Ballerina's Reshoots: The Good, The Bad, and The Action-Packed

The movie titled “John Wick: Ballerina” showcases noticeable re-filming scenes, enhancing both enjoyable and infuriating aspects of the film. As a spin-off from the “John Wick” series, “Ballerina” introduces familiar characters like the Director and Winston, while primarily focusing on newcomers such as Eve. One of the enticing factors for some viewers was the revelation that Keanu Reeves’ character, John Wick, would be a part of the cast for “Ballerina“.

In essence, while John contributes significantly (albeit subtly) to the conclusion of Ballerina, it’s evident that his presence isn’t essential. This observation is supported by the fact that in certain script versions, John Wick was absent. The incorporation of John into the third act of Ballerina appears to be a key contributor to the film’s widely debated reshoots, which introduced additional action scenes. Although it’s enjoyable to witness John and his actions highlight Ballerina’s prowess, these reshoots and their abrupt impact on the plot make one of the movie’s less compelling aspects.

Ballerina’s Reshoots Were Used To Increase The Film’s Action

Ballerina’s Third Act Got A Lot More Action Thanks To Some Late Reshoots

As a movie enthusiast, I have to admit that my initial excitement for Ballerina was somewhat tempered after hearing about its reshoots. While these changes undeniably added more adrenaline-pumping action sequences to the mix, they also seemed to create some inconsistencies in the narrative.

Directed by Len Wiseman, this John Wick spin-off boasts grandiose set-pieces that leave you on the edge of your seat – such as a thrilling one-on-one duel between Eve and John Wick himself. Yet, before its release, there were whispers in the film community about Ballerina undergoing extensive reshoots post-production.

Given the high anticipation surrounding this film following the success of John Wick: Chapter 4, these rumors inevitably drew more attention to Ballerina. As a fan, I can’t help but feel that the reshoots might have taken away some of the originality and cohesion that initially made this spin-off so intriguing.

According to Ebaster’s report, Chad Stahelski, director and creative supervisor of the John Wick franchise, discussed the necessity for additional filming. Stahelski praised Wiseman, stating that they “captured Ana and the essence perfectly… [Wiseman] had very limited funds and time compared to what I have on John Wick: Chapter 4.” However, when the production encountered problems such as adverse weather conditions, Stahelski and his team stepped in to support the filming process for several weeks, offering their expertise during reshoots. This assisted the movie in obtaining “some of the more impactful shots it deserved.

Ballerina’s Reshoots Definitely Increased John Wick’s Role In The Ending

John Was Originally Only Meant To Have A Smaller Appearance In Ballerina

One significant enhancement in the movie is the expanded role of character John Wick. Although John and Eve cross paths earlier in the film (establishing Ballerina’s chronology within the John Wick universe), a confrontation between them ensues later, instigated by the Director commanding John to eliminate Eve to avoid a conflict with the Cult. Yet, John finds himself empathizing with Eve and instead of ending her life, he aids her in combating the Cult from a distance, serving as a sniper. As director Chad Stahelski revealed to The Hollywood Reporter, this fight scene between John and Eve was not originally part of the script.

Initially hesitant about featuring John Wick in the scene, the director eventually believed it would be advantageous for promoting Ballerina, boosting the film’s momentum as envisioned by Wiseman. Lionsgate concurred, elevating John Wick’s role significantly in the third act of Ballerina. It’s clear that this sequence was filmed later, as it doesn’t drastically alter the main storyline but includes additional fight scenes, such as a skillfully choreographed duel between Eve and John, which is more confined and less demanding compared to the movie’s larger action sequences.

In a cunning move to camouflage additional filming within the sequence, John assumes a sniping position on a nearby building while Eve pursues the Chancellor, offering protective cover. This setup allowed Reeves to be predominantly filmed alone (with only a few henchmen for company), maintaining continuity with the storyline. Although John’s presence supports Eve, his role is not indispensable to her safety except for a brief instant during her confrontation with Dex using a flamethrower. As swiftly as he enters the plot, John exits just as quickly.

Ballerina’s Action Does Benefit Greatly From The Reshot Scenes

Ballerina’s New Action Scenes Are Pretty Fun

The revised scenes in the movie “Ballerina” notably enhanced its overall quality, as both ardent supporters and even critical viewers acknowledge. They particularly appreciate the innovative way action was handled in the film. There’s a noticeable flair to the fight sequences, particularly when Eve arrives at Hallstatt, the town of the Cult. In essence, the reshoots aimed at injecting additional action into the movie, making it more appealing for an action-packed film like “Ballerina”.

Incorporating John Wick into the narrative, particularly the way his enemies fearfully recognize him, adds a humorous touch to the intense third act. It also strengthens the connection between the two films by emphasizing John’s and Eve’s contrasting roles. His compassion for Eve’s situation and subsequent aid align perfectly with his character. Although some reshoots in Ballerina are noticeable, Stahelski and his crew effectively captured the John Wick tone and aesthetic to ensure a successful conclusion.

Ballerina’s Reshoots Likely Caused The Film’s Major John Wick Plot Hole

It Doesn’t Make Much Sense How John Shows Up For Ballerina’s Third Act

The issue lies in the reshot scenes involving John Wick because they disrupt the storyline. By this point in the chronology, John Wick has been expelled from the Ruska Roma, an event that takes place during the storyline of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum. This scenario is also depicted in the film Ballerina, where Eve meets John as he’s departing. For Ballerina‘s ending to make sense, however, John should be an ally of the Ruska Roma, ready to carry out the Director’s orders to eliminate Eve. In the existing timeline, John won’t reconcile with the Ruska Roma until the occurrences of John Wick: Chapter 4.

As a devoted movie enthusiast, let me rephrase that intriguing detail: Instead of heading back to the Director, John finds reconciliation with his surrogate sister Katia in the German Ruska Roma community. This event seems to have transpired after the High Table reached an accord with John, but prior to him showing mercy towards Winston at the Continental. This implies that the time gap between Eve’s missions, which appears substantial on-screen, was actually just a few days long, thereby compressing her entire narrative into a short timespan to align with the earlier John Wick chronology.

Incorporating additional scenes might have enhanced the overall enjoyment of “Ballerina”, but it seems to have created some inconsistencies within the John Wick timeline that don’t quite fit together seamlessly. This complicates the placement of “Ballerina” in the sequence of events, which becomes important when considering her choice to remain at the Continental, a decision that could be difficult given its destruction in “John Wick: Chapter 4”. These inconsistencies may require resolution in future John Wick films, perhaps even in a possible sequel to “Ballerina”.

2025-06-07 21:29

Ballerina’s Reshoots: The Good, The Bad, and The Action-Packed