Ballerina London Premiere - itw Robert Maaser (Official video)

London, Leicester Square nearby Cineworld, May 22 2025

Leicester Square turned into a crucible of shadows and stardust on May 22, 2025, as Ballerina—the long-anticipated spin-off from the John Wick universe—finally took center stage in London for its global premiere. The Cineworld theatre, nestled in the heart of the capital’s iconic cinema district, became a literal stage for a different kind of ballet—one composed not of arabesques and pas de deux, but of pain, revenge, and grit. As Ana de Armas, Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, and Norman Reedus walked the carpet under a dusk-lit sky filled with camera flashes and fan cheers, the crowd sensed it: this was more than just another movie night. It was the unveiling of a new myth, poised between tradition and transformation, where the world of Wick spins further outward into its own rich, emotionally charged choreography.

There was a haunting symmetry to it all. A movie that started as a footnote in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum—with Unity Phelan’s silent, bone-chilling ballet performance under the watchful eye of Anjelica Huston’s Director—was now stepping fully into the light. And it wasn’t just stepping; it was pirouetting in blood-soaked elegance. Screenwriter Shay Hatten, inspired by a passing glimpse of a ballerina in the John Wick: Chapter 2 trailer, penned a spec script that made its way to the Black List by the end of 2017. That seed, germinated in the imaginations of fans and creators alike, has now bloomed into a 125-minute operatic revenge odyssey titled Ballerina, directed by Len Wiseman with Chad Stahelski’s brutal fingerprints all over the action choreography. The London premiere wasn’t just a glamorous affair—it was a coronation of a film forged in curiosity, elevated by tragedy, and polished through years of relentless creative reworking.

It’s no secret among insiders that Ballerina had a rocky path behind the scenes. While Wiseman led principal photography with his signature sleek lensing—honed in the Underworld franchise—Stahelski quietly returned for months of reshoots, bringing his unmatched experience in tactical combat cinematography to recalibrate the film’s tone. Far from a creative clash, this unusual handoff only sharpened the final product. It allowed for a fusion of style and substance that echoes Wick’s visual DNA while simultaneously pushing it into a more introspective, mournful direction. This kind of collaboration is rare in action filmmaking, where egos often clash and visions splinter. But in Ballerina, the change in hands appears to have created a mosaic of intent—one that is tighter, more emotionally resonant, and clearer in its narrative aim. A telling anecdote? Norman Reedus was reportedly flown from Japan to Budapest on short notice to shoot additional scenes—a testament to the urgency and scale this film demanded.

And then there’s Ana de Armas. Her red carpet presence in London wasn’t just glamorous—it was symbolic. Cast after her breakout combat performance in No Time to Die, de Armas embodies Eve Macarro with a level of intensity that feels sculpted, not performed. Her role isn’t an echo of John Wick—it’s a refracted evolution. Where Wick is driven by grief sublimated into relentless vengeance, Eve is submerged in something colder, murkier. Her father’s murder and the betrayal laced within the Ruska Roma family structure create a foundation not of rage but of haunted resolve. This tonal shift is critical. It moves the John Wick universe into new emotional terrain, one steeped in psychological weight and generational trauma. Onscreen, de Armas carries that weight like a dancer burdened by invisible chains, performing with a mixture of icy precision and aching vulnerability that already has critics whispering about awards potential in a genre usually dismissed by the Academy.

Synopsis :
Set during John Wick: Parabellum, Ballerina follows the relentless revenge of Eve Macarro, the new assassin of the Ruska Roma organization.

Ballerina
Directed by Len Wiseman
Written by Shay Hatten
Based on Characters by Derek Kolstad
Produced by Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee, Chad Stahelski
Starring Ana de Armas, Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, Lance Reddick, Norman Reedus, Ian McShane, Keanu Reeves
Cinematography : Romain Lacourbas
Edited by Jason Ballantine
Music by Tyler Bates, Joel J. Richard
Production companies : Summit Entertainment, Thunder Road Films, 87North Productions
Distributed by Lionsgate
Release date : June 4, 2025 (France), June 6, 2025 (United States)
Running time : 125 minutes