Ballerinais the first spinoff film in the John Wick universe, and despite plenty of fan theories, the first trailer seems to suggest that it’s going to be more disconnected from the main series than most expected.The movie takes place during the events ofJohn Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellumand follows a new character called Eve, played by Ana de Armas, as she’s pulled into the Continental’s world of violence and espionage.Eve didn’t appear previously in John Wick, but her character will have fascinating connections to the previous movies that will be surely explored on-screen.
Details aboutBallerinahave been sparse, but the trailer suggests that Eve is one of the ballet-trained assassins belonging to Ruska Roma. These were introduced inParabellumand quickly became an important part of theJohn Wickuniverse;this givesBallerinaa clear connection to the main series, but it may not be as tangible and concrete as many were expecting. Some popular theories suggested thatBallerinawould be a direct sequel toParabellum, but the trailer seems to create some distance between the projects.
Ana De Armas' Ballerina Character Was In John Wick 3 According To A Theory
The Theory Suggests Ballerina Could Be Connected To John Wick 3
The main theory beforeBallerina’s first trailer was that Ana de Armas’ character would be revealed to be the Ruska Roma ballerina that was seen dancing during John Wick’s visit inParabellum. This seemed to make lots of sense given the spinoff title and the physical appearance of both characters, although it was unclear how this figure would fit into the story at all. Her role inParabellumwas very small, and despite her connections to Ruska Roma and the New York crime syndicate,there was no clear way to attach her narrative to Wick’s.
This theory certainly made sense, asthe timeline ofBallerinaintersects with the events ofParabellum, but the trailer ultimately proves it false. However, had it been true, it would have been a very interesting way of connecting the two projects, which is something thatBallerinaalmost certainly has to pull off to succeed.This was the main problem withThe Continental- that spinoff felt very disconnected and unimportant in the grand scheme of the franchise, whichBallerinamust avoid.
Ballerina Confirms Ana De Armas' Eve Maccaro Is Different From John Wick 3’s Dancer
Though It’s Possible They Have Similar Origins
Despite the strengths of the theory,Ballerina’s initial trailer all but proves that Eve Maccaro is not the same character as the ballet dancer fromJohn Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum. Their appearance is similar, butthere are clear distinctions that separate them- most notably their tattoos. They also have different hairstyles, slightly different builds, and Maccaro’s style is completely different. The trailer proves this fact as clearly as possible without explicitly stating it, effectively putting an end to this theory.
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However, although Maccaro is not the same ballerina that was seen inParabellum, that doesn’t mean that there’s no connection at all. Ana de Armas’ protagonist could still have interesting attachments to this association, bringing Ruska Roma into the forefront of the story and giving them an important role in this spinoff.That seems like a logical way to bring Wick into the story, as the laterJohn Wicksequels have closely explored his complicated relationship with the syndicate.
Details about the plot ofBallerinaare still few and far between, but the trailer makes it obvious that Maccaro is just as talented and creative as John Wick when it comes to fighting and combat. There will surely bestunts that rivalJohn Wick’s best, as Maccaro finds herself in increasingly dangerous situations. The Ruska Roma ballerina didn’t seem that well-versed in combat, so it makes sense thatBallerinahas chosen another character as its protagonist.
The John Wick Franchise Is Better Off Not Making Ana De Armas John Wick 3’s Ballerina
It’s For The Best That Ana De Armas Is Playing A New Character
Ultimately, the decision to keep Eve Maccaro separate from the ballerina inParabellumwas likely a smart one. Not only does her original character make it easier forKeanu Reeves to appear inBallerina, but it also gives the writers much more creative freedom when deciding which direction the story could take. IfBallerinahad centered around a character that already existed,the writers would have needed to keep track of whatever information already exists, and write the narrative around that. This way, there are no restrictions on the character andBallerinacould truly go in any direction.
With all the high-stakes action and espionage storytelling, it’s exciting that the audience knows absolutely nothing about this original character.
Maccaro being an original character also makes her much more mysterious and enigmatic, which seems to be the style thatBallerinais going for. With all the high-stakes action and espionage storytelling, it’s exciting that the audience knows absolutely nothing about this original character. It’s a privilege that audiences haven’t really had since the firstJohn Wickmovie, and while it’s great for characters to have rich backstories that writers can capitalize on, it’s equally exciting to be given a totally fresh slate without any constraints.
Ballerina Still Makes Ana De Armas' Eve Maccaro Part Of John Wick 3
There’s Still A Glaring Connection To Parabellum
Although Maccaro turned out to be an original character, at least part of the theory ended up being true -Ballerinawill take place at the same time asParabellum, and this is how the protagonist will come into contact with John Wick for the first time.The trailer even includes several scenes from the thirdJohn Wickmovietold from Maccaro’s perspective, proving that she was involved in the events of the film, even if she wasn’t seen on-screen. This will retroactively give a new layer of detail toParabellum, which is already one of thebestJohn Wickmovies.
Maccaro’s presence in the shadows ofJohn Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellumraises some interesting questions about her character and motivations, giving the film plenty of room to explore these mysteries. It’s unknown whether Maccaro and Wick have any kind of history together, but if that’s the case,Ballerinacould be a fascinating spinoff that takes the best aspects of theJohn Wickmovies and places them in a totally different environment. The future of theJohn Wickfranchise is uncertain after the shock ending ofJohn Wick: Chapter 4, butBallerinais shaping up to be a worthy replacement.
From the World of John Wick: Ballerina
Cast
Ballerina follows Eve Macarro during the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, as she undergoes rigorous training in the assassin traditions of the Ruska Roma. The film expands on the John Wick universe, charting Eve’s initiation into the clandestine world of professional assassins.
