The cast, premise, and other elements of Ballerina, the first spinoff movie related to the John Wick films, point to an intriguing new path for the action franchise. Ballerina was originally hinted at in 2019 when its title character made an appearance in the third film. It was written by Shay Hatten, the author of John Wick: Chapter 3: Parabellum and John Wick: Chapter 4. As a new hero takes center stage, Ballerina sets the stage for greater chaos and franchise development. Despite being a spinoff, Ballerina is deeply entwined with the John Wick universe’s timeline.

What makes the John Wick movies stand out from the usual blockbuster fare is its clever use of action and the emphasis on simple-but-effective storytelling that boils the plot down to its basic essence. From all accounts, Ballerina promises to do the same thing with its sleek action tale, and with many of the creative minds behind John Wick attached to the project, it will surely fit nicely into the continuity of the series. With several upcoming John Wick movies and spinoffs to be expected, Ballerina will be the first step in expanding the action franchise’s cinematic universe.