An assassin trained in the traditions of the Ruska Roma organization sets out to seek revenge after her father’s death.
Keanu Reeves is one of the few actors who’s managed to reinvent himself again and again over the decades. After making a name for himself in the BILL & TED movies, he took on more action-heavy roles in “Point Break” and “Speed.” His career shifted gears again in 1999 with “The Matrix” and its sequels, then later with “Constantine” (which now has a follow-up in the works). Nearly ten years after that, he surprised everyone by transforming once more in “John Wick,” a role that would become his biggest box office hit. The JOHN WICK series reached a new peak with the global success of “John Wick: Chapter 4.” While that movie seemed to signal the end of John Wick, Lionsgate recently revealed that “John Wick: Chapter 5” is on the schedule for next year, cementing Reeves’s legacy as the seemingly indestructible Baba Yaga.
Now there’s “Ballerina.” Ana de Armas stars as Eve, but the film is set squarely in the John Wick universe. Reeves’s return as Wick isn’t exactly a secret—the trailers already revealed his involvement, which some fans wish the studio had kept under wraps for a bigger impact. Still, it’s easy to see why the marketing team went for the wider reach.
The plot centers on Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas), whose obsession with revenge began after witnessing her father’s murder as a child, orchestrated by a mysterious figure known as the Chancellor (Gabriel Byrne). Raised under the protection of Winston (Ian McShane) and Charon (Lance Reddick) at the New York Continental Hotel, Eve is trained in the deadly arts by the Ruska Roma—a powerful Romani crime syndicate linked to the High Table, the same shadowy group from which John Wick originated.
After Eve finishes her training, she begins to take on her own missions. One night, after completing a job, she’s attacked outside a building. She fights back, killing her assailant, but notices a distinctive scar on his wrist—a mark she remembers from the men who killed her father. When she brings this up to the Director (Anjelica Huston), her mentor and the head of the Ruska Roma in New York, she’s told in no uncertain terms to leave it alone. The Director explains that the Ruska Roma and the Chancellor’s faction have a longstanding agreement to stay out of each other’s affairs. Eve pretends to accept this, but soon decides to track down the Chancellor on her own, following him to a remote, snow-covered village in Germany. Her defiance forces the Director’s hand, and John Wick is dispatched to eliminate her for breaking the pact.
Soon, Eve is caught in a deadly game, hunted not only by the Chancellor’s men but also by the villagers—who turn out to be assassins themselves—and John Wick. In order to have any hope of avenging her father, she’ll have to take on the Chancellor while evading the relentless Wick.
“Ballerina” brings a new spark to the established action series. The JOHN WICK movies set a high standard for action, but it’s refreshing to see a new lead shake up the formula. The fight choreography is just as intense and brutal as fans expect, but Ana de Armas brings her own charisma, proving she’s more than capable of carrying high-octane scenes. The idea of a future team-up between Eve and John Wick is one that would excite a lot of fans.
For those wondering about the timeline, “Ballerina” takes place after “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum” but before “John Wick: Chapter 4.” This is crucial, since the fourth film left Wick’s fate in question. Unlike John, who’s weary from years of violence, Eve is just at the start of her story.
Director Len Wiseman, best known for the UNDERWORLD films, manages to balance the breakneck action with quieter moments that let the story breathe. The pacing gives audiences a chance to recover between the explosive set-pieces, and the final showdown in the alpine village is one of the franchise’s most visually memorable moments. One standout scene features a flamethrower battle—a bold and unforgettable twist. The movie ends on a note that leaves the door open for more, and given Ana de Armas’s compelling turn, a sequel would be welcome. After showing off her action chops in “No Time to Die,” she truly comes into her own as a leading lady here.
It’s also satisfying to see seasoned actors like Gabriel Byrne, Anjelica Huston, Ian McShane, and the late Lance Reddick adding depth to the film. With “John Wick: Chapter 5” already in development, fans can look forward to finding out whether Reeves’ character will continue as a lone wolf or if Eve will join him for what could be his last adventure. Only time will tell.
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