Ana de Armas leads original assassin role in Ballerina, as director Len Wiseman and the actress both assert that the character Eve Macarro stands apart from Keanu Reeves’ iconic John Wick. Despite the expectations and scrutiny that come with a John Wick spinoff, the creative team was determined to establish a distinctive identity for Macarro in this new action film now in theaters worldwide.
Director Len Wiseman Crafts a Unique Storyline Apart from John Wick
Len Wiseman, with a history in action cinema—including titles like Underworld with Kate Beckinsale, Live Free or Die Hard with Bruce Willis, and Total Recall featuring Colin Farrell—was brought on to steer Ballerina away from becoming a simple copy of John Wick. The project originated in 2017 after Lionsgate Films acquired Shay Hatten’s script, initially intended to intersect with the third John Wick movie, where Unity Phelan played a ballerina. However, by 2021, Ana de Armas became the focal point for this new character, leading to her official casting announcement in 2022.
From its announcement, Ballerina faced skepticism among fans and critics. Many questioned the necessity of another spinoff following the lukewarm reception to The Continental, and doubted any John Wick-related film without Keanu Reeves could succeed. The director, however, saw this as an opportunity to honor the John Wick universe while making Eve Macarro an original force in her own right.
Wiseman has stated his goal was never to mirror Reeves’ performance or character, but to allow Macarro to emerge authentically by focusing on her own journey. He aimed to underscore both her strengths and vulnerabilities, designing action sequences that leaned into Ana de Armas’ physicality, as discovered through her rehearsals and training with the production designer.
She’s a new assassin, so it was much more survival action than attack action. She’s jumping into a world where she’s up against a lot of very seasoned assassins.
—Len Wiseman, Director
By centering the movie on survival rather than attack, and by adapting action scenes to Ana de Armas’ strengths—such as her agility—the filmmakers stressed that Eve Macarro would not be mistaken for a mere female iteration of John Wick. These production choices attempted to highlight her Cuban-Spanish background and unique skillset, distinguishing her interactions, movements, and story arc from Reeves’ character.
Ana de Armas Discusses Shaping Eve Macarro’s Unique Path
Ana de Armas herself underscored the importance of carving out a separate identity for her role, particularly as critics and audiences drew comparisons between Macarro and the established John Wick character. She has acknowledged the significant pressure involved, given the franchise’s loyal following and the critical eye that falls on spinoffs.
John Wick is very experienced, and she’s not. She’s just starting in this world, and she will have to learn the consequences of not listening to people’s advice and telling her to stop pursuing this or that.
—Ana de Armas, Actress
Eve Macarro’s story is defined by her inexperience and her willingness to dive headfirst into a domain dominated by deadly, well-established assassins. While both Macarro and John Wick are driven by a history of pain and a thirst for vengeance, their paths sharply diverge—Macarro is venturing into danger for the first time, in contrast to Wick, who is returning to a world he once commanded.
This tension—between audience expectation, genre precedent, and the desire for originality—creates an underlying unrest that permeates Ballerina. Critics have debated whether the film succeeds in standing apart from its predecessor, but the filmmakers and de Armas insist the narrative is one of tough survival rather than pure attack or imitation.
Assessing Ballerina’s Place in the John Wick Franchise
As Ballerina debuts in theaters, the stakes extend beyond box office returns. With the failure of The Continental hanging over its release, Ballerina must prove that a John Wick universe spinoff can captivate audiences without relying on familiar faces like Keanu Reeves. Industry observers, including some critics and fans, will be watching closely to see whether Wiseman’s direction and de Armas’ nuanced portrayal of Eve Macarro can inject fresh energy into the franchise.
The film’s development process, which dated back several years and underwent a shift in focus with Ana de Armas’ casting, reflects broader industry questions about how to build on popular universes without simply repeating the formula. It will be up to audiences and future critics to decide if Ballerina’s commitment to delivering a distinct, emotionally rich assassin story will set it apart, or if it remains overshadowed by the long shadow of John Wick.
