At CCXP in Brazil, Lionsgate unveiled a new poster for Ballerina, teasing how Ana de Armas’ character will bring a fresh perspective to the John Wick universe. The spinoff film follows de Armas’ Eve, a skilled assassin on a mission of revenge after her family is murdered. Directed by Len Wiseman (Underworld), Ballerina marks the first standalone expansion of the John Wick franchise, featuring appearances by Keanu Reeves as Wick, Ian McShane as Winston, Lance Reddick as Charon, and Anjelica Huston as The Director.
The poster suggests Eve’s character will offer a new type of protagonist for the franchise. Like Reeves’ Wick, Eve is shown with a striking back tattoo, but the Latin phrase on hers, “Lux in Tenebris” (“light in darkness”), contrasts sharply with Wick’s “fortune favors the bold.” This subtle difference hints at a departure from Wick’s relentless, morally ambiguous path of destruction. Eve’s tattoo may symbolize a character motivated by justice and redemption, suggesting she operates with a stronger moral compass than Wick, who often exists in a morally gray space.
While Wiseman brings experience from action-heavy projects like Underworld and Total Recall to the table, his direction may give the film a distinct tone compared to Chad Stahelski’s work on the John Wick series. Known for his background as a stuntman and his innovative approach to action sequences, Stahelski has been integral to the franchise’s signature style. Ballerina, under Wiseman’s guidance, may explore new stylistic elements while maintaining the intense choreography and world-building fans have come to expect. With Eve positioned as a potentially more altruistic figure in a world defined by violence, Ballerina looks to expand the John Wick universe in an intriguing new direction.