Ballerina: Ana de Armas Dances with Danger in John Wick Spin-off

Hold onto your seats, action fans! The first trailer for "Ballerina," the pulse-pounding spin-off from the John Wick universe, has just dropped – and it's a knockout.

Picture this: Elton John's "Tiny Dancer" playing as we watch young Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas) being chosen for the Ruska Roma assassin school. Talk about a career change! It's like if your local ballet studio decided to add "knife throwing" to the curriculum.

From Pirouettes to Pistols

The trailer gives us a taste of Eve's brutal training under a tough-as-nails instructor played by Sharon Duncan-Brewster. Forget about barre exercises – this dance class involves learning how to slice someone's throat while ice skating. Now that's what I call multitasking!

But wait, there's more! We also see Eve putting out a flamethrower with a high-pressure hose. I guess when you're in the assassin business, you never know when you might need to fight fire with... water?

A Star-Studded Cast of Killers

"Ballerina" isn't just bringing the action; it's bringing back some familiar faces from the John Wick world:

Keanu Reeves himself will appear as John Wick (and not just for a quick cameo, we're told!)

Ian McShane returns as the ever-mysterious Winston

Anjelica Huston is back (probably being fabulous and terrifying)

Lance Reddick makes his final appearance as Charon (RIP to a legend)

New blood joining the cast includes Gabriel Byrne, Catalina Sandino Moreno, and Norman Reedus. With a lineup like that, you know things are going to get intense!

Timeline Tango

For those keeping score at home, "Ballerina" takes place between "John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum" and "John Wick: Chapter 4." The story follows Eve as she seeks revenge on the assassins who killed her family. Because in the John Wick world, revenge is basically a national pastime.

A Slight Delay for Maximum Action

Originally set to hit theaters on June 7, 2024, Lionsgate has pushed the release date to June 6, 2025. Why the wait? John Wick mastermind Chad Stahelski wanted more time to add even more action sequences. When the guy responsible for some of the most jaw-dropping fight scenes in recent memory says "more action," you listen!

The Expanding Wick-verse

"Ballerina" represents a major step in growing the John Wick universe. We've already seen the prequel series "The Continental" on Peacock, and with "John Wick: Chapter 4" raking in over $440 million worldwide, it's clear audiences can't get enough of this stylish, bullet-riddled world.