Exclusive: Ana de Armas and Ian McShane talks From the World of John Wick: Ballerina
Hitting theaters on June 6 from Lionsgate is From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, and spinoff from the John Wick franchise. Directed by Len Wiseman, the cast includes Ana de Armas, Ian McShane, Anjelica Huston, Keanu Reeves, Gabriel Byrne, Catalina Sandino Moreno, and Norman Reedus. There’s an appearance by Lance Reddick that shot before he passed away.
The same character was played by Unity Phelan in 2019's John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and this takes place before Chapter 4.
A young female assassin known as Eve seeks revenge against the people who killed her family... Taking place around the same time as the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, the movie follows Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas) who is beginning her training in the assassin traditions of the "Ruska Roma".
The screenplay is written by Shay Hatten (John Wick: Chapter 3 & 4, Army of the Dead, Day Shift, Rebel Moon Part 1 & 2); based on characters created by Derek Kolstad. Produced by Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee, and Chad Stahelski.
de Armas is best known for her role as actress Marilyn Monroe in the biographical drama Blonde (2022), for which she became the first Cuban nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress.
She also received a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical for her role as nurse Marta Cabrera in the mystery film Rian Johnson’s Knives Out (2019). Her other acting credits include roles in the psychological thriller Knock Knock (2015), the comedy-crime film War Dogs (2016), playing holographic AI Joi in the science fiction film Blade Runner 2049 (2017), playing Bond girl Paloma in the James Bond film No Time to Die (2021), and Joe and Anthony Russo’s action film The Gray Man (2022).
Coming in from the John Wick films, McShane reprises his role as Winston, manager of the Continental, the fan-favorite hotel for assassins with its own set of rules and severe consequences for breaking them.
Best known for his role as Al Swearengen in Deadwood (2004–2006) and its 2019 film continuation, McShane was recently seen as Mr. Wednesday in the Starz Neil Gaiman series American Gods, on which he also acted as exec producer. He also recently voiced a role in Netflix’s animated film My Father’s Dragon.
Blackfilmandtv.com correspondent Rachel Leishman spoke with Ana de Armas and Ian McShane on From the World of John Wick: Ballerina.
