The following article contains spoilers for John Wick: Chapter 4John Wick: Chapter 4 had a successful box office run, and those who have already seen the movie are now looking forward to spinoffs like Ana de Armas Ballerina. Thanks to one of the film’s producers, fans know how stars Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, and the late Lance Reddick will be involved.
Despite John Wick 4 resulting in the deaths of Reeves and Reddick's characters, given that Ballerina will take place between Chapters 3 and 4, John and Charon were always planned to show up in some capacity. With the film having entered post-production last month, Reddick likely shot his scenes before his untimely passing, so it’s only a matter of seeing how the trio helps de Armas' Rooney enter this extravagant world.
On to the specifics, John Wick and Ballerina producer Erica Lee told Collider that “it was fun to have Ian and Lance come,” even if the latter only dropped by for a single day to shoot his cameo. However, she did clarify that “John Wick is an extended cameo,” so he'll have more footage than Reddick. On the other hand, Winston is the one with more screen time since “Ian has a little bit more to do,” which makes sense seeing as Rooney will likely check into a Continental location, and the same goes for Anjelica Huston, who plays the Ruska Roma School’s director.
Lee confessed she was unsure if “Keanu was going to do the movie." While the face of the franchise did jump on board, the next problem was not messing up the timeline after John Wick 4's surprise ending. Regarding the main character's fate, the producer’s words were not as final as director Chad Stahelski's or Reeves'. Lee wondered, “like, is he dead? Is he not?” leaving the doors open for the Baba Yaga to return at some point.
That is, effectively speaking, the kind of crossroads at which the John Wick franchise is sitting right now. Even if Reeves and Stahelski loved the deadly sendoff they chose for the Boogeyman, it’s clear that Lionsgate executives will want to continue what is currently their most successful movie saga. Granted, spinoffs like Ballerina and The Continental series are an easy sell in the context of the High Table's intriguing rules for assassins, and de Armas' star power sure does help the movie.
In Lance Reddick's case, his cameo will be more emotional due to his small role in John Wick 4, as nobody could have foreseen the beloved actor's passing.
John Wick: Chapter 4 is currently available in theaters.
Source: Collider