Summary

Collider’s Steve Weintraub chats with Ana de Armas about Ballerina at CinemaCon 2025.

De Armas discusses her starring role in the John Wick spin-off and how serving as an executive producer allowed her access to every cut.

De Armas also teases the scene she shares with Keanu Reeves and which fight sequences she’s most excited for fans to see.

While at CinemaCon 2025, Collider’s Steve Weintraub caught up with Ana de Armas to discuss her debut in the John Wick franchise with Len Wiseman’s spin-off feature Ballerina. In addition to her starring role as assassin Eve Macarro, De Armas joins the expanding universe as an executive producer, giving her early access to every cut, and she assures us the final product is “going to be a great experience, especially for John Wick fans.”
In the movie, which takes place between John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and John Wick: Chapter 4, Eve is a ballerina-assassin training for the Ruska Roma. This powerful criminal organization was briefly glimpsed in the third John Wick film, with a troupe of ballerinas under the tutelage of The Director (Anjelica Huston). In her spin-off, Eve is seeking revenge for the death of her father. Ballerina also features Ian McShane, Norman Reedus, and the late and legendary Lance Reddick.
While at CinemaCon, De Armas spoke with Collider about her role on and off-screen for Ballerina. Check out the full conversation in the video above or in the transcript below to find out which sequences she’s most excited for fans to see, what it was like sharing the screen with John Wick himself, Keanu Reeves, and what she’s working on next.
Ana de Armas Calls Her Scene With Keanu Reeves “Surreal”

“I’ll never forget that moment. Iconic.”

COLLIDER: The footage for Ballerina looks fantastic. What is it like for you having to put so much time and energy into making this movie? You’re so close to having it come out. Where are you at in your head right now? How excited are you for people to see it?
ANA DE ARMAS: I’m the most excited I can be. I’m really proud of the film. I watched it the other day, the final cut, and I’m really, really happy with the results. All the hard work shows on screen, and the movie looks beautiful. It’s going to be a great experience, especially for John Wick fans.
What is it like for you watching it? What was your reaction? Was there a scene that was so much better than you expected?
DE ARMAS: I was really surprised with how well it looks. Sometimes when you’re doing action, it’s strange the way you feel yourself with what the camera is capturing. Sometimes it doesn’t really translate. You feel clumsy and slow, but then you look at it and it’s really good. So, I’m happy with that. I’m very pleased with that. But I’ve seen so many cuts of the movie. I’m an executive producer on the film, so I’ve been, from the beginning, following all the steps, so I got used to it, and I’ve seen different versions of it all. I think it’s at a place where it’s the best it can be.

Image via Lionsgate

One of the things in the footage that I saw was you definitely have a scene or two with Keanu Reeves. What is it like sharing the screen with John Wick?
DE ARMAS: Pretty surreal, actually. It was a very special scene, that one in particular that you see in the trailer. Working with Keanu is always a joy and a huge pleasure. It’s our third film together. It was really cool to see him walking on set with the suit on. I’ll never forget that moment. Iconic. It was really amazing.
The Flamethrower Scene Is “All Practical”

Ana de Armas reveals which action scenes she can’t wait for audiences to see.

Image via Lionsgate

In the footage we saw, there is a ridiculous amount of action you’re doing.
DE ARMAS: That’s nothing! [Laughs]
It’s fucking crazy how much action. Which two set pieces for you are you really most excited for fans to see?
DE ARMAS: I personally love the grenade fight. That fight is really long. It’s bonkers. [Laughs] I destroy this place. It’s really intense. I really enjoy that one. And the flamethrower scene, too, is going to be mind-blowing. I had never seen that done before in a film, and it’s all practical. It was all real, and it took a long time to get it done safely, and it looks stunning.
Is that the one where you had to wear screws in your feet so you could walk?
DE ARMAS: Well, that was my daily preparation for every scene that we had outside on the streets. It was full winter in Prague, so we had a lot of night shoots, and almost all those night shoots, the streets were iced. So in order for me to walk without breaking my arm, we put screws in my boots.

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“We Don’t Talk About That”: ‘Ballerina’s Ana de Armas and Ian McShane Reveal the Cut Fight Scene That Makes Him “Furious”

The duo discusses their characters’ relationship in the film, how de Armas tackles the John Wick franchise, and becoming the “Baby Yaga.”

What are you getting ready to shoot this year? What’s coming up for you?
DE ARMAS: I can’t tell you.
Is it something where you haven’t signed the contract, or has it just hasn’t been announced yet?
DE ARMAS: It hasn’t been announced yet.
Can I ask if it’s an action or more like a romantic comedy?
DE ARMAS: It’s not a romantic comedy. Don’t be so impatient. It will come out soon.
Ballerina opens in theaters on June 6.