 stars Ana de Armas as a trained assassin seeking revenge, alongside Anjelica Huston, Norman Reedus, and Lance Reddick.){kind=link}
Directed by Len Wiseman
Ballerina (2025) premiered in U.S. theaters on June 6, 2025.
Distributed by Lionsgate.
Movie Review
Ballerina (2025) takes the high‑octane world of John Wick and adds a graceful twist.
Ana de Armas commands the screen as Eve Macarro, a former ballet prodigy whose childhood tragedy transforms her into a precision‑focused assassin under the watchful eye of Anjelica Huston’s formidable Director.
Len Wiseman’s direction turns each fight into a choreographed dance—fluid, intense, and visually stunning—while Gabriel Byrne’s chilling Chancellor raises the stakes, and Lance Reddick’s Charon offers quiet, steadfast support.
Keanu Reeves pops in for a brief but meaningful cameo, tying Eve’s journey back to Wick’s legendary mythos.
Although the film sometimes favors style over deeper storytelling, its blend of emotional weight and balletic brutality makes it a thrilling franchise expansion—and marks Ana de Armas’s most physically daring role yet.
Ratings:
• Rotten Tomatoes: 76%
• IMDb: 7.2/10
• Google Audience Score: 76% liked this film.
Ballerina 2025 Actors
Ana de Armas as Eve Macarro
DOB: April 30, 1988
Bio: Born in Havana and raised in Madrid, Ana trained at Madrid’s Eolia school before breaking out in Spanish television.
She moved to Hollywood in 2015, mastering English on the fly to star in Blade Runner 2049 and earning a Golden Globe nod in Knives Out.
Her dedication to physical roles saw her undertake six‑hour daily stunt and ballet training for Ballerina.
Role: Eve is a former ballet prodigy whose family was massacred; rescued and re‑trained by the Ruska Roma as a lethal assassin, she now walks the line between vengeance and redemption.
What to Expect: Combat scenes that blend pointe‑work grace with ferocious martial arts, driven by Eve’s simmering emotional core.
Favorite Things: Ballet barre workouts, stunt rehearsal, collaborating on international film projects.
Notable Works: Blade Runner 2049, Knives Out, No Time to Die, Ghosted.
Victoria Comte as Young Eve
DOB: May 9, 2013
Bio: Victoria Comte is a young French actress making her feature film debut in Ballerina (2025).
She previously appeared in select television roles, including The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon and Inès et Yvan.
She impressed directors with her raw emotional authenticity during audition scenes depicting childhood trauma.
Role: Through flashbacks, Young Eve experiences her parents’ murder—this pivotal moment ignites her transformation and lifelong quest for justice.
What to Expect: A poignant, unguarded performance that underpins Eve’s later steel‑edged resolve.
Favorite Things: Rehearsing dramatic monologues, storytelling through movement.
Notable Works: Ballerina (2025), The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, Inès et Yvan.
Anjelica Huston as The Director
DOB: July 8, 1951
Bio: Daughter of Oscar‑winning director John Huston, Anjelica won her own Oscar for Prizzi’s Honor in 1985.
A classically trained beauty, she’s alternated between horror (The Witches), fantasy (Addams Family), and prestige television, bringing gravitas and cunning to every role.
Role: As head of the Ruska Roma training institute, The Director oversees Eve and John’s rigorous preparation—part mentor, part matriarch, entirely formidable.
What to Expect: A commanding presence that balances nurturing guidance with ruthless discipline.
Favorite Things: Supporting emerging talent, attending ballet performances, fine‑art collecting.
Notable Works: Prizzi’s Honor, The Witches, The Addams Family, The Royal Tenenbaums, John Wick series.
Gabriel Byrne as The Chancellor
DOB: May 12, 1950
Bio: Irish actor and producer whose brooding intensity made him a household name in The Usual Suspects (Oscar‑nominated) and HBO’s In Treatment.
Equally at home on stage and screen, he brings a theatrical flair to villainy.
Role: The Chancellor is the secretive leader of the cult faction that destroyed Eve’s family—his manipulations drive the film’s highest stakes.
What to Expect: Chilling calm, political machinations, and the reveal of his hidden agendas.
Favorite Things: Stage work, complex literary adaptations, exploring antihero characters.
Notable Works: The Usual Suspects, Miller’s Crossing, In Treatment.
Lance Reddick as Charon
DOB: June 7, 1962 (Died March 17, 2023)
Bio: A Yale School of Drama graduate, Lance’s suave, authoritative turn as the Continental concierge in John Wick carved out an iconic supporting role.
Off‑screen, he was a jazz aficionado and theater devotee.
Role: Charon remains the steadfast Continental concierge—Eve’s confidant and protector, guiding her through the High Table’s code with quiet loyalty.
What to Expect: Measured counsel, emotional warmth beneath his impeccable suit, and a final, poignant farewell.
Favorite Things: Live jazz, fine tailoring, mentoring young actors.
Notable Works: John Wick series, The Wire, Fringe.
Norman Reedus as Daniel Pine
DOB: January 6, 1969
Bio: Norman Reedus is an American actor, artist, and motorcycle enthusiast born in Hollywood, Florida.
He began his career as a fashion model for brands like Prada and Calvin Klein before making his acting breakthrough in The Boondock Saints (1999).
Widely recognized for redefining the antihero archetype as Daryl Dixon on The Walking Dead, Reedus is also a published photographer and host of the travel series Ride with Norman Reedus, where he explores global cultures from the seat of his motorcycle.
His work blends rugged physicality with emotional depth.
Role: Daniel Pine is a lone operative whose shifting loyalties intersect with Eve’s mission—ally or adversary, his presence upends every expectation.
What to Expect: Gritty motorcycle pursuit, tense standoffs, and a sting in his moral code.
Favorite Things: Motorcycles, photography, travel, and visual storytelling.
Notable Works: The Walking Dead, Ride with Norman Reedus, The Boondock Saints.
Catalina Sandino Moreno as Lena Macarro
DOB: April 19, 1981
Bio: First Colombian actress Oscar‑nominated for Maria Full of Grace (2004), Catalina also starred in Che and earned critical praise in The Affair.
A champion of Latin American storytellers, she actively produces indie projects.
Role: Eve’s elder sister, once thought dead—now a loyal Ruska Roma enforcer whose reunion with Eve tests their bond and reveals shared trauma.
What to Expect: Intensely emotional confrontations, sisterly loyalties clashing with vengeance.
Favorite Things: Producing Latino‑centered films, cultural preservation, dramatic theater readings.
Notable Works: Maria Full of Grace, Che, The Affair.
Ian McShane as Winston Scott
DOB: September 29, 1942
Bio: English actor and Tony‑nominated. whose sardonic turn as Al Swearengen in Deadwood became legendary.
He’s presided over the New York Continental since the first John Wick, embodying wry authority.
Role: Winston remains the Continental’s lord—offering Eve sanctuary and political guidance while navigating High Table intrigues.
What to Expect: Sharp wit, chess‑like strategy, and a father‑figure gravitas.
Favorite Things: Chess, classic literature, high‑stakes negotiation.
Notable Works: Deadwood, American Gods, John Wick series.
Keanu Reeves as John Wick
DOB: September 2, 1964
Bio: Canadian actor whose soulfulness turned the assassin genre on its head.
From Speed to The Matrix, Reeves has become synonymous with understated intensity and martial‑arts discipline.
Role: In a pivotal cameo, John Wick returns to mentor Eve—his own legendary past casting long shadows over her path.
What to Expect: Iconic gun‑kata combat, stoic mentorship, and a passing of the torch.
Favorite Things: Motorcycles, philanthropy for children’s hospitals, quiet reading.
Notable Works: John Wick series, The Matrix, Speed.
Sharon Duncan‑Brewster as Nogi
DOB: February 8, 1976
Bio: Sharon Duncan‑Brewster is a British actress known for her commanding presence and compelling performances across science fiction and drama.
She gained international recognition as Dr. Liet-Kynes in Dune (2021) and as Senator Tynnra Pamlo in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016).
With a career spanning television, film, and stage, Duncan‑Brewster is also celebrated for her roles in Sex Education, Enola Holmes 2, and Doctor Who.
Role: Nogi is Eve’s primary Ruska Roma instructor—an echo of folklore who teaches both combat and cultural lore, blending mythic ritual with real‑world sacrifice.
What to Expect: Rigorous training rites, myth‑shrouded counsel, and emotional initiation.
Favorite Things: Advocacy for inclusive storytelling, engaging in genre-driven ensemble projects.
Notable Works: Dune, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Enola Holmes 2.
David Castañeda as Javier Macarro
DOB: October 24, 1989
Bio: David Castañeda is a Mexican-American actor best known for his role as Diego Hargreeves in Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy.
Trained in film production and engineering before pursuing acting, Castañeda combines technical skill with emotional depth in his performances.
His work often centers on themes of family and redemption.
Role: Javier appears in flashbacks as Eve’s father—his death underpins her vendetta and drives the film’s emotional stakes.
What to Expect: Tender father‑daughter moments, familial legacy shaping Eve’s choices.
Favorite Things: Comic‑book lore, action choreography, reprising complex roles.
Notable Works: The Umbrella Academy, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.
Choi Soo‑young as Katla Park
DOB: February 10, 1990
Bio: Choi Soo-young is a South Korean singer, actress, and member of the internationally renowned K-pop group Girls’ Generation.
She transitioned successfully into acting with notable roles in dramas like Run On and So I Married an Anti-Fan.
Ballerina marks her major international action film debut, expanding her global presence and showcasing her versatility as a performer.
Role: Katla is Eve’s charge on a high‑stakes protection mission—her bond with Eve reveals both vulnerability and resilience.
What to Expect: A dynamic apprentice relationship, cultural exchange, and emotional trust‑building.
Favorite Things: K‑pop choreography, global travel, cross‑cultural storytelling.
Notable Works: So I Married an Anti‑Fan, Run On.
More Actors
• Jung Doo‑hong as Il Seong
• Waris Ahluwalia as The Eye
• Abraham Popoola as Frank
• Juliet Doherty as Tatiana
• Anne Parillaud (extended cut credit, Prague concierge)
FAQ – Ballerina 2025
How long is the film?
The runtime is approximately 2 hours and 4 minutes.
Where does it fit in the John Wick timeline?
Ballerina takes place between John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and Chapter 4, tying deeply into established lore.
Where and when was Ballerina filmed?
Principal photography took place in Prague (Nov 2022–Jan 2023) and surrounding Moravian towns, with reshoots in Budapest during early 2024.
Key scenes were also shot in New York City and ballet training captured in Montreal. PRAGUEREPORTER
Will it be available on streaming platforms?
A streaming release is expected in late August 2025, likely on Netflix or Amazon Prime, following theatrical rollout. DECIDER
Conclusion
Ballerina injects new life into the John Wick universe by blending the elegance of ballet with the franchise’s trademark intensity.
Ana de Armas delivers a powerhouse performance, transforming Eve’s grief into a symphony of precise, brutal action.
Supported by Anjelica Huston’s commanding mentorship and a talented ensemble, the film balances emotional stakes with show‑stopping combat.
While the story sometimes takes a backseat to style, the breathtaking choreography and De Armas’s fearless commitment make Ballerina a standout entry—one that both honors and expands the legacy of its predecessor.