John Wick: Chapter 4 has been massively successful, earning over $250 million at the box office and getting the highest review score for the series. Lionsgate is looking to capitalize on what seems to be the final John Wick movie by announcing the release date for Ballerina.

The upcoming John Wick spinoff starring Ana de Armas is arriving next year. Ballerina follows the story of Rooney, a young assassin belonging to the Ruska Roma crime family.

In John Wick 3, Keanu Reeves’ character sought the help of the Ruska Roma as he is being hunted by High Table assassins. It was revealed that the crime family trained a young Jardani Jovanovich, molding him into the killer feared throughout the underworld.

Viewers get a glimpse of Rooney, played by Unity Phelan, in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum. The Ruska Roma trained Rooney as a ballerina like all the female assassins in the family. Lionsgate is expanding on the story of the Ruska Roma assassin with the upcoming spinoff.

Ballerina's importance to the John Wick franchise

Reeves has revealed that the events of Ballerina take place between John Wick: Chapters 3 and 4. Ballerina slots in the six-month gap between the events of the two mainline series films.

Reeves, along with series mainstays Ian McShane and the late Lance Reddick reprise their roles in the spinoff, creating continuity within the franchise. It was revealed by Reeves that John Wick has a small role in Ballerina.

Only a few details about the plot of Ballerina have been revealed. We know that Rooney is out to seek revenge for the murder of her family. It was revealed in John Wick 4 that the High Table took revenge against the Ruska Roma for aiding Wick. Rooney will fight with Wick in the movie, suggesting that the assassin has something to do with the murder of her family.

Anjelica Huston is returning to the franchise as The Director. Huston’s character is the head of the crime family’s New York division and was instrumental in training the Ballerina.

The upcoming spinoff could start a series of movies starring Ana de Armas. Ballerina could also give fans some insight into the direction of the franchise given the ending of John Wick 4.

Lionsgate is reportedly working to expand the franchise with another spinoff. Ballerina could set up the plot for this new movie.

"There is another film that we're developing that I think we'll be announcing in the next, say, month or two," John Wick producer Erica Lee shared. "Then, I'm hopeful there's a ‘Ballerina 2,’ and ‘John Wick 5,’ and lots of other things. But we're developing a lot of stuff and having a lot of discussions with a lot of writers and brand management and Wick universe is my utmost priority."

Ballerina is arriving in theaters on July 7, 2024.