Lionsgate has unveiled a featurette for From the World of John Wick: Ballerina during a Comic-Con Brazil panel, which was live-streamed on YouTube on Sunday.
The footage sees Ana De Armas finally stepping into the John Wick universe with the next installment in the massive action franchise previously led by Keanu Reeves.
The featurette was introduced by Reeves and John Wick director Chad Stahelski in a pre-recorded message.
“Today is a big day,” Stahelski said. “Keanu and I are thrilled to welcome Ana, Norman [Reedus] and [director Len Wiseman] into the world of John Wick. And we couldn’t be happier that the amazing Ian McShane could be there with you in person.”
Reeves added, “So, remember all the amazing crazy stuff going on in Chapter 3? Well, it turns out there was a lot of stuff you didn’t see.”
Unveiling some clips and behind-the-scenes footage of De Armas in action, the actress said, “When I got the opportunity, the offer, it was really inspiring. I’m actually surprised I came out of it in one piece.”
The late Lance Reddick, who reprises his role as Charon, said, “When I read the script, I didn’t think you could find a way to expand the world in a way that felt completely different, yet completely connected. But they did.”
“This is not a female John Wick,” Wiseman noted. “This is a story about Eve coming into it from the beginning.”
Set during the events of 2019's "John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum", "Ballerina" stars De Armas as Eve Macarro, the titular dancer who begins her training in the assassin traditions of the Ruska Roma, setting out to exact revenge for her father’s death.
The cast also includes Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, Lance Reddick, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Norman Reedus, Ian McShane, and Reeves reprising his role as John Wick.
Directed by Wiseman from a script by Shay Hatten and characters by Derek Kolstad, the Thunder Road Films/87eleven feature is produced by Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee, and Chad Stahelski.
"John Wick" debuted in 2014 and grossed more than $86 million worldwide. The franchise crossed the $1 billion mark last year with "John Wick: Chapter 4".
The franchise will continue with "Ballerina", with Donnie Yen set to reprise his role as the highly skilled, blind assassin Caine in an upcoming Lionsgate film. A prequel anime movie is also in development.
In addition to last year’s Peacock prequel limited series "The Continental", the sequel series "John Wick: Under the High Table" is in the works.