The return of Keanu Reeves as the legendary Baba Yaga in ‘Ballerina’ might feel like a no-brainer to fans of the John Wick universe. However, for director and franchise co-creator Chad Stahelski, it was a tough call.
Stahelski recently admitted that he was initially against Wick’s inclusion in the Ana de Armas-led spinoff. And that honesty? It shows how seriously he takes storytelling integrity.
John Wick’s Surprising Comeback In ‘Ballerina’ Wasn’t Always Part Of The Plan
In a candid interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the director explained how he was against the idea at first “To be honest, I was kind of against it,” Stahelski said. His reasons were clear: ‘Ballerina’ wasn’t originally written with John Wick in mind. The story focuses entirely on Eve Macarro, a young assassin played by Ana de Armas, trained by the same shadowy Ruska Roma that once shaped John Wick himself.
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The intent was to give Ballerina her own lane in the violent ballet of the Wick-verse. However, then came ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’. A global smash hit and arguably the most cinematic entry in the franchise, the film raised the bar. “We had just opened John Wick 4 and it was huge,” Stahelski noted. In a media landscape where audiences crave connections between installments, letting ‘Ballerina‘ fly solo felt commercially risky.
“He [Wiseman, director of Ballerina] couldn’t go back to the model of the first John Wick and do a little $18 million indie thing and try to build it up.” So the team made a tough but calculated pivot. Reeves was brought in, not to overshadow Eve, but to deepen the universe’s connective tissue. “In order to stay in the same game, you got to give him a fighting chance… the easiest way to transfer that over… was to have Wick in Ballerina in a special timeline.” Moreover, Stahelski doesn’t want audiences to think Reeves’ return is a new default. “John Wick will not be in the planned Donnie Yen Caine spinoff,” he confirmed.
Director Chad Stahelski Believes Superhero Films Still Don’t Know How To Do Action Sequences Right
For a guy who’s redefined modern action cinema, Chad Stahelski isn’t shy about calling out what’s not working. In the same interview, Stahelski broke down the biggest pitfall of Marvel and DC’s flashy fight sequences. And he believes it’s caused by a lack of narrative cohesion. “The biggest problem with action movies is people think they’re making two separate movies,” he said.
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“The story doesn’t stop just because there’s punching and kicking.” And that according to him is what makes John Wick resonate. In many superhero blockbusters, the action is often outsourced to second-unit directors which makes it inconsistent. So, it’s jarring when one moment you’re watching a character’s heartfelt monologue, and the next, they’re replaced by CGI in a sequence that feels tonally disconnected.
“Even the coloring and editing is different,” Stahelski added. “If you don’t want to shoot your own action, then don’t do the movie.” Stahelski’s philosophy is simple, the best filmmakers take ownership of every aspect of their films, especially the action. Directors like Spielberg, Nolan, Guy Ritchie, and the Wachowskis shoot their own stunts and fights. In Stahelski’s view, even perfect choreography means nothing if the audience isn’t emotionally invested in the character delivering it.
