The Ballerina Sequence from John Wick chapter 3
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Last week, Lionsgate confirmed that the John Wick spin-off movie Ballerina would be delayed a full year as reshoots were ordered to enhance the movie’s action aesthetic. In that announcement, they stressed that the new sequences were being filmed to ramp up the action and make a good movie even better. It was also reported that John Wick creator and director Chad Stahelski had been brought in to work with Ballerina Helmer Len Wiseman (best known for the Underworld series with Kate Beckinsale) to ensure that these new sequences would do right by the franchise. After all, Stahelski is the creative head honcho now for all things John Wick as well as the Highlander reboot, he’s planning with star Henry Cavill.
Well, John Wick franchise star Ian McShane, who plays the coveted role of The Continental owner Winston has poured a little gasoline onto the fire and in a new interview he did with the BBC’s The One Show, he basically said that the reshoots are not reshoots but full-on new shoots and that the film wasn’t as great as they were saying. He also stressed that these new scenes were being made to “protect the franchise.” Hardly the ringing endorsement that Lionsgate came up with a few days ago. Essentially, Mr. McShane is saying that the studio had a vote of no confidence in the movie as it was which went against what Lionsgate had stated earlier. Now Stahelski sounds like he’s been brought in to mop up what mess there is. Oops.
“It’s not reshoots, its new shoots,” McShane stressed during his appearance. “The new shooting for Ballerina, which is the spinoff with Ana de Armas of the John Wick franchise . . . you know, it’s like, they’ve got to protect the franchise.”
McShane also reiterated that Stahelski was brought on board and that Keanu is in the movie. In what capacity? We will have to wait and find out, but it probably isn’t a major role.
“It was about a year ago that we did the movie Ballerina,” said McShane. “They’ve looked at it, and Chad’s come in, the guy who directed all the John Wick movies, and they want to make it better. Keanu’s in it as well. It takes place between John Wick 3 and John Wick 4.”
The timeline was also revealed in that Ballerina’s action takes place smack dab in the middle of Chapter 3 and Chapter 4 so hence why Wick himself can be in it.
How not good is Ballerina? I feel that it wasn’t all too bad as they’re making it sound now and how does McShane know it wasn’t as good as he hasn’t seen the movie as it is shot now. I think this just goes to show that only Stahelski should direct anything John Wick related or pass the baton to someone like himself who comes from an action and stunt background. Sam Hargrave is another one that comes to immediate mind.
The synopsis for Ballerina stars Ana de Armis as a trained assassin from the Ruska Roma that was teased in Chapter 3 who goes on a kill mission when her family is murdered. Len Wiseman is directing from a script penned Shay Hatten (Army of the Dead) with James Myers overseeing for Lionsgate. The additional cast includes Anjelica Huston who reprises her character from the third film along with Gabriel Byrne, the late Lance Reddick in one of his final roles, Catalina Sandino Moreno, and The Walking Dead’s Norman Reedus. McShane and Keanu Reeves are set to make special appearances in the movie.
It looks like Lionsgate will have to go into damage control and now we have over a year to wait to see if Ballerina is any good or not and whether it’s worthy of being in the John Wick universe as it won’t hit until June 6th of 2025. How McShane’s relationship with Lionsgate continues will be interesting to follow in the future as he basically let the cat out of the bag and said things not for public consumption. Stay tuned…
