‘Ballerina’ Red Carpet Brings Out Ana de Armas, Keanu Reeves and Franchise Stars

The world premiere of Ballerina, the upcoming spin-off in the John Wick franchise, took place in London last night, with the film’s cast and creative team gathering at the Cineworld cinema in Leicester Square. Ana de Armas, who leads the film as assassin-in-training Eve Macarro, was joined on the red carpet by co-stars Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, Norman Reedus, and Catalina Sandino Moreno, alongside director Len Wiseman and producers Chad Stahelski, Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee.

The premiere marks the official launch of Lionsgate’s global campaign for Ballerina, which is set for release on 6 June 2025. The film takes place between the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and Chapter 4, and focuses on Eve, a ballerina who is taken under the wing of the Ruska Roma and begins her training as a contract killer. The character, originally portrayed in a brief scene by Unity Phelan in Parabellum, has been reimagined and expanded for the feature-length outing.

In attendance at the premiere were actors Pedro Pascal, Kit Harington and Donnie Yen, the latter of whom appeared in John Wick: Chapter 4 as the blind assassin Caine. The event was livestreamed via TikTok, which partnered with Lionsgate to offer ticket purchasing directly through the app. Fans can access an exclusive package including a physical commemorative ticket, a limited-edition poster and a collectible Continental Hotel coin.

De Armas introduced the film to the crowd and paid tribute to her predecessor in the franchise, saying: “There wouldn’t be a Ballerina without a John Wick,” in reference to Reeves, who reprises his role in a supporting capacity. Ballerina also features the final screen appearance of the late Lance Reddick, who returns as Continental concierge Charon.

The project has been in development since 2017, when Lionsgate acquired Shay Hatten’s original script. Hatten subsequently joined the writing team on Parabellum and Chapter 4, and remained involved with Ballerina throughout its revisions. Wiseman was brought on to direct in 2019. Principal photography began in Prague in late 2022, with additional sequences and reshoots extending into 2024 under Stahelski’s supervision.

Norman Reedus, who joined the cast during post-production, filmed his action scenes in Budapest following commitments in Japan. His character, Daniel Pine, has been described as an unpredictable outsider whose motives remain unclear. Gabriel Byrne plays the film’s antagonist, the Chancellor, while Anjelica Huston returns as the Director of the Ruska Roma.

Other cast members include Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Choi Soo-young, Victoria Comte and David Castañeda. According to franchise veteran Ian McShane, Eve’s story is largely anchored at the New York Continental, with Winston and Charon serving as her protectors during her early missions. The plot follows her efforts to avenge her father’s death, though much of the film’s larger context remains under wraps.

Ballerina arrives as the fifth feature in the John Wick universe and the first spin-off film to reach cinemas. It joins the prequel series The Continental, which debuted in 2023, in expanding the franchise’s world-building beyond the central arc of Wick himself. While the spin-off maintains the series’ stylised violence and internal mythology, it introduces a new perspective through de Armas’ character, whose arc appears to straddle both vengeance and initiation.

The film will be released in UK cinemas on 6 June 2025.

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