The full trailer for Ballerina: A John Wick Spin-Off (2025) offers an intense glimpse into the dark, action-packed world of the John Wick universe, focusing on a new protagonist, the deadly ballerina assassin, Rooney (played by Ana de Armas). Set in the same high-stakes underworld of assassins and shadowy alliances, Ballerina promises to be a brutal yet elegant extension of the franchise.
The trailer opens with a somber, slow-motion sequence of Rooney performing on stage in an ornate theater, her graceful ballet movements juxtaposed with flashes of her violent past. A voiceover from Winston (Ian McShane), the owner of The Continental, sets the tone: “In our world, grace hides fury, and beauty is only a mask for violence.”
As the ballet performance intensifies, the scene cuts to Rooney in the shadows, her expression cold and determined. She’s on a mission of vengeance, seeking to hunt down those responsible for the murder of her family, a syndicate tied to the same criminal underworld John Wick once faced. A quick flashback shows a young Rooney witnessing the violent deaths of her loved ones, fueling her desire for revenge.
The trailer moves swiftly into action, with Rooney showcasing her lethal skills. In one intense fight scene, she takes down a group of armed men in a luxurious hotel lobby, moving with the same precision and fluidity as her ballet. The choreography is brutal yet beautiful, a signature of the John Wick series, as she dispatches her enemies with deadly efficiency.
We see brief glimpses of familiar faces from the John Wick universe. Winston and Charon (the late Lance Reddick) are seen discussing Rooney’s mission within The Continental, with Winston warning her, “This path only ends one way.” Keanu Reeves makes a brief cameo as John Wick, crossing paths with Rooney in a rainy alley, offering her cryptic advice: “Revenge isn’t enough. It never is.”
The stakes rise as Rooney goes deeper into the criminal underworld, facing off against a powerful new villain, portrayed by Gabriel Byrne. His menacing presence looms over the trailer, and in one tense scene, he tells Rooney, “You may dance with death, but no one escapes its grasp.”
The trailer features explosive car chases through narrow European streets, close-quarters combat in sleek, neon-lit nightclubs, and breathtaking aerial shots of Rooney navigating rooftops. The action is relentless, and the intensity builds as Rooney’s mission becomes a race against time.
The final moments of the trailer show Rooney standing over a grave, her hand trembling as she clutches a gun, symbolizing the weight of her choices. “You can’t change the past,” she says in a voiceover, “but you can decide who pays for it.”
Ballerina promises a stylish, violent, and emotionally charged story, expanding the John Wick universe with a new, powerful female lead who is just as formidable and complex as Wick himself. Fans of the franchise can expect intricate fight sequences, a hauntingly beautiful visual style, and a story that delves deep into the consequences of vengeance in a world where every action has a price.
