With Ballerina poised to hit theaters next month, anticipation for the first-ever John Wick cinematic spin-off has reached a fever pitch. And if the latest reveals — including an emotionally charged flamethrower sequence and a gritty showdown between Ana de Armas and Keanu Reeves — are any indication, this isn't just a sidequel. It's a blazing new chapter in the assassin saga that fans never knew they needed.
A Flamethrower Sequence That Burned Through Expectations—and Emotions
Few action scenes promise to leave a mark quite like the one in Ballerina where Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas) unleashes a flamethrower on a squad of henchmen. More than just a pyrotechnic spectacle, this sequence carries emotional weight, serving as the violent climax of Eve's quest for revenge against the men who slaughtered her father. But the real fire wasn't just on screen—it was in the very experience of filming the sequence.
In an exclusive break down with Entertainment Weekly, de Armas recounted how her first rehearsal with the flamethrower left her visibly shaken. “They got the main fire guy that gets burned, and he’s all covered in this sticky grease... and they said, ‘Okay, go ahead. Just burn him.’ And I did, and I started crying,” she said. The emotional impact of seeing someone actually set on fire, even in a controlled environment, hit her harder than she expected.
But after that intense trial run, de Armas turned her initial fear into fuel. “Then I was fine. Then I burned like a hundred people,” she joked. The fact that she performed most of her own stunts, including this hazardous one, only adds to the sequence’s gravity. Director Len Wiseman confirmed the scene was “90 percent” practical, emphasizing the care and precision that went into making sure it was as real—and as safe—as possible.
More Than Just a Female John Wick: Eve’s Unique Path Through the Ruska Roma
While marketing for Ballerina has inevitably drawn comparisons to John Wick, both Wiseman and de Armas are quick to stress that Eve is not just a gender-swapped version of Wick. “I would love to do a movie that is actually not a female John Wick,” Wiseman said. And he delivers. Eve’s story is deeply personal, rooted in trauma, and told through the lens of a world rarely explored in the main franchise—the ballet-like assassin cult of the Ruska Roma.
Introduced in Parabellum through the enigmatic Director (Anjelica Huston), the Ruska Roma serve as both Eve’s training ground and prison. As she masters their deadly dance, Eve uncovers clues about her father’s killers and goes rogue, sparking a chain of events that even John Wick can’t ignore. “She’s opposite to John: he wants to get out of the Ruska Roma, and she wants in,” de Armas pointed out. It's a dynamic that adds fresh tension to their inevitable clash.
Keanu Reeves and Ana de Armas Deliver a Fight Sequence with Emotional Punch
A recent behind-the-scenes reel from Lionsgate gave fans their first taste of the combat chemistry between de Armas and Reeves. In a rehearsal clip, Eve is on the offensive—agile, relentless, and creative—while Wick counters with his trademark efficiency and experience. It’s a physical chess match played out in real time, and it looks nothing like a mere cameo warm-up. Reeves’ role in Ballerina may still be secondary to Eve’s story, but these fight sequences suggest he’s more partner than obstacle.
What's especially striking about the footage is how it showcases de Armas’ evolution as an action performer. Having already made an impression as Paloma in No Time To Die, she now steps into the ring with Wick himself. And she doesn’t back down. This is a woman who trained for five hours a day on stunts, weapons, and combat—just to make sure every punch, every miss, and every move felt authentic. As someone who’s followed superhero and action franchises for years, this kind of commitment never fails to impress.
Fill-in-the-Gaps Storytelling That Could Shape the Future of the Franchise
Set chronologically between John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and Chapter 4, Ballerina cleverly slots itself into the existing timeline while carving out its own space. With John Wick 5 already in development, the possibility that Eve may return in some form to the main series is more than just fan wishful thinking. Especially since her trajectory doesn’t seem to align with simply being a one-off character.
Moreover, the film doesn’t just recycle old motifs—it adds new layers. The Ruska Roma’s ballet-assassin training, the high-stakes politics of the High Table, and Eve’s personal vendetta all combine to expand the mythology in meaningful ways. This isn’t world-building for its own sake; it’s purposeful, and it’s powerful.
Conclusion: Ballerina Lights a New Fire in the John Wick Universe
Ballerina is more than just blood, fire, and bruised knuckles—though it has plenty of that. It’s a story about pain, perseverance, and striking back when the world expects you to break instead. Ana de Armas’ Eve Macarro is a protagonist forged in flame, both literally and figuratively, and her journey is one that adds emotional resonance to the hyper-stylized violence of the John Wick universe.
Whether it’s her flamethrower fury, her gritty combat with Wick, or her desperate dance through the Ruska Roma, Ballerina delivers a punch that’s equal parts elegant and explosive. For a franchise built on the idea of one man’s unstoppable rage, it’s fitting—and exhilarating—to see a woman step into the spotlight and choreograph her own vengeance.