It’s official: Deadline reports that Lionsgate will delay the release of the upcoming “John Wick” spinoff “Ballerina” with Ana de Armas for a year. The film now opens in theaters on June 6, 2025 as opposed to its initial June 7 release. And the reason for the delay? Chad Stahelski, fresh off a new deal with Lionsgate to oversee the “John Wick” franchise, has boarded the upcoming actioner to film additional action scenes.
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“Ballerina” sees Ana de Armas take the lead in a set-up all too similar to the “John Wick” movies: a ballerina takes revenge on the assassins that murdered her family. Len Wiseman directs the film, which takes place between the events of “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum” and “John Wick: Chapter 4.” The late Lance Reddick is also part of the cast, as is Angelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, Catalina Sadina Moreno, Norman Reedus, and a returning Ian McShane. Stahelski produces the film with Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee. And yes, expect Keanu Reeves to have a cameo.
The “Ballerina” move is one of several calendar shifts in Lionsgate’s upcoming releases. Rupert Sanders‘ reimagining of “The Crow” now bows in the June 7 slot that “Ballerina” made vacant, and an untitled movie by Guy Ritchie (without a doubt his actioner with Jake Gyllenhaal, Eiza González, and Henry Cavill) lands on January 17, 2025, aka: MLK weekend. “The Crow” opens in theaters opposite M. Night Shyamalan‘s latest, “The Watchers.” Meanwhile, Ritchie’s film has more competition: an untitled Jason Statham actioner from Amazon/MGM Studios and Sony‘s much-anticipated sequel “Paddington In Peru.”
Fans have waited for “The Crow” to hit theaters for awhile now. Sanders shot the film in Germany back in 2022, but since then, it’s been simmering in post-production (usually not a good sign). Based on the original graphic novel by James O’Barr, Bill Skarsgård stars as the titular antihero Erik Draven, who seeks revenge from beyond the grave against the men who killed him and his girlfriend. Other cast includes Shelly Webster (aka: FKA Twigs) as Erik’s girlfriend, Danny Huston, Laura Birn, Isabella Wei, Sami Bouajila, and Jordan Bolger. Zach Baylin and Will Schneider co-pen the script, based on O’Barr’s graphic novel. Victor Hadida, Molly Hassell, John Jencks, Samuel Handida, and Edward R. Pressman co-produce the film.
It’s a busy, buzzy couple of years for Lionsgate. Other big 2024 releases include Guy Ritchie‘s “The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare, “The Strangers: Chapter 1” (and possibly two other movies in that slasher series), “Borderlands,” and “Saw XI.” As for 2025, “Ballerina” opens after the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic “Michael” bows next April.
