, Anjelica Huston, and Lance Reddick reprised their original characters, with Reddick appearing on screen for the last time before his passing.

The story came from a script written by Shay Hatten, which was picked up by Lionsgate in 2017. Hatten went on to help write the scripts for the third and fourth John Wick films. Len Wiseman was chosen as the director in 2019, and Chad Stahelski, the main director of the franchise, is one of the producers.

Ana de Armas took over the lead role from Unity Phelan,...

Shinichirō Watanabe's "Cowboy Bebop" warrants no introduction. A neo-noir space Western like no other, "Cowboy Bebop" is an operatic tale about fate, the inevitability of violence, and the sum of our choices. Everything Watanabe has made post-"Bebop" has contained bits and pieces of this futuristic saga, including his historical adventure anime "Samurai Champloo," which looks back at an anachronistic Edo-era Japan.

The groovy, jazzy aura of "Bebop" has always found a way to seep into Watanabe's brilliant oeuvre, but nothing has ever come remotely close to this elusive sentiment. So when Watanabe's currently-ongoing "Lazarus" first aired in April this year, "Bebop" lovers were enthused about this fresh, snazzy story set in the distant future (also featuring a group of misfits banding together to accomplish the impossible). While Adult Swim's "Lazarus" does revisit the anime auteur's most compelling impulses, it pales in comparison to the riveting stories Watanabe has penned all his life.

The "John Wick" universe is getting ready to expand as the long-awaited spin-off "Ballerina," aka "From the World of John Wick: Ballerina," is hitting theaters this weekend. It stars Ana de Armas as Eve Macarro, a ballerina-turned-assassin out to avenge her father's death. The spin-off has been in the works for a long time. A big part of that has to do with extensive reshoots, which pushed the film back a full year. So, what's the story with these reshoots, exactly? Director Len Wiseman has cleared the air.

"There weren't reshoots," Wiseman clarified in a recent interview with /Film's Ben Pearson ahead of the release of "Ballerina." The "Underworld" director further explained that these were "additional shoots that we went out to Budapest [for]."

In 2024, it was reported that "John Wick" franchise director Chad Stahelski took the helm for the "Ballerina" reshoots. Reshoots are often seen as a bad thing, signaling potential issues with a production.

Director Len Wiseman On Keanu Reeves’ Reprise In Ballerina ( Photo Credit – PR Image )

From the universe of John Wick, the upcoming movie Ballerina tells the gripping story of Eve Macarro, played by Ana de Armas. In Len Wiseman’s directorial, the character is a highly skilled assassin on a relentless quest for vengeance against those who destroyed her family. Set between John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and John Wick: Chapter 4, this latest installment delivers the franchise’s signature hard-hitting action, immersive world-building, and jaw-dropping stunts.

What’s special about Ballerina is Keanu Reeves’ cameo as he reprises his iconic role of John Wick. The film doesn’t just stand out for its fierce, emotionally charged protagonist — it’s also how it reimagines the presence of John Wick himself. After reading the script, Keanu Reeves agreed to reprise his legendary role. Normally, Reeves goes through six months of gruelling training before...

With Ballerina days away from release, director Len Wiseman talks exclusively to Film Stories about its year-long delay and reports of extensive reshoots.

Originally shot in 2022, and once scheduled for release in the summer of 2024, John Wick spin-off Ballerina was subsequently delayed for a year. Reports of reshoots soon emerged, with word going around that Chad Stahelski – who directed all four mainline John Wick entries to date – had stepped into film ‘most’ of the movie a second time.

Actor Ian McShane, who’s appeared in both Ballerina and the wider John Wick series to date, added fuel to the speculation last February, when he went on BBC’s The One Show and said of the ‘new shoots’, as he put it, “They’ve got to protect the franchise… they’ve looked at it and Chad’s come in… and they want to make it better…”

Ballerina is now days away from release,...

Night Hunter may have been panned by critics back in 2019, but that’s not stopping Henry Cavill’s forgotten thriller from climbing the charts on Paramount+, the streaming home of Taylor Sheridan’s ever-expanding TV empire. Originally titled Nomis, the David Raymond-directed psychological thriller is now sitting pretty in the global top 10, landing as high as #4 and recently clocking in at #11 in the U.S., according to FlixPatrol. The movie stars Cavill as a weary police lieutenant working alongside a vigilante to track down a serial killer. He’s joined by an eclectic cast including Iron Man 3's Ben Kingsley,Percy Jackson alum Alexandra Daddario, and TikTok cooking connoisseur Stanley Tucci. Despite a meager 14% Rotten Tomatoes critics score and just 50% from audiences, Night Hunter is finding a second life, bolstered by Cavill’s ongoing popularity and a wave of nostalgia-driven streaming behavior.

The thriller’s renewed interest arrives...

There was once a time when Henry Cavill was known as the unluckiest actor in Hollywood. Losing out on major roles such as Superman (a role he would eventually win in Zack Snyder’s divisive Dceu), Batman, and James Bond all within a few years of each other, Cavill even turned down a leading role in another Zack Snyder epic, rejecting the part to better prepare to potentially play 007 in 2006’s Casino Royale. A coveted role he ultimately lost to Daniel Craig.

Whether Cavill’s luck has changed all that much (he is no longer Superman following James Gunn’s Dcu reboot and the drama behind the scenes of his other major project The Witcher is well documented) is open to debate, but things may have played out differently for Cavill, who could perhaps have seen his star rise faster sooner, had he not turned down a role in Zack Snyder’s 2007 action epic,...

Ana de Armas loves her 'Ballerina' character.The 37-year-old actress plays Eve Macarro, a ballerina who trains as an assassin, in the 'John Wick' spin-off movie, and Ana has revealed that she jumped at the chance to join the film franchise.Speaking to HeyUGuys, Ana explained: "As a fan of the 'John Wick' franchise, and everything Keanu Reeves and [director] Chad Stahelski had done, I was like ... I have a great foundation there. And I think our movie is just so very organic and in a really good place for us to carry on with this world. And I love the character."So, I was just like ... tick, tick, tick. This makes sense."Despite this, Ana had to get herself in tip-top shape for such a physically demanding role.The actress actually spent "months and months" preparing for the project.The Hollywood star shared: "Everything was so challenging.

Take a look at more footage from “Ballerina”, the new live-action ‘neo-noir’ crime thriller, directed by Len Wiseman (“Underworld”) as a spin-off and fifth film in Chad Stahelski’s “John Wick” franchise, starring Ana de Armas, Anjelica Huston, Keanu Reeves, Gabriel Byrne, Lance Reddick, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Norman Reedus, and Ian McShane, releasing June 6, 2025 in theaters:

“…taking place between the events…

“…of ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum’ and ‘Chapter 4’…

“…degenerate ballerina-assassin ‘Rooney’…

“…hunts the killers of her family…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

It's John Wick's world, and we're just living in it. The franchise that began as a mid-budget action movie in 2014 has evolved into a worldwide success, as Chad Stahelski's vision of an unstoppable master assassin has been expertly brought to life across four different films. Each entry has had incredible Gun-fu fight choreography, impressive practical stunts, and a subdued and iconic performance from franchise star Keanu Reeves. Now, the first interconnected film that doesn't star the actor, Ballerina, will be hitting theaters soon, and the director has recently explained how the film isn't really a spinoff or sequel to the John Wick movies.

In an interview with CinemaBlend, From the World of John Wick: Ballerina director Len Wiseman spoke about the creative integrity of his upcoming action film. While the project has been heavily marketed as being directly connected to the John Wick movies, Wiseman doesn't see the...

Henry Cavill & Alan Ritchson’s WWII Movie Is Witnessing Streaming Success! (Photo Credit – Prime Video)

Last year, Henry Cavill and Alan Ritchson teamed up in a period action film that has captured viewers worldwide. After finishing Season 2 of Reacher, Ritchson joined Cavill in The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, a story set during WWII about a group of elite soldiers carrying out a daring mission behind enemy lines. The movie also stars Eiza González and Henry Golding, adding to its strong cast.

The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare Streaming Success On Starz

According to Collider, the movie has climbed the streaming charts since its release on Starz last year and currently ranks among the top five in several countries, including the US, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Spain, and Norway. Audiences have responded well, giving it a high approval score on Rotten Tomatoes with 91% on Popcornmeter. Critics have offered more mixed but generally...

Shinichiro Watanabe, the legendary anime director, is back with his new sci-fi action series Lazarus. The show, which debuts on Adult Swim and Toonami before streaming on Max, is halfway through its run, and things have already gotten intense. Based on an original concept by Watanabe, Dai Satô, Takahiro Ozawa, and Tsukasa Kondō, Lazarus is set in the near future where a popular painkiller is revealed to be lethal, causing a group of criminals to hunt down its creator for a cure. It's a bonkers concept that works perfectly as an anime (especially with the aid of John Wick's Chad Stahelski in charge of fight choreography). With just under half the episodes remaining, fans have been given a new look at the core cast of characters, as the intense plot nears its end.

Eight episodes of Lazarus are currently available to stream on Max. To celebrate the hit series reaching the halfway point,...

Tom Cruise heaps praise on Keanu Reeves, revealing that he calls the John Wick star to congratulate him when he makes a big movie. Cruise began his journey as Ethan Hunt way back in 1996, and by all accounts is ready to call it a day with this summer’s Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. Cruise’s fellow action movie headliner Reeves, meanwhile, is taking a break from his own hit franchise John Wick, whose last installment seemed to finally kill the series' previously invincible assassin.

Cruise and Reeves are indeed connected by more than just their action hero status, as the former detailed at a recent red carpet appearance ahead of the New York premiere of Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, taking a moment to praise Reeves, while revealing that he always calls the John Wick star to congratulate him on his successes (via Extra):

I grew up with Keanu.

More than a decade since its inception, "John Wick" might be the most unlikely $1 billion franchise of the modern era. The first film damn near went to VOD before it secured a theatrical release, becoming a modest hit. The series then exploded in popularity when "John Wick: Chapter 2" came out. The rest is action movie history. Now, Lionsgate is hoping to keep this money train moving in the right direction with a new spin-off in the form of "Ballerina," aka "From the World of John Wick: Ballerina." The question is, can this spin-off parlay Mr. Wick's good name into meaningful success at the box office?

As it stands, director Len Wiseman's "Ballerina" is looking at a domestic debut in the $33 to $39 million range when it arrives next weekend, per Box Office Theory. That is pretty much right in line with earlier tracking numbers, which had the spin-off pulling...

Ana de Armas knows the difference between European and American moviegoers – “good taste.”

During her “Hot Ones” interview Thursday, host Sean Evans asked the “Ballerina” star if she noticed a difference between “what somebody who buys a movie ticket in Madrid is looking for vs. someone in L.A.” The actress said that American cinema has a greater influence in Europe than European cinema does here, but that with European moviegoers, it comes down to taste.

“The influence of American cinema in Europe is stronger I would say,” de Armas began. “Europeans like European films I would say. I think Europeans also – or Spanish people – have a pretty wide spectrum of, they know about cinema, and they have good taste.”

De Armas appeared on the show to promote her upcoming film “Ballerina,” an action-forward spinoff set in the “John Wick” universe. The story takes place concurrent to the events of “John Wick Chapter 3 – Parabellum.

“Ballerina,” the new film from the world of “John Wick,” has been accepted for release in China and will be released on June 6, simultaneously with the release in North America, the studio announced on Thursday.

Huahua Media will distribute the “John Wick spinoff starring Ana de Armas

“Ballerina” seeks to expand the 10-year-old assassin universe beyond the titular protagonist played by Keanu Reeves. Set during the events of “John Wick: Chapter 3,” “Ballerina” stars Ana De Armas as a revenge seeker who is trained in a secret ballet school that doubles as an assassin academy.

As the film’s trailer teases, Reeves also appears in the film as Wick.. Addtional cast include Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, Lance Reddick, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Norman Reedus, with Ian McShane, and Keanu Reeves.

Directed by Len Wiseman and written by Shay Hatten, based on characters by Derek Kolstad, the film is produced by Basil Iwanyk,...

Keanu Reeves found a second life in his career thanks to the John Wick franchise, an over-the-top smorgasbord of violence utilizing gun-fu and various weapon-based action scenes. In the franchise, Reeves plays the titular character, a former assassin for the High Table who finds himself targeted by his former employers for breaking one of their only rules. By John Wick: Chapter 4, the franchise had developed an almost Buster Keaton-styled action format, making some people wonder if anything in the film was realistic.

Reeves worked hard to ensure that he performed many of his own choreographed fight scenes and trained to pull off the moves as best he could. It also helped that director Chad Stahelski is a former stunt double, so he knows what is and isn't possible for these movies' giant action sequences, making it one of the most exciting experiences in film today. However, a former Navy...

We’re just over a week away from the release of Ballerina, but leading star Ana de Armas is already teasing her John Wick future. Ballerina dances into theaters everywhere one week from today, and in addition to introducing Armas’ Eve as the franchise’s next dangerous assassin, Keanu Reeves will also reprise his role as John Wick in the film. Despite what seemed like a very clear-cut death at the end of John Wick: Chapter 4, it’s also been confirmed that Reeves will return as John Wick once more in John Wick 5, which is in development with director Chad Stahelski returning. During a recent interview with The Direct to promote Ballerina, Armas was asked if it would make sense for Eve to show up in the fifth John Wick movie:

"That would be really cool. I would love that. Why not? I mean, they already know each other, right?...

It’s already been a big year for Alan Ritchson, who featured in the third season of his hit Prime Video series, Reacher. However, shortly after Season 2 wrapped up, Ritchson starred alongside Henry Cavill in a period action epic that’s been a global streaming sensation. The duo stars opposite Eiza González and Henry Golding in The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, which follows a small group of skilled soldiers recruited by the British for an assault behind enemy lines during WWII. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare has been streaming on Starz since last year, and the film has recently surged on the streamer’s charts. It’s currently trending in the top five globally, charting in several countries, including the U.S., Denmark, the Czech Republic, Spain, and Norway. The film earned scores of 68% from critics and 91% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes.

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is one of...

It’s not just me; the entire anime community was pumped up when we first heard that the man, the myth, the legend, Shinichiro Watanabe, was returning with his new project, Lazarus. The hype was inescapable. Fans were reunited in hopes of getting a modernized version of Watanabe’s magical touch. But did he deliver?

Unfortunately, we didn’t get any of that. And you know what I just realized? After the recent news of Death Stranding getting an anime adaptation, I think I expected the exact same vibes from Lazarus in terms of storyline. Watanabe could have been the guy with all the chances to pull it off, but for some reason, it just didn’t hit all the marks.

Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding can achieve the feat that Watanabe couldn’t

When I hear the name Shinichiro Watanabe, the first word that comes to my mind is...

The lead actor of the anticipated John Wick spinoff, Ballerina, wants in on the main saga chronicling Keanu Reeves' revered assassin. Ana de Armas recently addressed the potential of her character, Eve Macarro, appearing in John Wick 5, saying it would be an "amazing" opportunity.

Speaking with The Direct at the John Wick Experience in Las Vegas, de Armas confirmed she's open to the opportunity, especially given that Wick and Macarro would have established their connection in Ballerina, setting a basis for any future interactions. "That would be really cool," she said. "I would love that. Why not? I mean, they already know each other, right? Like, why wouldn't it? I would love that. That would be amazing."

Despite the ending of Chapter 4, which seemingly saw the demise of Wick following a climactic battle with Donnie Yen's Caine, Lionsgate confirmed the development of John Wick 5shortly after the last sequel's release.

Ballerina star Ana de Armas addresses a potential appearance in John Wick: Chapter 5. Set between the events of Chapters 3 and 4, the upcoming spinoff stars de Armas as Eve Macarro, a ballerina who begins training in the deadly arts of the Ruska Roma to exact revenge against those who killed her father. Ballerina's cast also includes Keanu Reeves reprising his role as John Wick alongside the late Lance Reddick, Ian McShane, Gabriel Byrne, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Norman Reedus, and Anjelica Huston.

During an interview with The Direct, De Armas addressed a potential appearance in John Wick: Chapter 5. The Ballerina star expressed strong enthusiasm about potentially appearing in Chapter 5, saying she would love to be part of it and sees it as a natural fit. Read her full response below:

That would be really cool. I would love that. Why not? I mean, they already know each other, right? Like,...

Keanu Reeves stars in a new comedy as an angel who isn’t particularly good at being a guardian. Lionsgate has just shared the first trailer for Good Fortune, which stars Aziz Ansari and marks his directorial debut with this film after his formerly planned debut with Bill Murray, Being Mortal, was shut down halfway through. Ansari also wrote the script and the cast includes him, Reeves, Seth Rogen, Keke Palmer and Sandra Oh. Anthony Katagas, Alan Yang, and Ansari produce, with Brady Fujikawa and Jon Humphrey overseeing at Lionsgate. While exec producers include Aniz Adam Ansari, Jonathan McCoy, Christopher Woodrow and Connor Digregorio.

The official synopsis reads,

“In Good Fortune, a well-meaning but rather inept angel named Gabriel (Keanu Reeves) meddles in the lives of a struggling gig worker (Aziz Ansari) and a wealthy venture capitalist (Seth Rogen).”

Our Chris Bumbray got to report on a more story-revealing trailer...

After starring in The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare forGuy Ritchie last year,Henry Cavill's next big project just took a major step forward. The official Voltron Instagram account has posted a note confirming that the live-action remake of the popular 80s TV show has officially wrapped filming. The film, which began production late last year, also stars Sterling K. Brown, Alba Baptista, Nathan Jones, and John Kim. Rawson Marshall Thurber will direct with a script he co-wrote with Ellen Shanman. This news comes not long after it was reported that, despite its star-studded cast and well-known property, Voltron will be released straight to Prime Video and not in theaters. Amazon MGM has yet to assign Cavill’s Voltron film an official release date on the schedule, but sometime in 2026 is the most likely window.

He’ll always be known for his role as the Man of Steel in Zack Snyder’s Dceu,...

Enter this contest by following the link at the bottom of this page for your chance to win passes to a preview screening of the new film Ballerina on Monday, June 2nd at the Mjr Troy at 7:00pm.

Synopsis: Taking place during the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, the film follows Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas) who is beginning her training in the assassin traditions of the Ruska Roma.

About The Film

Genre: Action, Thriller Starring: Ana de Armas, Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, Lance Reddick, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Norman Reedus, with Ian McShane, and Keanu Reeves Director: Len Wiseman Screenplay: Shay Hatten Produced by: Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee, Chad Stahelski

Ballerina is in theaters on June 6, 2025!

For More Information, Please Visit:

Official Site / Facebook / Instagram / X (Twitter) / #Ballerinamovie

Enter The Contest!

The post Attend a Screening of Ballerina! first appeared on CinemaNerdz.

Former Superman Henry Cavill will star in the upcoming live-action remake of the beloved ‘80s animated TV series Voltron, and the movie just got a major update. The sci-fi action outing is all set to be released by Amazon, and while there have been rumors that the Voltron adaptation will go straight to streaming on Prime Video, producer Bob Koplar has now teased that nothing has yet been decided.

Though we don’t yet know if Voltron will leap into action on the big screen or within our own homes, Koplar has confirmed that filming has now wrapped. Taking to Instagram, the producer hyped the movie as the live-action adaptation that “fans have been dreaming of.”

Voltron Movie Wrapped.

Our live-action Voltron film has officially wrapped production, and we're Thrilled with how it all went.

I've been with this franchise for years and can proudly say that this Will be...

The John Wick franchise premiered over a decade ago. After four films in the original series and a prequel spinoff series, the franchise will continue with the upcoming first spinoff film, Ballerina, starring Ana de Armas.

After a one-year delay, Ballerina is slated for release on June 6. The upcoming action film follows Eve Macarro, a ballerina-assassin introduced in John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum, and will bring back Reeves as the legendary assassin. Ahead of the film's release in theaters, the best John Wick film, 2023's John Wick: Chapter 4, is topping the charts on Peacock, per FlixPatrol.

John Wick: Chapter 4 has been in the charts for the past week. It has ranged between the third and fourth place, but on May 25, it officially catapulted to the top of the charts. The film had also attracted attention on Amazon Prime in different locations earlier this week, including Austria, Germany, and Switzerland.

The John Wick...

Keanu Reeves is one of the most talked-about stars in Hollywood, with him and Chad Stahelski's John Wick becoming perhaps the biggest of its kind in recent memory. With the Ana de Armas-led next entry into the John Wick universe, Ballerina, about to make its June 6 theatrical debut, and with updates on a brand-new fifth Wick installment coming recently, it's no surprise that the eyes of many are turning to past entries in Reeves' catalog to help fill the gap.

Despite having many more famous and critically successful hits under his belt, it may surprise some that the film of choice that has found a new audience for Reeves is his 2008 remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still. A groundbreaking sci-fi project that blew minds back in 1951, the remake struggled to translate to a modern audience, earning poor critical and audience reception on its 2008 debut. This is...

"John Wick" has to be one of the more unexpected franchises in Hollywood right now. Conceived as nothing more than a modest action-revenge movie, it became a star vehicle for Keanu Reeves to show everyone he still had it.

Each successive "John Wick" sequel has one-upped the previous movie without leaving quality behind. But while the idea of a "John Wick" cinematic universe has been bubbling for a while, the only spin-off that's been released so far was the 2023 "Continental" mini-series.

The "John Wick" films do tease a larger world. Few characters recur across every single one of the films, besides John himself, Winston (Ian McShane), and Continental hotel concierge Charon (the late Lance Reddick). People dip in and out of John Wick's story, giving the impression they're off living their own lives. A spin-off has been floated for practically every major "John Wick" character, whether that be the Bowery King,...

Over four films, a prequel TV show (The Continental), and an upcoming spin-off film (Ballerina), Chad Stahelski and Keanu Reeves have built one of the best modern action franchises in the John Wick series. Thanks to Stahelski's background as a stunt performer and coordinator, and Keanu Reeves' intense dedication to training for the film's choreography, the hand-to-hand combat in the John Wick franchise is often considered to be very realistic by experts online. But a former Navy Seal is the latest to watch the close-quarter battles in John Wick: Chapter 4, the latest film in the franchise, and he wasn't as impressed as fans were.

DJ Shipley, a former Navy Seal, recently sat down with Insider to rate action scenes from popular movies and shows for realism. Shipley was harsh in his breakdowns of other popular franchises, like The Raid and Netflix's Rebel Ridge, and, just like Mr. Wick's dedication to revenge,...