From "Ballerina" to "The Ugly Stepsister": BZ movie recommendations span various titles, including the classic "Ballerina" and the lesser-known "The Ugly Stepsister."
A Breatch of the John Wick Universe: "Ballerina" - A Lethal Dance of Revenge
The Scoop: In "Ballerina" (2025), we dive into the heart of the John Wick universe, weaving a tale that unearths the vengeance of a young woman. Eva, once a little girl, witnessed her family being brutally taken down. She is nurtured under the wing of the Ruska Roma clan leader, Winston Scott, and turns to ballet. However, her thirst for revenge never fades. She's trained by the Ruska Roma to become an assassin. But her targets belong to another clan, and a potential war is at stake. To eliminate this threat, they send the best assassin they have - John Wick himself!
The Stars: Ana de Armas, known for her role in "No Time to Die" and Keanu Reeves, famed for his work in "The Matrix," reunite in a gripping battle of cat and mouse. Ian McShane and Anjelica Huston reprise their roles from the John Wick series, adding more grit to this action-packed extravaganza.
The Director: Len Wiseman, renowned for directing the "Underworld" series and "Live Free or Die Hard," steps into the limelight once again.
Behind the Scenes: Set between "John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum" and "Chapter 4," "Ballerina" was originally directed by Chad Stahelski, the mastermind behind the John Wick series. However, Len Wiseman oversaw the final cut.
B.Z.-Take: A balletic amalgamation of action and vengeance that cannot be taken seriously. The film is packed with stylish fight scenes meticulously choreographed in the vein of ballet, fists flying instead of toes pointing. With piles of bodies left behind, it offers a thrilling ride for action movie enthusiasts. (125 Min., not rated)
[1] IMDb: Ballerina (2025) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8087074/[2] Variety: 'John Wick' spinoff 'Ballerina' shots in France starting this month - https://variety.com/2020/film/news/john-wick-spinoff-ballerina-filming-france-1234737488/[3] ComingSoon.net: John Wick 4, ‘Highwire,’ and Tina Fey Biopic Get New Release Dates - https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/trailers/1261248-john-wick-4-highwire-and-tina-fey-biopic-get-new-release-dates[4] CinemaBlend: John Wick 4 and The Matrix 4 Get New Release Dates After COVID-19 Delays - https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2569118/john-wick-4-and-the-matrix-4-get-new-release-dates-after-covid-19-delays[5] IndieWire: The future of action cinema depends on the success of the next ‘John Wick’ - https://www.indiewire.com/2019/10/future-action-cinema-success-john-wick-chapter-4-1202209346/
- The action-packed "Ballerina" (2025), a movie-and-tv entertainment extravaganza, follows the story of a young woman's quest for revenge in the John Wick universe.
- This upcoming film, "Ballerina," listed on IMDb under movies-and-tv, brings together the stars Ana de Armas and Keanu Reeves for a dance of action and vengeance.
