John Wick Timeline Messed Up by Ballerina Spoilers

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As an ardent movie enthusiast and a devoted John Wick fan, “From The World Of John Wick: Ballerina” had been eagerly awaiting its release on the 2025 cinematic calendar. Given my deep affection for this franchise, it naturally found itself atop my must-watch list. However, I must admit, the rumors of production hurdles, such as director Len Wiseman temporarily stepping down due to health concerns, sparked a twinge of concern within me, fearing that these issues might translate into a cinematic catastrophe.

I’m delighted to share some positive news: Contrary to my initial worries, Ballerina turns out to be quite enjoyable. However, it appears that the production chaos has caused an issue with the series’ continuity. To avoid any confusion, let me clarify that there are significant spoilers coming up for Ballerina (as well as the third and fourth John Wick films), so please exercise caution if you haven’t watched the Ana de Armas-led action movie yet.

Just What Were The Original Plans For Keanu Reeves In The Movie?

From the initial stages of its creation, it was clear that Keanu Reeves, famously known for his John Wick character in four films within the franchise, was set to feature in Ballerina. Additionally, we understood that the storyline of Ballerina would unfold between the third and fourth movies of the John Wick series. However, the extent of Reeves’ involvement and how it would fit into the narrative remained a mystery.

At the beginning of the film, Eve (de Armas) is training with “The Director,” portrayed by Angelica Huston, when John Wick (Reeves) arrives at the theater. From a distinct angle, what Eve witnesses mirrors the events unfolding for viewers in “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum“. It is revealed that Wick’s tattoo has been branded, signifying he no longer belongs to the Ruska Roma. As he exits the theater, he crosses paths with Eve briefly. I can’t help but speculate if this was intended to be the entirety of Reeves’ role in the movie.

Reeves Has A Much Larger Role Than I Expected

It’s commonly acknowledged that Chad Stahelski, the director of the four main John Wick films, took over for additional filming with Keanu Reeves after initial production ended. However, the exact amount of work he contributed is a topic of discussion. Some sources suggest there were extensive reshoots, but Stahelski himself has played down the extent of his involvement. According to Stahelski’s interview with The Hollywood Reporter,…

For about two weeks, we’ve been working on it, making adjustments to certain action scenes and compensating for the time Len was short on. Unfortunately, he didn’t have enough time to capture the larger shots as they required.

It turns out that Reeves’ role is more expansive than initially expected, as Wick appears frequently in the climactic scenes. It appears that some of this footage may be under Stahelski’s direction. Additionally, this section of Ballerina seems to cause significant confusion within the franchise’s chronology.

When Did That Final Scene In Austria Take Place In The Timeline?

The story is set during the timeframe between the third and fourth John Wick films, and the initial scene featuring Reeves in the theater appears to verify this, as it depicts a scene from Parabellum. Additionally, we are aware that at the end of Parabellum, Wick is in a very precarious state, having barely survived after falling off The Continental’s roof. It seems unlikely, given his condition, that he would be able to journey to Europe and confront an entire village of assassins, as portrayed in Ballerina alongside Eve.

It’s generally believed that approximately six months pass between the events of Parabellum and Chapter Four, during which John Wick (Keanu Reeves) is recuperating from his severe injuries alongside The Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne). However, it seems highly unlikely that he could have regained his fighting abilities and restored his relationship with The Director within such a short timeframe between the third and fourth movies. Additionally, despite being expelled from the Ruska Roma by The Director, it’s Wick she calls upon to aid Eve in the village of their rivals. This timeline raises some intriguing questions about the events that unfold during those elapsed months.

Maybe The Village Battle Came After Chapter 4?

A plausible scenario is that a significant span of time passes after Eve first encounters him at the theater, and before he accompanies her to the mountain village. This interval must occur following the events described in Chapter Four, and once more, after Wick recovers from the wounds sustained in the film.

It’s not at all clear what’s happening, as no details are provided. It’s plausible that the climactic fight scene in the movie Ballerina could have occurred much later – perhaps even several months after the theater scene, given that Eve has already finished her training and her initial mission to safeguard a wealthy client’s daughter.

In my humble opinion as a film enthusiast, I must clarify a slight discrepancy in the plot progression of the series. Despite the captivating conclusion of the movie “Ballerina,” there’s an inconsistency that arises when Eve is shown checking into The Continental with Charon at the front desk. Regrettably, as we all know, the character of Charon met his untimely demise in Chapter 4, which makes this scene seem somewhat improbable.

We’re Going To Have To Suspend Belief Here

Eventually, it’s hard to make sense of how the plot doesn’t get disrupted by Ballerina. If John Wick is too weakened from his injuries to be as powerful in the village, or if Charon miraculously comes back to life, both scenarios seem implausible.

The movie doesn’t spoil the “Ballerina” or “John Wick” series as such, but given the production challenges and delays, we should accept the minor flaws, if you will, in the grand scheme of things. Despite these hiccups, this film manages to meet my expectations for a “John Wick” universe movie; it’s just disappointing that an imperfection has marred the otherwise engaging world created by the franchise’s creators.

To stay current or revisit the entire John Wick film series, consider subscribing to Peacock. This is how I ensured my sanity when dealing with these time-related queries.

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2025-06-07 03:10