In a recent revelation, Chad Stahelski, the director behind the hit series "John Wick," disclosed that incorporating Keanu Reeves into the forthcoming spin-off, "Ballerina," was not an initial blueprint component. Reeves, now 60, who has garnered immense praise for embodying the character of John Wick in the action-packed thriller franchise, will make a special appearance as the enigmatic "Baba Yaga" in the fifth installment, which is a sequel to the 2014 original.
In an exclusive chat with The Hollywood Reporter, Stahelski confided, "That plot twist wasn't in the original script. Honestly, I was somewhat opposed to it initially. However, I now see its merit, and we wanted to lend a helping hand to director Len Wiseman."
Later in the interview, the 56-year-old filmmaker reminisced about the wave of success sparked by "Chapter 4." Speaking to the outlet, he elaborated, "We had just premiered 'John Wick 4,' and it was a colossal hit. He couldn't revert to the modest beginnings of the first 'John Wick,' with an $18 million indie budget and try to build it up again. To stay competitive, we had to give him a fighting chance. And from the studio's perspective, the most straightforward way to maintain that momentum was to include Wick in 'Ballerina,' albeit in a unique timeline."
Scheduled to grace the silver screens on Friday, June 6, "From the World of John Wick: Ballerina" is eagerly anticipated by fans, who are thrilled at the prospect of Reeves reprising his iconic role in this exciting spin-off.
