Nothing prepared me for Ana de Armas with a flamethrower in a blizzard.
That's not hyperbole—it's the signature shot from Ballerina's final trailer. A slow-motion blaze cutting through snow, with de Armas' Eve Macarro taking center stage in Lionsgate's most aggressive push yet to prove this isn't just another John Wick cash-in. But here's the uncomfortable truth: while Ballerina spins hard into its own ballet of bullets and blood, it still pirouettes nervously around Wick's ghost.
Let's break it down.
Familiar Fire, New Fuel?
De Armas plays Eve, a vengeance-fueled assassin trained in the ruthless Ruska Roma tradition—yes, the same organization that sculpted Baba Yaga himself. Set between Parabellum and Chapter 4, Ballerina sells itself as a standalone, but every beat in the trailer screams franchise tether.
- Keanu Reeves? He's back.
- Ian McShane, Anjelica Huston, and Lance Reddick? Also back.
- And the same mythos, codes, and continental coin-based underworld economy? Back, back, back.
Even the trailer's structure mirrors past Wick promos: cryptic opening line (“And what, may I ask, is your name?”), followed by escalating action, then a remix-drop of classical music paired with ultra-violence. It's formulaic. But it's also effective.
Collider's exclusive 4DX poster pushes that formula further—blending elegance with sheer mayhem. Imagine Swan Lake choreographed by Michael Bay, and you're close.
Why This Spin-Off Feels Different (And Why That Matters)
This isn't Hollywood's first spin-off rodeo. Remember Fantastic Beasts? Or Solo: A Star Wars Story? Both aimed to build lore, add depth, and give fan-favorite corners their spotlight. Both were met with shrugs, not standing ovations.
But here's what Ballerina is doing smarter:
- Targeted Expansion. Instead of bloating the Wick-verse, it zooms in on the Ruska Roma—a barely-sketched group that Parabellum left begging for more screentime.
- Female Perspective. This isn't a gender-flipped Wick clone. Eve's arc taps into operatic revenge with shades of La Femme Nikita and even Black Swan. It's about family, grief, and being forged in the fire of trauma—not just high body counts.
- Director Switch-Up. Len Wiseman (Underworld, Live Free or Die Hard) steps in with a different visual rhythm—less noir, more gothic brutalism. Think leather-and-steel elegance with a bruised heart.
That's not to say the trailer's flawless. Some shots feel too derivative (hello, nightclub fight #8), and you can sense Lionsgate's marketing grip tightening around Keanu's cameo. It's as if they're whispering, Don't worry, he's here too. Please come watch. Desperation, meet choreography.
So… Should You Care?
If you've ever wanted to feel a flamethrower while watching a ballet-trained assassin dismantle a crime syndicate mid-blizzard? This is your movie. Especially in 4DX, which, according to Collider, promises a full-sensory rollercoaster: wind, heat, even simulated snow.
But beyond the gimmicks, Ballerina's final trailer teases a film that could justify its existence. It's less of a side quest and more of a blood-soaked prequel with potential—if it dares to stop leaning on Wick and trust Eve to carry the rhythm solo.
You'll either love this or hate it. Here's why: If Ballerina goes full original—channeling grief, grace, and grit—it might become more than a footnote in the Wick-verse. But if it sticks to remixing greatest hits, it's just another spin in a franchise treadmill.
Would you risk it for a flamethrower ballet? Comment below.
