Lionsgate’s John Wick franchise is one of its biggest assets as of now. What started as a film series is now an entire franchise with spin-off shows and movies under its belt. This is not to say that anyone is complaining. If anything, fans are in eternal awe of how well the universe has been built and has not missed a hit so far.
Fans have been wondering for quite some time whether or not the lead character of the film series made it alive after the events of the fourth installment. With the spin-off movie, initially known as Ballerina, now getting closer to its release date, it has been finally revealed which timeline it is set in. This may or may not give fans an answer to the one question they all have been asking.
Which Timeline is John Wick Spin-off Ballerina Set In?
The foundations of the John Wick franchise were laid back in 2014 when the first film was released. The neo-noir action franchise follows the story of the eponymous legendary hitman who reluctantly returns to the underworld after his dog, a final gift from his deceased wife, is killed by some people.
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Once Wick returned to that murky place again, there was no going back and he has been putting up well so far. The billion-dollar franchise has earned a tremendous amount of critical appreciation for setting new standards for action movies. Every new movie left fans wanting more and there is only so much Wick can do alone, so they started focusing on other prospects too.
One of those turned out to be the spin-off movie titled From the World of John Wick: Ballerina. Recently, a trailer (via YouTube) for the movie has been released and some fans might be confused about Wick’s presence in it, considering many assumed that he is dead after what happened in Chapter 4. Luckily, Reeves himself clarified the timeline for the upcoming movie in an interview with Collider in 2023.
So it takes place between Chapter Three and Chapter Four, which is nice.
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It is also nice for fans because this means that this new story is not set too early on in the timeline. If that were the case, the entire lore would have to be retold and that doesn’t end well, more often than not. That said, there is still no confirmation about Wick being alive in the next installment.
What Else Do We Know About From the World of John Wick: Ballerina?
The prequel began to shape up all the way back in 2017 when The Hollywood Reporter reported that Lionsgate had acquired a female-centric spec script. In 2022, the film was officially announced and it was revealed that Ana de Armas would be playing the role of Eve Macarro, replacing Unity Phelan, who made a cameo in Chapter 3- Parabellum as the same character.
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With a script by Shay Hatten and Len Wiseman (Underworld) on the director’s chair, the film follows the story of Eve, a ballerina-turned-assassin who wants to seek revenge for the murder of her family. Besides Reeves returning for a cameo, the film has an ensemble cast featuring Armas, Ian McShane, Norman Reedus, Gabriel Byrne, Anjelica Huston, Catalina Sandino Moreno, and the late Lance Reddick.
From the World of John Wick: Ballerina is set to waltz into the theatres on June 6, 2025.
Frequently asked questions
When does Ballerina take place in the John Wick timeline?
According to the article, Keanu Reeves clarified the setting in a 2023 interview with Collider, saying the spin-off takes place between Chapter Three and Chapter Four. That placement, which lines up with the film’s confirmed position between John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019) and Chapter 4 (2023), means Eve Macarro’s revenge story slots in without having to retell the existing franchise lore.
Is John Wick alive in the Ballerina spin-off?
The article reports that Ballerina is set between Chapter Three and Chapter Four, and Keanu Reeves returns as John Wick. However, it notes there was still no confirmation about whether Wick is alive in the next installment. Because the film predates the events of Chapter Four, his appearance here does not answer the question of his ultimate fate.
Who stars in From the World of John Wick: Ballerina?
Ana de Armas plays Eve Macarro, a ballerina-turned-assassin seeking revenge for her family’s murder; the role builds on the young ballerina Unity Phelan portrayed in Chapter 3 – Parabellum. The ensemble includes Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, Norman Reedus, Gabriel Byrne, Anjelica Huston, Catalina Sandino Moreno, and the late Lance Reddick in his final screen role. Len Wiseman directs from a screenplay by Shay Hatten.
