Latest news with #Wick-verse
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
John Wick spinoff Ballerina First Reviews: Ana de Armas shines through bullets in a performance much appreciated by fans
When Keanu Reeves first stepped into the tailored suit of John Wick, few could have guessed what was to come next. Now, with From the World of John Wick: Ballerina — a spinoff set within the same shadow-drenched universe — the Wick-verse expands, bringing a fresh face to the forefront: Ana de Armas as Eve Macarro, a ballerina-turned-assassin seeking vengeance. Set between the chaotic events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, Ballerina explores Eve's descent into the criminal underworld in search of justice for her father's death. The twist? Unlike John, who is trying to claw his way out, Eve is fighting her way in. As director Len Wiseman puts it, '(It's) kind of the opposite of John Wick's story. Wick is trying to get out of his life as an assassin; Eve is wanting in — she wants to be a killer.' Now that some excited fans have watched the film, early reactions on X are setting the stage for a potentially explosive addition to the franchise. Though it's still early days, the buzz is loud, chaotic, and mostly positive. One review sets the tone with high praise for the action and Ana's performance: 'I had a blast with #BallerinaMovie, which has all the Wickism's you'd expect, from fast-paced bloody shootouts to carnage-inducing brawls that push the creative limit. It's exhaustive in the way that the Wick films excel, and has one of the best flamethrower scenes since Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (2019). While nothing can topple the Baba Yaga himself, Ana de Armas does fine work here, particularly in the physicality required of the role. No Mary Sue indestructible nonsense. She takes the hits, as well as delivering them, making for a more convincing performance set within the Wick world. All in all, a Wicktastic spinoff that fits the mould well.' Another echoed a similar appreciation for the film's refusal to make Eve a mere gender-swapped Wick: 'BALLERINA features some great stunt action & fight choreography. Thankfully, they did not try to make Ana de Armas' Eve be a female John Wick. She stands on her own & handles business her way. Fight like a girl, Keanu's parts are a definite highlight for fans! #ballerinamovie.' The film's visual and emotional intensity also made an impression: 'BALLERINA is a visual exhibition to feel the ACTION. Vibrant, frenetic, intense & vengeful, and I'm not just referring to the film, but also to Ana de Armas. An actress capable of anything w/ an electric aura that will paralyse you into not moving from your seat.' Another comment read, '#BallerinaMovie takes a bit to find its footing but really takes off in a blaze of glory. Sits really well in this middle ground of goofy and gritty that allows for exciting & memorable action sequences. Love Ana de Armas in this kind of vehicle. Summer movie season is here!' And perhaps the most telling takeaway came from a sceptical viewer turned believer: 'Walking out of #BallerinaMovie pleasantly surprised & still buzzing off some franchise-high action sequences. as someone who was very hesitant that armas could live up to the john wick name, I recommend releasing your worries and giving it a real shot.' According to fans, it's clear that the film doesn't rewrite the Wick formula; it's less about reinventing the wheel and more about spinning it in new directions, and delightfully, Ana de Armas has carved out her own blood-soaked ballet on the stage John Wick built.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tom Cruise says Ana de Armas' John Wick spin-off Ballerina "kicks ass"
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Tom Cruise is full of praise for new John Wick spin-off Ballerina, starring Ana de Armas as the titular dancer-turned-assassin. "It's gonna be a fun summer. A lot of movies," Cruise said during a red carpet appearance at the UK premiere of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning in London, which you can watch below. One title mentioned was Ballerina, which hits theaters next month, and Cruise immediately responded enthusiastically. "I saw the movie, it just kicks ass," he said. "It's right in that tone, it's right in that Wick world. You're gonna love it." Directed by Total Recall remake helmer Len Wiseman, the movie is written by John Wick 3 and 4 screenwriter Shay Hatten and follows de Armas' character Eve as she trains with the Ruska Roma so she can get revenge for her father's death. Set between the third and fourth John Wick movies, the cast includes several familiar faces from the Wick-verse, including Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane as New York Continental manager Winston, a posthumous appearance from Lance Reddick as concierge Charon, and the return of Anjelica Huston's the Director. The Walking Dead's Norman Reedus, Hereditary's Gabriel Byrne, and Dune's Sharon Duncan-Brewster also star. As for Cruise, his next big-screen outing is Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, which sees him take on the role of IMF agent Ethan Hunt for the eighth and last time. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is out on May 21 in the UK and May 23 in the US, while Ballerina arrives in theaters on June 6. For more on the rest of this year's best upcoming movies, check out our guide to 2025's biggest movie release dates at a glance.
