Keanu Reeves has played many incredible parts throughout his career, but it was the role of John Wick that elevated the 58-year-old to cult hero status. The 2014 picture from Chad Stahelski has already sparked two sequels, with a fourth picture on the way this year.
The John Wick franchise has also expanded into comics and games, and now it’s set to balloon further with an upcoming spinoff.
The ballerina will include Reeves’ character, but its focus will be on Rooney, who was first introduced in John Wick 3: Parabellum. Ana de Armas will star in the lead role.
John Wick Has Become Reeves’ Most Iconic Role
Reeves has had a long and glittering career, and he’s starred in more than 50 movies since his silver screen debut in 1985.
Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure was one of his breakthrough roles and, until recently, his most iconic. The science fiction comedy led to a sequel in 1991, as well as a recent reboot in 2020. It was a prime example of an early franchise that sparked content on other platforms.
In 1989, a video game about the first picture was released on the Commodore 64, and this was followed by three other titles for different devices.
That has continued into the modern age, and now there is even a state-of-the-art slot machine game based on the first film. The game is still available in the best online casino and gaming platforms.
Games like Bill & Ted act as a huge draw for players as well. While Reeves will always be remembered for his lovable turn in the Bill & Ted franchise, it’s clear now that his performances as John Wick have become the most legendary.
The Canadian was born for the role, and Lions Gate Entertainment is now trying to milk the franchise as much as possible. That’s why Reeves will appear in the upcoming spinoff to help set it up for a strong start.
Ana de Armas to Star in Ballerina
When Rooney was first introduced in the John Wick franchise, she was played by Unity Phelan. To the front a new offshoot of the series, though, it was a wise move by the producers to turn to a more established name in De Armas.
The 34-year-old’s star has risen considerably over the last few years thanks to standout roles in Knives Out and No Time To Die. She’s now one of the most popular actors in the business, and she has the star power to draw more fans into the franchise.
The great thing about Ballerina is that, although it will take the franchise in a new direction, it will still include various characters from the previous films to establish continuity and help with world-building.
Along with Reeves, Ian McShane, Lance Reddick, and Anjelica Huston will all have parts to play in the new story. If it’s a success, it could lead the Ballerina thread to continue with its own sequels and potential spinoffs in the future.
Thanks to the cult status of John Wick, there’s a vast amount of potential for the franchise to continue expanding in a variety of ways. Reeves will play a key part in that, but having other hot properties like De Armas on board will help a great deal as well.