Eve didn’t appear previously in John Wick, but her character will have fascinating connections to the previous movies that will be surely explored on-screen.

Details about Ballerina have been sparse, but the trailer suggests that Eve is one of the ballet-trained assassins belonging to Ruska Roma. These were introduced in Parabellum and quickly became an important part of the John Wick universe; this gives Ballerina a clear connection to the main series, but it may not be as tangible and concrete as many were expecting. Some popular theories suggested that Ballerina would be a direct sequel to Parabellum, but the trailer seems to create some distance between the projects.

Ana De Armas' Ballerina Character Was In John Wick 3 According To A Theory

The Theory Suggests Ballerina Could Be Connected To John Wick 3

The main theory before Ballerina’s first trailer was that Ana de Armas’ character would be revealed to be the Ruska Roma ballerina that was seen dancing during John Wick’s visit in Parabellum. This seemed to make lots of sense given the spinoff title and the physical appearance of both characters, although it was unclear how this figure would fit into the story at all. Her role in Parabellum was very small, and despite her connections to Ruska Roma and the New York crime syndicate, there was no clear way to attach her narrative to Wick’s.

This theory certainly made sense, as the timeline of Ballerina intersects with the events of Parabellum, but the trailer ultimately proves it false. However, had it been true, it would have been a very interesting way of connecting the two projects, which is something that Ballerina almost certainly has to pull off in order to succeed. This was the main problem with The Continental - that spinoff felt very disconnected and unimportant in the grand scheme of the franchise, which Ballerina must avoid.

Ballerina Confirms Ana De Armas' Eve Maccaro Is Different From John Wick 3's Dancer

Though It's Possible They Have Similar Origins

Despite the strengths of the theory, Ballerina’s initial trailer all but proves that Eve Maccaro is not the same character as the ballet dancer from John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum. Their appearance is similar, but there are clear distinctions that separate them - most notably their tattoos. They also have different hairstyles, slightly different builds, and Maccaro’s style is completely different. The trailer proves this fact as clearly as possible without explicitly stating it, effectively putting an end to this theory.

However, although Maccaro is not the same ballerina that was seen in Parabellum, that doesn’t mean that there’s no connection at all. Ana de Armas’ protagonist could still have interesting attachments to this association, bringing Ruska Roma into the forefront of the story and giving them an important role in this spinoff. That seems like a logical way to bring Wick into the story, as the later John Wick sequels have closely explored his complicated relationship with the syndicate.

Details about the plot of Ballerina are still few and far between, but the trailer makes it obvious that Maccaro is just as talented and creative as John Wick when it comes to fighting and combat. There will surely be stunts that rival John Wick’s best, as Maccaro finds herself in increasingly dangerous situations. The Ruska Roma ballerina didn’t seem that well-versed in combat, so it makes sense that Ballerina has chosen another character as its protagonist.

The John Wick Franchise Is Better Off Not Making Ana De Armas John Wick 3's Ballerina

It's For The Best That Ana De Armas Is Playing A New Character

Ultimately, the decision to keep Eve Maccaro separate from the ballerina in Parabellum was likely a smart one. Not only does her original character make it easier for Keanu Reeves to appear in Ballerina, but it also gives the writers much more creative freedom when deciding which direction the story could take. If Ballerina had centered around a character that already existed, the writers would have needed to keep track of whatever information already exists, and write the narrative around that. This way, there are no restrictions on the character and Ballerina could truly go in any direction.

With all the high-stakes action and espionage storytelling, it’s exciting that the audience knows absolutely nothing about this original character.

Maccaro being an original character also makes her much more mysterious and enigmatic, which seems to be the style that Ballerina is going for. With all the high-stakes action and espionage storytelling, it’s exciting that the audience knows absolutely nothing about this original character. It’s a privilege that audiences haven’t really had since the first John Wick movie, and while it’s great for characters to have rich backstories that writers can capitalize on, it’s equally exciting to be given a totally fresh slate without any constraints.

Ballerina Still Makes Ana De Armas' Eve Maccaro Part Of John Wick 3

There's Still A Glaring Connection To Parabellum

Although Maccaro turned out to be an original character, at least part of the theory ended up being true - Ballerina will take place at the same time as Parabellum, and this is how the protagonist will come into with John Wick for the first time. The trailer even includes several scenes from the third John Wick movie told from Maccaro’s perspective, proving that she was involved in the events of the film, even if she wasn’t seen on-screen. This will retroactively give a new layer of detail to Parabellum, which is already one of the best John Wick movies.

Maccaro’s presence in the shadows of John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum raises some interesting questions about her character and motivations, giving the film plenty of room to explore these mysteries. It’s unknown whether Maccaro and Wick have any kind of history together, but if that’s the case, Ballerina could be a fascinating spinoff that takes the best aspects of the John Wick movies and places them in a totally different environment. The future of the John Wick franchise is uncertain after the shock ending of John Wick: Chapter 4, but Ballerina is shaping up to be a worthy replacement.