Reshuffling release schedules has become common practice within Hollywood, which is why we’re not surprised that the anticipated John Wick spinoff, Ballerina, is gracefully stepping aside for The Crow remake. According to Deadline, the upcoming reboot will swoop into Ballerina‘s previously slated summer 2024 premiere.
Ballerina, another hard-hitting action film set within the John Wick universe and starring the magnetic Ana de Armas, was set to hit theaters on June 7. However, the film has been delayed by a full year and is now poised for a June 6, 2025, debut.
This decision apparently stems from director Chad Stahelski’s newly inked deal with Lionsgate, granting him creative oversight across the massively successful John Wick saga. Multiple projects within the world of assassins are being cooked up.
Stahelski, along with Ballerina director Len Wiseman, are reportedly planning to enrich the film with additional action sequences, ensuring that when Ballerina finally graces the big screen, it will be with unparalleled flair, much like the films in the John Wick series.
The vacated June 2024 spot will now be claimed by The Crow, which will be directed by Rupert Sanders and star John Wick: Chapter 4‘s antagonist, Bill Skarsgard – a casting choice that finally settled after hopping to and fro for years.
This remake, based on James O’Barr’s original graphic novel, has been a long time coming, drifting through Hollywood since 2008 with various stars and directors attached. Now that it’s finally ready to take flight, The Crow promises to deliver a dark, visceral retelling of Eric Draven’s tragic tale of love and vengeance.
Though John Wick fans will likely be disappointed by this shift, there’s a case to be made for why a delay might work in Ballerina‘s favor. The first John Wick spin-off, The Continental: From the World of John Wick, made its TV debut last year to mixed reception among critics and audiences.
Many felt that while the show did a good job exploring the deeper lore of the John Wick universe, it fell short of the adrenaline-pumping action that we’d come to expect from Stahelski. The fact that Wiseman and Stahelski are taking Ballerina back into production to shoot additional scenes likely means that they felt there was room to do better, and that can’t possibly be a bad thing.
Furthermore, The Crow‘s readiness to fill the spot left by Ballerina speaks to Lionsgate’s confidence in its appeal and readiness to compete in the crowded summer blockbuster season.
Universal Pictures might have been the talk of the town last year, what with its incredible success from The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Oppenheimer, but Lionsgate had its fair share of triumphs, thanks to John Wick Chapter 4, Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, and Saw X.
