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Tag: anjelica-huston

Every Wes Anderson Movie, Ranked

Director Wes Anderson on the set of ‘The Phoenician Scheme’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of TPS Productions/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.

Filmmaker Wes Anderson is one of the most visionary and unique directors of his generation.

Anderson’s comedies are known for their specific direction, fantastic production design, and unique musical choices, as well as his ensemble cast of frequent collaborators that include Owen Wilson, Luke Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Angelica Huston, Adrien Brody, Tony Revolori, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Tilda Swinton, Benicio del Toro, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston and many more.

In honor of Anderson’s new movie, ‘The Phoenician Scheme‘, which opens in select theaters on May 30th before opening wide on June 6th, Moviefone is counting down every film of Wes Anderson’s impressive career, including his latest.

Let’s begin!

13. ‘The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More‘ (2024)

Benedict Cumberbatch as Henry Sugar in ‘The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More.’ Photo: Netflix ©2023.

Four tales unfold in Wes Anderson’s anthology of short films adapted from Roald Dahl‘s beloved stories, “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar”, “The Swan”, “The Rat Catcher”, and “Poison”.
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12. ‘The Darjeeling Limited‘ (2007)

(L to R) Jason Schwartzman, Adrien Brody and Owen Wilson in ‘The Darjeeling Limited’. Photo: Fox Searchlight Pictures.

Three American brothers (Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, and Jason Schwartzman) who have not spoken to each other in a year set off on a train voyage across India with a plan to find themselves and bond with each other — to become brothers again like they used to be. Their “spiritual quest”, however, veers rapidly off-course (due to events involving over-the-counter pain killers, Indian cough syrup, and pepper spray).
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11. ‘Bottle Rocket‘ (1996)

(L to R) Luke Wilson and Owen Wilson in ‘Bottle Rocket’. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.

Upon his release from a mental hospital following a nervous breakdown, the directionless Anthony (Luke Wilson) joins his friend Dignan (Owen Wilson), who seems far less sane than the former. Dignan has hatched a hair-brained scheme for an as-yet-unspecified crime spree that somehow involves his former boss, the (supposedly) legendary Mr. Henry (James Caan).
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10. ‘The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou‘ (2004)

The cast of ‘The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou’. Photo: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution.

Renowned oceanographer Steve Zissou (Bill Murray) has sworn vengeance upon the rare shark that devoured a member of his crew. In addition to his regular team, he is joined on his boat by Ned (Owen Wilson), a man who believes Zissou to be his father, and Jane (Cate Blanchett), a journalist pregnant by a married man. They travel the sea, all too often running into pirates and, perhaps more traumatically, various figures from Zissou’s past, including his estranged wife, Eleanor (Anjelica Huston).
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9. ‘Asteroid City‘ (2023)

(L to R) Jake Ryan, Jason Schwartzman and Tom Hanks in director Wes Anderson’s ‘Asteroid City,’ a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Pop. 87 Productions/Focus Features.

The itinerary of a Junior Stargazer/Space Cadet convention (organized to bring together students and parents from across the country for fellowship and scholarly competition) is spectacularly disrupted by world-changing events.
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8. ‘Isle of Dogs‘ (2018)

A scene from ‘Isle of Dogs’. Photo: Fox Searchlight Pictures.

In the future, an outbreak of canine flu leads the mayor of a Japanese city to banish all dogs to an island that’s a garbage dump. The outcasts must soon embark on an epic journey when a 12-year-old boy (Koyu Rankin) arrives on the island to find his beloved pet.
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7. ‘Rushmore‘ (1998)

(L to R) Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman in ‘Rushmore’. Photo: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution.

When a beautiful first-grade teacher (Olivia Williams) arrives at a prep school, she soon attracts the attention of an ambitious teenager named Max (Jason Schwartzman), who quickly falls in love with her. Max turns to the father (Bill Murray) of two of his schoolmates for advice on how to woo the teacher. However, the situation soon gets complicated when Max’s new friend becomes involved with her, setting the two pals against one another in a war for her attention.
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6. ‘Moonrise Kingdom‘ (2012)

(L to R) Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Bruce Willis and Edward Norton in ‘Moonrise Kingdom’. Photo: Focus Features.

Set on an island off the coast of New England in the summer of 1965, Moonrise Kingdom tells the story of two twelve-year-olds (Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward) who fall in love, make a secret pact, and run away together into the wilderness. As various authorities try to hunt them down, a violent storm is brewing off-shore – and the peaceful island community is turned upside down in more ways than anyone can handle.
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5. ‘The Phoenician Scheme‘ (2025)

Benicio Del Toro stars as Zsa-Zsa Korda in director Wes Anderson’s ‘The Phoenician Scheme’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of TPS Productions/Focus Features © 2025 All Rights Reserved.

The story of a family and a family business. Starring Benicio del Toro, Mia Threapleton, and Michael Cera.
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4. ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel‘ (2014)

Ralph Fiennes stars in ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’. Photo: Fox Searchlight Pictures.

The Grand Budapest Hotel tells of a legendary concierge (Ralph Fiennes) at a famous European hotel between the wars and his friendship with a young employee (Tony Revolori) who becomes his trusted protégé. The story involves the theft and recovery of a priceless Renaissance painting, the battle for an enormous family fortune and the slow and then sudden upheavals that transformed Europe during the first half of the 20th century.
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3. ‘Fantastic Mr. Fox‘ (2009)

George Clooney as Mr. Fox in ‘Fantastic Mr. Fox’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.

The Fantastic Mr. Fox (George Clooney) bored with his current life, plans a heist against the three local farmers (Michael Gambon, Robin Hurlstone, and Hugo Guinness). The farmers, tired of sharing their chickens with the sly fox, seek revenge against him and his family.
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2. ‘The French Dispatch‘ (2021)

(L to R) Bencio del Toro and Léa Seydoux in ‘The French Dispatch’. Photo: Searchlight Pictures.

The staff of an American magazine based in France puts out its last issue, with stories featuring an artist sentenced to life imprisonment, student riots, and a kidnapping resolved by a chef.
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1. ‘The Royal Tenenbaums‘ (2001)

The cast of ‘The Royal Tenenbaums’. Photo: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution.

Royal Tenenbaum (Gene Hackman) and his wife Etheline (Anjelica Huston) had three children (Ben Stiller, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Luke Wilson) and then they separated. All three children are extraordinary — all geniuses. Virtually all memory of the brilliance of the young Tenenbaums was subsequently erased by two decades of betrayal, failure, and disaster. Most of this was generally considered to be their father’s fault. “The Royal Tenenbaums” is the story of the family’s sudden, unexpected reunion one recent winter.
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June 8, 2025
Movie Review: ‘From the World of John Wick: Ballerina’
Ana de Armas as Eve in ‘Ballerina’. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.

‘From the World of John Wick: Ballerina’ receives 5.5 out of 10 stars.

Opening in theaters on June 6th is ‘From the World of John Wick: Ballerina‘, which is a spinoff to the ‘John Wick’ franchise that takes place in between the events of ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum’ and ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’.

Directed by Len Wiseman (‘Underworld’), the film stars Ana de Armas (‘No Time to Die’), Gabriel Byrne (‘The Usual Suspects’), and Norman Reedus (‘The Walking Dead’), as well as returning franchise actors Ian McShane as Winston Scott, Lance Reddick as Charon, Anjelica Huston as the Director, and Keanu Reeves as John Wick.

Related Article: Director Chad Stahelski and Producer Josh Oreck Talk ‘Wick Is Pain’

Initial Thoughts

Ana de Armas as Eve in ‘Ballerina’. Photo: Larry D. Horricks.

‘From the World of John Wick: Ballerina’ has shades of what made the previous ‘John Wick’ films great, especially in the second half, but suffers from a boring first half and tonal issues throughout. The first half meanders through exposition and trying too hard to fit into the ‘John Wick’ universe, while the second half succeeds in delivering the type of action sequences we expect from the franchise. Director Len Wiseman fails to inject the first half of the film with any urgency, and instead relies on the second half’s action sequences to sell the movie.

Not surprisingly, Ana de Armas shines in the action sequences, but her character’s backstory is muddled by the slow tone of the first half. We also are meant to follow her as she learns to become an assassin, but this becomes tedious as we want our hero in a ‘John Wick’ movie to be kicking butt and not getting her own butt kicked. The returning ‘Wick’ actors are all welcomed but not given much to do, except for Keanu Reeves in the second half, but even his character seems wasted in a way and brings into question how this movie fits into the larger ‘John Wick’ franchise timeline.

Story and Direction

(L to R) Ana de Armas as Eve and Director Len Wiseman in ‘Ballerina’. Photo: Larry D. Horricks.

The film begins with a flashback revealing how a young Eve Macarro (Victoria Comte) watched as the Chancellor (Gabriel Byrne), a member of the High Table, murdered her father before she escaped, and was taken to the Director (Huston) by Winston Scott (McShane). Through an opening credits montage, we learn that Eve was trained by the Ruska Roma crime syndicate as both a ballet dancer and an assassin.

The story then picks up at the beginning of ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum’, with de Armas now portraying Eve, as she watches the notorious John Wick (Reeves), a former member, now on the run, seek refuge from the Director. After a brief encounter between the two, Wick leaves and the story then jumps ahead several months. Eve is now working as an assassin but struggles with her first assignment. She soon discovers that her target has the same mark on his hand as the man who killed her father.

Looking for revenge, and against the orders of the Director, Eve searches to find Daniel Pine (Reedus), who is trying to protect his own daughter and is also being hunted by the group that killed Eve’s father. Eventually she discovers that the Chancellor is behind her father’s death, and she travels to the remote town of assassins that the Chancellor leads. However, to protect an alliance the Director has with the Chancellor, she hires John Wick to stop Eve from killing him, even if that means John must kill her himself.

Ana de Armas as Eve in ‘Ballerina’. Photo: Larry D. Horricks.

I consider Len Wiseman a serviceable director having made decent films like the ‘Underworld’ franchise and ‘Live Free or Die Hard’, but he is by no means a great director, and hardly my first choice to take over the franchise from Chad Stahelski, who’s brilliant work with the action sequences set the tone for the entire franchise. Wiseman was clearly out of his depths working on a ‘John Wick’ spinoff, and the pacing, tone, and the uninspiring action sequences in the first half of the movie prove it.

But the second half of the film does deliver the fast-paced tone and vibrant action of the previous films, so how did that happen? Well, if rumors are true, Wiseman was replaced during production by producer and ‘John Wick’ director Chad Stahelski, who re-shot most of the movie, particularly the second half’s action sequences and the scenes with Reeves. If this is true, it would explain why the movie feels like two different films. It’s not as bad of a “Frankenstein assembled movie” as say, ‘Justice League’, but it is still quite glaring and I’m not sure why the studio didn’t just hire Stahelski in the first place?

While the tone and pacing are all over the place, and the story itself contradicts the timeline established in the previous movies, if Stahelski did reshoot half the film, it was well worth it and saved the movie from being a complete disaster to a decent action film that gets exceedingly better in the second half.

Cast and Performances

Ana de Armas as Eve in ‘Ballerina’. Photo: Murray Close.

Taking over for real life ballerina Unity Phelan, who played Eve in a cameo in ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum’, Ana de Armas brings a lot to the role. She is captivating on screen and brings true emotion to her character but is also fantastic in the action sequences. However, the poor pacing and confusing tone of the first half of the film does the actress no favors.

The concept of a ‘Ballerina’ movie, so I thought, was to establish a “Female John Wick” in this cinematic universe, but the first half of the film feels more like “Female John Wick Begins”, with the character still finding her way as an assassin. That might have worked in any other film, but this is a ‘John Wick’ movie, and if Eve is going to go up against “Baba Yaga” himself, I would have wanted the character to be a match in experience and fighting skills to Wick.

Once she does face off with Wick towards the film’s finale, she is able to go toe to toe with him, but that doesn’t exactly align with the character that was established earlier in the movie. But regardless, de Armas is a very strong actress, and despite the film’s shortcomings, carries the movie well, especially in the later action sequences. The character is a great addition to the franchise but will perhaps be better used in a supporting role in a possible ‘John Wick: Chapter 5’, rather than in her own series.

(L to R) Ana de Armas as Eve and Keanu Reeves as John Wick in ‘Ballerina’. Photo: Courtesy of Lionsgate.

It’s always great to see Keanu Reeves playing this character, but except for a cameo appearance in the beginning, he is not given much to do until the end. While the inclusion of his character was meant to bridge the gap between this film and the original series, it does take the audience’s attention away from Eve, and this really should be her story.

Reeves inclusion at the end also feels like a desperate move to link the films, and the timeline of how this happens might be confusing for some. My guess is that the end of ‘Ballerina’ takes place between the end of ‘Parabellum’ and the beginning of ‘Chapter 4’, but it’s hard to really know. Having previously worked together on ‘Knock Knock’ and ‘Exposed’, Reeves and de Armas do have strong chemistry together, which shows in their scenes.

As for the rest of the returning ‘Wick’ characters, none of them are given much to do. Anjelica Huston is good as the Director, but after the beginning of the movie, is relegated to “phone acting” in most of her subsequent scenes and the history of the character is never really explored.

(L to R) Ian McShane as Winston Scott and Ana de Armas as Eve in ‘Ballerina’. Photo: Courtesy of Lionsgate.

The same could be said for Ian McShane’s Winston Scott, who is de-aged for his opening scene with a young Eve, and then not really revisited till the end of the movie. I would have liked the film to explore his connection to Eve more and have that play a bigger role in the story. But it was a treat to see the late great Lance Reddick return one more time as Winston’s right hand man Charon, even if his role is a glorified cameo.

Gabriel Byrne’s Chancellor fits well into the seedy world of ‘John Wick’ and is a strong advisory to Eve. The actor walks the thin line between generic bad guy and a real emotional and physical threat and does his best to overcome the script’s shortcomings. ‘The Walking Dead’s Norman Reedus is also a good addition to the franchise, but his role was cut short, and I really would have liked it if the film had explored his character, relationship to his daughter, and encounter with Eve more. As it is, Reedus only has one scene but does the best he can with it.

Final Thoughts

Ana de Armas as Eve in ‘Ballerina’. Photo: Murray Close.

In short, ‘From the World of John Wick: Ballerina’ was not as bad as I feared, but not as good as I had hoped. While the first half is slow and does not feel like a ‘John Wick’ movie, the second half is more of what I expected, and is worth watching. But despite some great action sequences and strong performances from both de Armas and Reeves, the movie fails to truly resonate for ‘Wick’ fans and non-fans alike.
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What is the plot of ‘From the World of John Wick: Ballerina’?

Taking place between the events of ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum’ and ‘Chapter 4’, Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas), a ballerina-assassin, begins to train in the assassin traditions of the Ruska Roma and sets out to exact revenge for her father’s death.

Who is in the cast of ‘From the World of John Wick: Ballerina’?
- Ana de Armas as Eve Macarro
- Anjelica Huston as the Director
- Gabriel Byrne as the Chancellor
- Ian McShane as Winston Scott
- Lance Reddick as Charon
- Norman Reedus as Daniel Pine
- Keanu Reeves as John Wick
(L to R) Lance Reddick as Charon, Ian McShane as Winston Scott and Ana de Armas as Eve Macarro in ‘Ballerina’. Photo: Larry D. Horricks.

List of Movies and TV Shows in the ‘John Wick’ Franchise:
- ‘John Wick‘ (2014)
- ‘John Wick: Chapter 2‘ (2017)
- ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum‘ (2019)
- ‘John Wick: Chapter 4‘ (2023)
- ‘The Continental: From the World of John Wick‘ (2023)
- ‘Wick Is Pain‘ (2025)
- ‘From the World of John Wick: Ballerina‘ (2025)
Buy Tickets: ‘From the World of John Wick: Ballerina’ Movie Showtimes

Buy ‘John Wick’ Movies On Amazon
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June 4, 2025
‘From the World of John Wick: Ballerina’ Interview: Ana de Armas
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‘From the World of John Wick: Ballerina‘, which is a spinoff to the ‘John Wick’ franchise that takes place in between the events of ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum’ and ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’, opens in theaters on June 6th.

Directed by Len Wiseman (‘Live Free or Die Hard’), the film stars Ana de Armas (‘No Time to Die’), Gabriel Byrne (‘The Usual Suspects’), and Norman Reedus (‘The Walking Dead’), as well as returning franchise actors Ian McShane as Winston Scott, Lance Reddick as Charon, Anjelica Huston as the Director, and Keanu Reeves as John Wick.

Related Article: Director Chad Stahelski and Producer Josh Oreck Talk ‘Wick Is Pain’

Ana de Armas stars in ‘From the World of John Wick: Ballerina’.

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Ana de Armas about her work on ‘From the World of John Wick: Ballerina’, what ‘John Wick’ fans can expect from the movie, shooting the action sequences, reuniting on screen with Keanu Reeves, and joining the iconic franchise.

You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with de Armas, Ian McShane, Norman Reedus, and director Len Wiseman.

Ana de Armas as Eve in ‘Ballerina’. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.

Moviefone: To begin with, what would you say to ‘John Wick’ fans sitting down right now to watch this movie in a theater to prepare them for the action-packed experience they are about to have?

Ana de Armas: Just get a lot of popcorn and get ready for a wild ride. I mean, if they like the ‘John Wick’ (movies), this is right down their alley. It’s a perfect addition and extension of the franchise and I think they’re going to be really surprised and they’re going to have a blast.

Ana de Armas as Eve in ‘Ballerina’. Photo: Larry D. Horricks.

MF: Can you talk about preparing physically for the action sequences and working with the incredible stunt team at 87eleven Productions?

ADA: It was wonderful. I enjoyed every second of it. I also was in a lot of pain at times, but it was part of the process, and it just transformed me. It pushed me to my limits, it changed my body, it changed my endurance, my discipline, and the way I just approached my everyday life during filming. It was just great to feel like you’re getting good at something, like you’re learning new stuff. I love that, learning new skills and that you’re capable of doing these things. It was fun.

(L to R) Ana de Armas as Eve and Keanu Reeves as John Wick in ‘Ballerina’. Photo: Courtesy of Lionsgate.

MF: What was it like reuniting with actor Keanu Reeves on screen after making ‘Knock Knock’ and ‘Exposed’, and having his blessing for joining the franchise?

ADA: It was great. It was special. Ten years after we met, we’re here working together again. ‘John Wick’ and the franchise is what it is because of him and what he’s done. I have so much respect for him as an actor and the work they’ve done with the movies. Just to have him on set on my film now supporting me and like you said, giving his blessing to this extension of the franchise, it was a dream come true. Have him walking, wearing the John Wick suit again and in such a cool scene between the two characters, was just amazing.

(L to R) Lance Reddick as Charon, Ian McShane as Winston Scott and Ana de Armas as Eve Macarro in ‘Ballerina’. Photo: Larry D. Horricks.

MF: Finally, you are now officially a member of the ‘John Wick’ cinematic universe. What does it mean to you personally to join this franchise and be part of its legacy?

ADA: It’s amazing. It’s something I never thought was going to come my way and it just means a lot. I love just being a part of it. Whatever happens with ‘Ballerina’, whatever we go from now, I just know that I am a part of something special.
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What is the plot of ‘From the World of John Wick: Ballerina’?

Taking place between the events of ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum’ and ‘Chapter 4’, Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas), a ballerina-assassin, begins to train in the assassin traditions of the Ruska Roma and sets out to exact revenge for her father’s death.

Who is in the cast of ‘From the World of John Wick: Ballerina’?
- Ana de Armas as Eve Macarro
- Anjelica Huston as the Director
- Gabriel Byrne as the Chancellor
- Ian McShane as Winston Scott
- Lance Reddick as Charon
- Norman Reedus as Daniel Pine
- Keanu Reeves as John Wick
Ana de Armas as Eve in ‘Ballerina’. Photo: Larry D. Horricks.

List of Movies and TV Shows in the ‘John Wick’ Franchise:
- ‘John Wick‘ (2014)
- ‘John Wick: Chapter 2‘ (2017)
- ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum‘ (2019)
- ‘John Wick: Chapter 4‘ (2023)
- ‘The Continental: From the World of John Wick‘ (2023)
- ‘Wick Is Pain‘ (2025)
- ‘From the World of John Wick: Ballerina‘ (2025)
Buy Tickets: ‘From the World of John Wick: Ballerina’ Movie Showtimes

Buy ‘John Wick’ Movies On Amazon
June 2, 2025
‘John Wick’ Spin-Off ‘Ballerina’ Delayed By a Year
Ana de Armas in ‘The Gray Man.’ Courtesy of Netflix © 2022.

Preview:
- ‘John Wick’ spin-off ‘Ballerina’ is moving back a year.
- The Ana de Armas-starring movie is adding some extra actions.
- Lionsgate is moving ‘The Crow’ re-imagining into the film’s slot this year.
Things are changing on the ‘John Wick’ spin-off front. While ‘Ballerina’, the Ana de Armas-starring new movie, had been scheduled for June 7th, will now move back a year.

But before you start worrying that the High Table has somehow found a way to hobble the main character, fear not: it’s for a good reason.
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What is happening with the ‘Ballerina’ movie?

(L-R) Chad Stahelski and Keanu Reeves attend the Lionsgate CinemaCon presentation in support of ‘John Wick: Chapter Four’ at the Colosseum Theatre in Caesar’s Palace on April 28th, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Eric Charbonneau.

According to Deadline, the change is happening so the ‘Ballerina’ team can add in some extra action scenes.

Chad Stahelski, who has directed ever ‘Wick’ movie since the first, has been promoted to oversee the wider franchise for Lionsgate, and is now going to help director Len Wiseman with boosting the action quotient of the new movie. Which makes sense, since the ‘Wick’ films are always full of stunts and set-pieces.

What’s the story of ‘Ballerina’?

Anjelica Huston as “The Director” in ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum.’ Photo: Lionsgate.

‘Ballerina’ will follow the Ballerina character, played by de Armas, glimpsed briefly (and there brought to life Unity Phelan) in ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum’ and tracks a young assassin who seeks revenge against the people who killed her family. Which feels fitting for a ‘Wick’ movie.

Wiseman, who has worked on the likes of ‘Underworld’ and ‘Live Free or Die Hard’, directed the new movie, based on a script by Shay Hatten (who wrote ‘Chapter Three’).

The cast for the new movie also includes Norman Reedus, Anjelica Huston, Catalina Sandino Moreno, and Gabriel Byrne, plus ‘Wick’ stalwarts Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane and the late Lance Reddick (since the majority of the movie was shot back in 2022).

Related Article: Keanu Reeves and Ian McShane will Appear in ‘John Wick’ Spin-Off ‘Ballerina’

When will ‘Ballerina’ be in theaters?

The action movie is now targeting a June 6th, 2025 release slot. Which might be a smart move, since it plants a flag on a date that is currently empty of competitors.

What is moving into ‘Ballerina’s old release slot?

Brandon Lee as Eric Draven / The Crow in ‘The Crow.’ Photo: Miramax Films.

If you’re wondering what you can watch instead of ‘Ballerina’, Lionsgate has a plan for that. The studio is moving the new version of ‘The Crow’ to the June 7th date this year.

Directed by Rupert Sanders, the new adaptation of the James O’Barr graphic novel stars Bill Skarsgård as Eric Draven, who is brutally murdered alongside his soulmate Shelly Webster (FKA twigs) when the demons of her dark past catch up with them.
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Given the chance to save his true love by sacrificing himself, Eric sets out to seek merciless revenge on their killers, traversing the worlds of the living and the dead to put the wrong things right.

The movie also stars Danny Huston, Laura Birn, Sami Bouajila, and Jordan Bolger. But it’ll be under plenty of pressure, since the 1994 original is considered a cult classic. And the new movie will be up against Ishana Night Shyamalan’s (daughter of M. Night) horror pic ‘The Watchers’ on that June date.

Keanu Reeves as John Wick in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’ Photo Credit: Murray Close.

Other Movies Similar to ‘Ballerina’:
- ‘John Wick‘ (2014)
- ‘Atomic Blonde‘ (2017)
- ‘John Wick: Chapter 2‘ (2017)
- ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum‘ (2019)
- ‘Nobody‘ (2021)
- ‘John Wick: Chapter 4‘ (2023)
Buy ‘John Wick’ Movies On Amazon
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February 22, 2024
Norman Reedus joins ‘John Wick’ Spin-Off ‘Ballerina’

Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon in AMC’s ‘The Walking Dead.’

Unlike the usually frenetic pace of the ‘John Wick’ movies themselves, the pace of information about casting for the in-production movie spin-off film ‘Ballerina’ has been more of a slow, consistent drip feed.

And the latest word on the ensemble is that ‘The Walking Dead’ mainstay Norman Reedus is now aboard.

“We’re huge fans of Norman, and we’re confident that the fans will be just as excited as we are that he’s joining the ‘Wick’ universe,” producer Erica Lee. “He’ll make an incredible addition to ‘Ballerina.’ ”

Nothing is known yet about exactly what role Reedus will be filling, but the movie stars ‘No Time to Die’ and ‘Knives Out’ actor Ana de Armas as the title character.

Len Wiseman, better known for the likes of the ‘Underworld’ franchise and ‘Live Free or Die Hard’, is in the director’s chair for the movie, which has a script from ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum’ co-writer Shay Hatten.

‘Ballerina’ will follow the Ballerina character glimpsed briefly (and there played by Unity Phelan) in ‘Parabellum’ and tracks a young assassin who seeks revenge against the people who killed her family. Which does feel apt for something set in John Wick’s world.

Ian McShane in ‘John Wick: Chapter 2’

So far, the movie’s cast has started to feel like a reunion for ‘Wick’ performers, as several veterans of the main film series are confirmed to be showing up. Ian McShane, for example, will be back as Winston, the manager of the Continental hotel, part of the chain of luxury facilities which offers accommodation and assistance to assassins such as John Wick.

Lance Reddick is once more playing Charon, the concierge of the main Continental in New York, while Anjelica Huston will show up as the Director, the head of the Ruska Roma crime organization who raised Wick and trains young women like the Ballerina.

More recently, ‘Maria Full of Grace’s Catalina Sandino Moreno has also boarded the movie, though like Reedus, she’s a new character in the story.

And talking of John Wick, the Keanu Reeves character who kicked (and punched and shot) it all off, is reportedly making a cameo in the new film.

Many of the ‘Wick’ regulars will also show up in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’, which is much further along. ‘Ballerina’ has yet to chalk up a release date, while ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ is headed our way on March 24th next year.

As for Reedus, he recently wrapped up a 12-year run on ‘The Walking Dead’, the zombie-crammed survival series that became a massive pop cultural sensation. He hasn’t left that world completely behind, though, as he’s filming a spin-off series focused on his character, Daryl Dixon.

Movie-wise, he’s part of the cast for Jeff Nichols’ new movie, ‘The Bikeriders’, which also features Tom Hardy, Austin Butler and Michael Shannon. That one has been shooting since October but doesn’t yet have a release date on the books.

Anjelica Huston to reprise her role as the Director, starring opposite Ana de Armas in ‘Ballerina,’ the new film set in the ‘John Wick’ universe. Photo: Lionsgate.
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December 16, 2022
Casting Round-Up: ‘Ballerina’, ‘Loki’, ‘Daredevil: Born Again’

(L to R) Lance Reddick as Albert, in ‘Resident Evil.’ Photo: Marcos Cruz/Netflix © 2021.

At this point, it’s looking that ‘Ballerina, the Ana de Armas-starring ‘John Wick’ spin-off, will feature a wealth of people from the main franchise, at least to help it initially.

The latest recruit for the movie, according to Variety, is Lance Reddick, who has appeared in all three ‘Wick’ movies, and will once again play Charon, concierge at the assassin-catering Continental Hotel.

“Charon is an indispensable part of the world of ‘Wick,’ ” producer Erica Lee said in a statement. “It’s great to know that Lance will continue to make his mark on this franchise.”

He’s just the latest piece of crossover casting for the movie, since Keanu Reeves (aka John Wick himself) is reportedly going to show up, though that has yet to be officially confirmed.

Keanu Reeves as John Wick in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’

More solid is word that Ian McShane will be Continental manager in the movie, while Anjelica Huston is aboard as The Director, who is the head of the Ruska Roma crime organization.

Len Wiseman, better known for the likes of the ‘Underworld’ franchise and ‘Live Free or Die Hard’, is in the director’s chair for the movie, which has a script from ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum’ co-writer Shay Hatten.

‘Ballerina’ will follow the Ballerina character glimpsed briefly (and there played by Unity Phelan) in ‘Parabellum’ and tracks a young assassin who seeks revenge against the people who killed her family. Which does feel apt for something set in John Wick’s world.

‘Ballerina’ has yet to chalk up a release date, though ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ is headed our way on March 24th next year.

(L to R) Michael Gandolfini and Alessandro Nivola in ‘The Many Saints of Newark.’

Elsewhere, we have a double dose of Marvel/Disney+ casting news.

Michael Gandolfini, who so far is best known for playing the younger Tony Soprano (the role his father James made famous on TV in ‘The Sopranos’) in ‘Sopranos’ movie prequel ‘The Many Saints of Newark’, is joining ‘Daredevil: Born Again’.

The much-anticipated Disney+ series will see Charlie Cox’s blind lawyer-turned-vigilante fully make the transition from his Netflix years (assuming it is exactly the same character, the jury remains out on that) to the MCU after popping up in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ and his even more memorable recent run on episodes of ‘She-Hulk’.

‘Daredevil: Born Again’ promises to re-ignite the clash between Daredevil and Kingpin, AKA Wilson Fisk, brought to hulking life by Vincent D’Onofrio on the Netflix show and now in ‘Hawkeye’.

Written and executive produced by ‘Covert Affairs creators’ Matt Corman and Chris Ord, the new series’ story is a mystery for now, though we do know it’ll span 18 episodes in its first season.

As for who Gandolfini is playing, Deadline has heard from sources that it could be an ambitious sort called Liam from Staten Island––though that, of course, could be misinformation to throw scoopers off the trail. And who knows if that’s also cover for another comic book character. We’ll know more when the series arrives in 2024.

Marvel Studios’ ‘Daredevil: Born Again.’

Elsewhere in the TV arm of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Deadline’s learned that ‘Game of Thrones’ veteran Kate Dickie is part of the cast for the second season of ‘Loki’.

The show, which saw Tom Hiddleston’s adopted Asgardian and trickster god fall afoul of a mysterious organization known as the Time Variance Agency after affecting the timeline by absconding with the Tesseract during ‘Avengers: Endgame’, ended in a cliffhanger, with Loki in a different timeline.

Season 2’s cast includes the returning likes of Owen Wilson, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Sophia Di Martino, Eugene Cordero and Tara Strong, while ‘Blindspotting’s Rafael Casal was added in July. Dickie’s role is, in keeping with usual Marvel policy, a secret for now, though Deadline’s sources point to her being a villain.

Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead are the main directors for the second season of the show, which has finished shooting and should be on screens next year.

Marvel Studios’ ‘Loki’ Season 2.
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December 2, 2022
Anjelica Huston Joins ‘John Wick’ Spin-Off ‘Ballerina’

Anjelica Huston to reprise her role as the Director, starring opposite Ana de Armas in ‘Ballerina,’ the new film set in the ‘John Wick’ universe. Photo: Lionsgate.

The news continues to arrive about ‘John Wick’ spin-off movie ‘Ballerina’, which has ‘No Time to Die’s Ana de Armas starring. And from the sounds of it, it’ll be even more closely connected to the ‘Wick’ world than we thought.

Lionsgate has announced that Anjelica Huston, who debuted as crime lord The Director in ‘John Wick: Chapter Three – Parabellum’, will also show up in ‘Ballerina.’

This makes sense, since The Director, who is the head of the Ruska Roma crime organization, is seen in that third movie training up young female ballerinas with some very harsh techniques. And she also oversees the training of male orphans as assassins.

It’s to the Director that Keanu Reeves’ embattled hit man comes to for help, though her assistance costs her when the High Table – controllers of crime in the ‘Wick’ world – decide to punish her giving some who is excommunicado by stabbing her in the hands. No one says they’re not literal when it comes to rough justice.

“The idea of ‘Ballerina’ was formed around the scenes with Anjelica in ‘John Wick 3’, says producer Erica Lee. “Anjelica Huston is an icon and is nothing less than Hollywood royalty. The world of Wick is always made richer by her commanding screen presence.”

Len Wiseman, better known for the likes of the ‘Underworld’ franchise and ‘Live Free or Die Hard’, is in the director’s chair for the movie, which has a script from ‘Parabellum’ co-writer Shay Hatten.

Lionsgate also previously announced that Ian McShane, who has played Winston, the complicated manager of the Continental Hotel seen in the movies, will be back to reprise the role.

(L to R) Keanu Reeves and Donnie Yen in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’ Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.

News leaked earlier this month that the key figure in the entire franchise – that would be Keanu Reeves himself – will also show up in the spin-off.

There is, of course, no information about what Wick might be doing in the movie (besides kicking, punching and shooting people, we can only assume), or how big his involvement will be beyond a potential cameo, since this is really intended to focus on de Armas’ character.

‘Ballerina’ will follow the Ballerina character glimpsed briefly (and there played by Unity Phelan) in ‘Parabellum’ and tracks a young assassin who seeks revenge against the people who killed her family. Which does feel apt for something set in John Wick’s world.

“We’re thrilled to have Ian McShane joining us for a pivotal role in ‘Ballerina’, says producer Basil Iwanyk. “He’s been such an integral part of the franchise since the original John Wick. It’s been fun to have him on this journey as the Wick universe expands.”

Reeves and McShane will both also be back for ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’, which put a trailer out recently.

‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ lands in theaters on March 24th next year. ‘Ballerina’ has yet to confirm a release date.

Ana de Armas in ‘The Gray Man.’ Courtesy of Netflix © 2022.
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November 22, 2022
Jacki Weaver Tells Anjelica Huston to F*** Off Over ‘Poms’ Diss

Summit/Sony

Did you read that Anjelica Huston interview with Vulture where she dished about everything from ex Jack Nicholson, to that one critic she still hates, and how she was snubbed by Bill Murray?

Jack Weaver, who costars in the upcoming comedy “Poms” did, and she didn’t appreciate Huston’s dig at her latest movie.

While out promoting the new John Wick movie, Huston told Vulture, “Quite honestly, I’m looking for movies that impress me in some way, that aren’t apologetically humble or humiliating like, ‘Band of cheerleaders gets back together for one last hurrah,’ you know… An old-lady cheerleader movie. I don’t like that kind of thing. If I’m going to be an old lady — and I’m sort of touching old lady these days — at least I want to be a special old lady. I don’t want to be relegated to some has-been making a comeback..”

Ouch. That’s not only a dig against Weaver, but “Poms” costars Diane Keaton, Pam Grier, and Rhea Perlman,

Weaver told Vanity Fair that when she first heard of Huston’s remarks, she “just laughed. And then I said, ‘Well, she can go f— herself.’ I was kind of disappointed. I had always been an admirer of Anjelica. And I thought, ‘That’s a bit mean and petty.’”

And then Weave got a bit petty herself, adding, “I would say she must be going through menopause, but she must have had that ages ago.”

The Australian actress, who received Oscar nominations for “Animal Kingdom” and “Silver Linings Playbook,” lamented “there’s so much ageism in our society.”

She ended with a bit of sympathy for Huston, saying, “Anjelica sounds sad at the moment, I have to say. I think she must be a bit disappointed or she wouldn’t be slagging on people for no reason.” She then added, “including herself, saying she’s an ‘old lady.’”

(For the record, Weaver turns 72 in May, Huston will be 68 in July.)

“Poms” opens May 10. “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum” opens May 17.

[Via The Wrap]

May 3, 2019