Summary:
- Ballerina ends with Eve being hunted, setting up a thrilling sequel in the John Wick world.
- With growing box office momentum, a Ballerina sequel seems likely, especially with Ana de Armas expected to return.
- The Cult’s $5M bounty marks Eve’s next deadly chapter, her war has just begun.
With Ballerina, the John Wick universe expanded into new territory, spotlighting Ana de Armas as Eve Macarro, a ruthless assassin haunted by her past and staring down an uncertain future. As the franchise’s first spin-off to feature a female lead, the movie set the stage for high-stakes action and an emotionally driven story. But when the credits roll and that final phone buzz signals a fresh contract, one burning question lingers: Will a Ballerina sequel exist?
Table of Contents
The Ending Sets the Stage for a Possible Sequel
Instead of the traditional post-credits tease, Ballerina ends on a symbolic and suspenseful final shot. Eve quietly watches a ballerina perform, a distant recollection of the peaceful existence she once had. At the same time, across the assassin underworld, phones light up with a new $5 million bounty on her head.
This massive contract is a fallout of Eve’s brutal mission: she infiltrates a mysterious cult and kills most of its inner circle, including its leader, the Chancellor. In retaliation, the cult, or possibly The Director, who had warned her against this mission, ensures that Eve becomes a marked target. With the Ruska Roma cutting ties with her to protect themselves, she is left completely on her own. The parallels to John Wick’s own exile are unmistakable.
Producer Announces Sequel Plans & Box Office and Budget Estimates
A sequel will likely depend on how well Ballerina performs at the box office. Interestingly, producer Erica Lee had already confirmed plans for a follow-up as early as March 2023, long before the film even premiered. With Ana de Armas expected to return, the early announcement shows just how much confidence the studio has in the story and her performance.
Lee, in an interview with Collider, stated, “There is another film that we’re developing that I think we’ll be announcing in the next, say, month or two. 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.”
Also Read:
- Squid Game Season 3 Trailer Teases a Brutal Final Showdown and Gi-hun’s Last Gamble
- Marvel Delays Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars — Here’s When It Is Coming
- Spider-Man: Brand New Day Leaks Show Three Villains and Hint at a Street-Level Return to Form
Naturally, no sequel begins without profitability. According to industry reports, Ballerina is off to a strong start. Industry analysts forecast its opening weekend of $28 million to $40 million (Lionsgate is reporting that the film has grossed $3.75 M+ in Thursday preview), not bad for a film with a relatively modest $90 million budget. If box office momentum holds up, greenlighting a second installment could be a matter of when, not if.
Creative Possibilities: Where Could the Story Go?
The open-ended ending offers a broad canvas for what’s to come. She is now completely on her own, cut off, hunted, and with no protection from any of the assassin world’s institutions. Will she go into hiding? Take revenge on the Cult or The Director? Could she cross paths with John Wick again or other familiar characters like Winston?
One possibility teased in the current film is a prequel or midquel route. Since Ballerina takes place between John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and Chapter 4, a sequel would be an effortless transition before or during the same timeframe, and the franchise can still build her backstory without disrupting the main timeline.
Will Ana de Armas Return for John Wick 5?
A straightforward sequel isn’t the only way. With a good possibility, Eve might appear in John Wick 5, which was officially greenlit at CinemaCon 2025 and is currently in development.
With Chad Stahelski and Keanu Reeves aboard, the fans wouldn’t mind seeing Ana de Armas’s Eve play a significant role. Her common experience with John, being excommunicated and forced into survival mode, provides them with an unspoken connection that could easily be carried over into a team-up or confrontation.
With Keanu Reeves getting older (60 years old, currently) and John Wick finally receiving the send-off in Chapter 4, it’s time for a new young actress, Ana de Armas, to take charge and carry the franchise forward. It’s not that age is stopping Reeves from continuing the franchise, it was the physical and emotional toll that the role has taken on him. he personally asked the team to conclude his story in Chapter 4 because of it. So, Chapter 5 might be a passing-the-torch movie that will give the franchise its new lead, Eve.
Who’s Really Behind the Bounty?
Eve Macarro’s brutal journey in Ballerina leaves her bloodied but far from safe. After tearing through a secretive cult in Hallstatt and killing its cold-blooded leader, the Chancellor, Eve avoids war with the Ruska Roma—barely. But peace is short-lived.
The Cult retaliates by placing a $5 million bounty on her head. Now a marked woman, Eve faces a lonely road ahead. If allies like Winston are still in her corner, her next steps could take her underground or into open war. Whether she runs or fights back, one thing’s clear: the world of John Wick just became even deadlier.
Final Thoughts
Though Lionsgate hasn’t officially greenlit Ballerina 2 yet, all signs suggest it’s already in motion. The groundwork is laid intentionally for more; the cast and crew are already signed up, Ana de Armas is eager to return, and the box office numbers are positive as well.
Whether Eve stars in her own sequel or takes on a bigger role in John Wick 5, one thing is for sure: her story is just getting started. Fans can keep their eyes peeled, the next great installment in the John Wick universe might just belong to the ballerina.
While waiting for the sequel to Ballerina, you can either revisit some of John Wick’s franchise movies (watch order guide) or watch its prequel series featuring Winston, the manager of New York’s Continental, if you haven’t yet.
