It’s been two years since the John Wick franchise made the bold move of killing off Keanu Reeves’ legendary assassin. Despite that, Reeves returns in Ballerina, thanks to the film’s timeline set between John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and Chapter 4. His inclusion was necessary to make use of his character once more, but Chapter 4 had already delivered a satisfying end to John Wick’s story. Since then, speculation about how the franchise would continue has persisted.

With Ballerina and the upcoming Caine spinoff in development, as well as the ambiguous status of John Wick 5, it’s clear the franchise isn’t letting go of its most iconic figure easily. However, Ballerina proves that the franchise can thrive without resurrecting John Wick. The torch can be passed — and the future looks promising.

Ana de Armas’ Eve Maccaro Is Ready To Lead

John Wick Isn’t Needed Anymore

Replacing a character as iconic as John Wick is no small feat. Keanu Reeves has become a modern action legend. So, the idea of someone new leading the franchise seemed risky — until Ballerina introduced Ana de Armas as Eve Maccaro.

Eve’s story—rooted in the Ruska Roma and driven by a personal mission—mirrors some aspects of John Wick’s, but she emerges as a wholly distinct character. Where John was cold and composed, Eve is emotionally expressive and still fighting to prove herself. She isn’t a carbon copy; she’s something new.

Ana de Armas brings raw emotion and fierce energy to Eve’s role. Her performance elevates the character beyond expectations. While audiences already saw a glimpse of her action chops in No Time To Die, Ballerina gives her the full spotlight. Her fighting style differs significantly from John Wick’s “gun-fu” precision, and that’s exactly what makes the action feel fresh. The choreography leans into Eve’s own strengths, offering a new flavor to the franchise’s signature sequences.

Eve Maccaro doesn’t need to replace John Wick — she earns her place beside him as a new face of the franchise.

Ballerina’s Box Office Performance Shows Potential

It’s Made $57 Million So Far

Even though Ballerina opened slightly below projections, it’s still holding its own at the box office. With a $24 million domestic opening weekend, it ranks second-lowest in the franchise but still outperformed the original John Wick. Within just a few days, it had already made more than the first film did in an entire week.

With a reported $90 million budget, Ballerina may face an uphill battle to profitability (around $225 million estimated), but for a spinoff, it’s a strong showing. As the film gains momentum, it’s likely to surpass the original John Wick in both domestic and international earnings.

If Eve proves to be bankable, the franchise can ease off the pressure to bring John Wick back.

Chad Stahelski’s Creative Oversight Guarantees Quality

Even Without Keanu

Losing Keanu Reeves from the forefront would be a major shift. Even Ballerina leaned on his return to anchor itself in the franchise. Still, Chad Stahelski — the visionary behind the first four John Wick films — remains involved, offering consistency in tone and action.

Though Ballerina was directed by Len Wiseman, Stahelski contributed through additional photography and helped fine-tune its action sequences. The results speak for themselves — grenade fights, flamethrowers, and even ice skates make for an inventive, exhilarating experience that doesn’t rely on copying Wick’s style.

Stahelski’s continued role, alongside Keanu’s likely behind-the-scenes input, means the franchise retains the creative core that made it great. His work on upcoming projects like the Donnie Yen-led Caine spinoff further secures the future.

Letting John Wick Stay Dead Is The Right Choice

Keanu’s Character Had The Perfect Ending

With Ballerina proving that audiences are open to new faces and different perspectives within the universe, it’s time to consider the benefits of letting John Wick remain dead. His arc reached a powerful and poignant conclusion in Chapter 4. Reversing that would not only undermine the emotional impact but also complicate storytelling moving forward.

The franchise has already succeeded in fleshing out its world beyond John. Characters like Eve Maccaro now offer new narratives to explore, without forcing the original protagonist back into the spotlight unnecessarily.

The post-Ballerina era of the John Wick franchise has begun — and it’s looking strong enough to thrive without John Wick.