Keanu Reeves reveals when the first John Wick movie spinoff, Ballerina, takes place in the action franchise's timeline after much speculation.
Ballerina actor Keanu Reeves finally reveals when the first John Wick spinoff takes place. The John Wick franchise will expand itself further in 2023, with John Wick: Chapter 4 releasing next March and its spinoff film, Ballerina, set to be released later during the year, though an official release date has not yet been disclosed. Reeves has been confirmed to reprise his role as the Boogeyman in the spinoff, alongside Ana de Armas who will be leading the film.
Now, during a recent appearance at CCXP (via HyperOmelete), Reeves has spilled the beans on when the spinoff takes place. While some audience members may have believed that it would be set after the events of John Wick: Chapter 4, the actor confirms otherwise. Check out what he says on Ballerina's place in the John Wick franchise's timeline below:
"So the film Ballerina that Ana de Armas stars in being directed by Len Wiseman has already started filming, and it takes place between John Wick: Chapter 3 and John Wick: Chapter 4."
While not much is currently known about Ballerina's main plot, other than that it follows an assassin hunting down the people who murdered her family, there is still plenty that has been revealed about the film. The character that de Armas will be playing is named Rooney and was introduced in John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum. She was previously portrayed by Unity Phelan. The character was briefly introduced during a scene in which Wick talks to "The Director" (Angelica Huston) at a ballet recital, but did not have a speaking part.
As Reeves mentioned, the film is being directed by Len Wiseman, with a screenplay by Shay Hatten and Emerald Fennell. Hatten did work on John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum, and the upcoming John Wick: Chapter 4 and John Wick: Chapter 5. Wiseman did not contribute to any John Wick film prior to Ballerina, but is mostly known for having helmed some of the Underworld movies, Live Free or Die Hard, and the 2012 Total Recall remake starring Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale and Jessica Biel. This will be Wiseman's first film since Total Recall, as he most recently worked on the television series The Gifted and Swamp Thing.
Aside from Reeves reprising his role as John Wick, Huston will also be returning as "The Director," alongside Ian McShane and Lance Reddick, coming back to their respective roles as Winston Scott and Charon of the Continental Hotel. Although it is unclear if Reeves' appreance in the movie is just a cameo, the fact that most of the franchise's main stars will reprise their characters in Ballerina is a sign of how closely connected this spinoff will be to the main John Wick movies. Ballerina is also positioned to be the first of many John Wick spinoffs, with The Continental limited series, starring Colin Woodell and Mel Gibson, also slated to premiere on Peacock soon. In the meantime, John Wick's next chapter will be releasing exclusively in theaters on March 24.
