UPDATE: 2024/10/18 14:03 EST BY GRAEME GUTTMANN

New Report Debunks Ballerina Reshoot Rumors

Screen Rant has learned that initial reports surrounding Ballerina's reshoots are inaccurate. Inside sources have now confirmed key details about the John Wick spinoff's reshoots overseen by director Len Wiseman and producer Chad Stahelski. The original article based on the initial report remains below, but you can get all the new information here or at the link below.

A new report sheds light on Ballerina was initially slated to release in summer 2024, but was pushed back to June 2025, with Lionsgate explaining at the time that the movie was to allow for the filming of additional action sequences to satisfy audiences' high expectations. Stahelski was said to be overseeing these reshoots.

A report from The Wrap now sheds more light on Ballerina's reshoots situation, with insiders claiming that Stahelski was more involved than previously believed. According to the publication's sources, the first cut of the film was deemed not strong enough. The report claims that Stahelski then reshot a "significant" portion of the film in Prague, with Wiseman not even present on the set.

One of the insiders cited in the report claims that, in total, the reshoots took two to three months to complete overseas, with Stahelski's work on the project delaying his Highlander reboot starring Henry Cavill, which remains in the script stage. As for why Stahelski himself took over, one of TheWrap's insiders explains that it's all about protecting the franchise from releasing a lackluster installment:

“Of course Chad had to clean up someone else’s mess. , this film is basically ‘John Wick 3.5. This story happens before ‘John Wick 4’ and after that film, they can’t have a failure in anything ‘Wick’ related. Chad is going to do ‘Highlander,’ but cleaning up ‘Ballerina’ pushed him by five months for sure.”

What Ballerina's Reshoots Mean For The Movie

Is The John Wick Spinoff In Trouble?

Two to three months of reshoots is a substantial amount of filming for a project that had already been completed. For reference, the entirety of filming on John Wick: Chapter 4 reportedly took place in 2021 from June to October. Reshoots of this caliber can sometimes spell trouble for a film. Recently, for example, Eli Roth's Borderlands movie underwent significant reshoots under director Tim Miller, and that film was a critical and commercial bomb.

The situation with Ballerina is different, however, and there's reason to believe the John Wick spinoff won't suffer Borderlands' same fate. Stahelski, after all, co-directed the first John Wick movie and solo-directed all of its sequels, all of which have been critically acclaimed. The franchise has been praised for its unique approach to action, and Stahelski is evidently a major part of this. The fact that he reshot such a large portion of Ballerina could mean that this new footage is on par with the action featured in the John Wick movies.

In addition to De Armas, the Ballerina cast features returning John Wick cast like Ian McShane, Anjelica Huston, and the late Lance Reddick. Keanu Reeves also returns as Wick for a cameo.

Our Take On Ballerina's Reshoots Situation

Stahelski Is Integral To The John Wick Franchise's Success

The fact that Stahelski himself directed Ballerina's new footage is what prevents this latest report from being a complete red flag. It's certainly not a good sign that such extensive reshoots were needed in the first place, but Stahelski has proven himself a singular talent when it comes to directing action, and having his voice now present in the John Wick spinoff could help the movie meet audience expectations.

Ballerina's reshoots speak to a larger problem that the franchise will face moving forward, however. Reviews for The Continental, the previous John Wick spinoff, were somewhat mixed, in particular due to the action, and Stahelski was more hands-off on that project (though he is credited as an executive producer). The fact that Wiseman's first cut of Ballerina also reportedly failed to deliver satisfying action suggests that future installments could struggle if Stahelski doesn't direct them, which isn't a great sign for the franchise's longevity.

Source: The Wrap