From the World of John Wick: Ballerinais set to deliver the killer brawl that the franchise’s first spinoffThe Continentalfailed to.TheJohn Wickmovieshave been a huge franchise for Lionsgate, withChapter 4being the most successful to date. Despite the assassin’s supposed death in the fourth entry,Reeves is confirmed to return forJohn Wick 5because the series is too dang successful to stop. The studio also knows that Keanu Reeves' knees can hold out forever, so they’ll need to set up some spinoffs if the franchise is to continue.
To that end,there are plenty ofJohn Wickspinoffson the way, including an animated prequel that will detail Wick’s “impossible” job and a Caine solo moviestarring Donnie Yen.Ballerinawill be the first big test of how the series could fare outside of Wick, even though Reeves will return in a supporting role. The story finds Ana de Armas' assassin Eve traveling to a remote town filled with killers to confront her father’s murderer. Judging by the trailers alone, Eve will be killing WAY more than one person during her revenge quest.
Keanu Reeves Can Return For John Wick 5 Without Ruining Chapter 4’s Ending & Ballerina Proves It
Keanu Reeves is confirmed to return for John Wick 5, but there’s a way to bring the character back that doesn’t involve undoing his Chapter 4 death.
Ballerina Can Deliver On The Killer Showdown That Peacock’s Continental Series Failed To
This John Wick prequel was a labored cash grab
Ballerinaisn’t the firstJohn Wickoffshoot, with that honor going to Peacock prequelThe Continental. This 1970s-set series detailed how a young Winston (Colin Woodell) came to manage the titular hotel, which he took over in the most hostile manner possible. Originally produced for Starz,the series promised a deeper look into the franchise’s underworld and the Continental itself, where assassins from all walks of life can chill on neutral ground.
It’s almost shocking theWickmovies never had John forced to battle his way through all the guests there as a setpiece. That’s essentially the premise ofThe Continental, where Winston’s crew performs a heist in the hotel and fights through waves of killers.Sadly, the show never lived up to its potential, and while the setpieces were serviceable, they were a pale imitation of the movie series. WithBallerinaseeing Eve batting through another locale filled with assassins, the spinoff has the chance to execute this idea properly.
Other cast members returning forBallerinainclude Ian McShane, the late, great Lance Reddick and Anjelica Huston.
The trailers forBallerinashow off some intense combat, including Eve wielding a flamethrower and being such an effective killer that the town has to call in John Wick to stop her.The involvement of the cast and crew behind the films also means there’s a continuity between the spinoff and its big screen counterparts, which was an elementThe Continentallacked.
What Went Wrong With John Wick’s Continental Show
Viewers quickly checked out of The Continental
On paper,The Continentalsounded like a strong concept for a TV series. It could have been an anthology exploring the different killers that checked in and out or explored the behind-the-scenes politics that went into running it.The prequel idea wasn’t a bad one, but in execution, it had a muddled story with an unlikable cast of characters. Woodell deserves credit for his charming turn as Winston, but his performance was the only engaging one.
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From the World of John Wick: Ballerina
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Being a prequel, it made sense that characters like Wick himself didn’t appear. Even so, the lack of returning cast or involvement with creatives behind the films - namely director Chad Stahelski - hurtThe Continental. Even the weakestJohn Wicksequel has some memorable setpieces, dialogue, or character moments, butdevotees of the franchise would be hard-pressed to remember much about Peacock’s TV prequel.
Despite only arriving in 2023,The Continentalhas already slipped out of cultural memory. It won’t be receiving a second season either, and moving ahead,it appears Chad Stahelski will have more of a say in how theJohn Wickuniverse expands. This includes coming onboardBallerinaitself for reshoots and adding new action sequences after the original cut was found lacking.
Ballerina Needs To Work After John Wick’s Disappointing First Spinoff
Reeves will likely be done with the franchise after John Wick 5
While he doesn’t look it, Keanu Reeves is now in his 60s. That’s even more impressive considering how intensely physical theJohn Wickmovies are, and the star has often discussed the physical toll they take. That’s one reasonChapter 4closed with Wick’s demise, as Reeves wanted to close his time as the character on a high note while he was physically up to the task. In the aftermath, movies likeBallerinaand a potential TV series dubbedUnder the High Tablewere put into development to keep the saga running.
The world ofJohn Wickis so rich there are many avenues it could explore if and when Keanu Reeves decides to walk away…
WithThe Continentalbeing such a letdown, Lionsgate needsBallerinato work if they hope to continuebeyondJohn Wick 5. In all likelihood, Reeves will bow out as the character after the fifth entry, but if theBallerinaseries is already up and running, the studio will have a safety net. The world ofJohn Wickis so rich there are many avenues it could explore if and when Reeves decides to walk away, but if viewers rejectBallerina, that task will only become harder.
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.
The Continental
The Continental: Set within the John Wick universe, this miniseries follows Winston Scott as he is drawn into a network of assassins. After his brother’s attack on the Continental hotel, Winston must navigate the underworld to restore order, positioned in the backdrop of the iconic hotel.
John Wick
“John Wick” is a neo-noir action-thriller franchise centered around a retired hitman who returns to the criminal underworld to seek vengeance. Known for its intense and stylistic action sequences, the franchise has redefined modern action cinema with its choreographed gunfights, hand-to-hand combat, and intricate world-building. The series explores themes of loyalty, honor, and survival in a secret society of assassins.
