Ballerinais the first spinoff for theJohn Wickfranchise, and where it takes place in the overall timeline is confirmed. TheJohn Wickmovieshave operated with a rather condensed timeline overall, with the events of John Wick’s life in the main series all happening within six months. That presents a somewhat unique challenge when it comes to expanding the series beyond Keanu Reeves' character, asBallerinadoes. The movie is a standalone story following Ana de Armas' Eve Macarro as she seeks revenge on the people who killed her father.
As the franchise’s first spinoff, there are understandably a lot ofJohn Wickconnections toBallerina. Multiple actors from the franchise’s previous installments return to play a role in Eve’s story. Their appearances only create more questions about where the movie fits into theJohn Wickfranchise timeline- especially when it comes to explaininghow Keanu Reeves returns inBallerinadespite John Wick’s apparent death inJohn Wick: Chapter 4. The answers to when it is set in the franchise are already known - and it marks a change from earlier details about the movie’s setting.
Ballerina Takes Place During John Wick 3 - Parabellum
The Spinoff Takes Place In 2014
It is officially confirmed thatBallerinatakes place during the events ofJohn Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum, the 2019 threequel in the franchise. The confirmation came from the release ofBallerina’s first trailerand the brief synopsis attached to it. The synopsis begins by saying,“Taking place during the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum,“which leaves no doubt about when the spinoff movie is set. Based on the overall timeline, this would mean thatBallerinatakes place in 2014, which is when John Wick returns to being the Baba Yaga.
The placement ofBallerinahappening concurrently withJohn Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellumcan be seen within the movie itself. There arescenes showing new perspectives on the events ofJohn Wick 3, such as Eve watching John Wick as he visits The Director. Keanu Reeves' character even has the same cuts on his face inBallerinaas he did in the threequel, showing great attention to detail for the overall continuity. The movie’s returning characters and overall story could include even more connections toJohn Wick: Chapter 3 - Parbellum.
Ballerina’s Timeline Placement Changes Keanu Reeves' Original Plan
Ballerina’s Spot In The Timeline Has Slightly Changed
With Lionsgate confirmingBallerina’s spot in theJohn Wicktimeline, it’s worth noting that it makes a slight change to Keanu Reeves' original plan. The franchise star was consulted about where the movie would fit in the franchise’s chronology to explain his cameo, andhe stated in 2022 that the spinoff would be set betweenJohn Wick 3andJohn Wick 4. It was thanks toKeanu Reeves' comment aboutBallerina’s timeline placementthat the film was assumed to explore the franchise at a time when John Wick was recovering fromJohn Wick 3’s ending.
Ballerina(2025)
John Wick: Chapter 4(2023)
ShiftingBallerinato occur simultaneously asJohn Wick 3instead of after it is not the biggest change. Thanks to the short amount of time that the main series has covered, the film’s setting shifts by less than six months at most. It’s also worth noting thatthe move likely was not made without consulting franchise director/producer Chad Stahelski- if not Keanu himself. That should ease any potential concerns that the new placement forBallerinain theJohn Wicktimeline causes issues with the overall continuity.
Part Of Ballerina’s Story Predates The First John Wick
Ballerina Goes Back To An Earlier Point In The Timeline Too
The majority ofBallerinamight take place duringJohn Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum, but that is not the only part of the timeline that it expands. The movie includes an exploration of Eve’s entire origin story, not just the main revenge mission.Her first encounter with Winston is included in the film, as is Eve’s days of training under The Director before going out on her own. The latter events should overlap further withJohn Wick 3and the other main movies, but Eve and Winston’s meeting predates the firstJohn Wick.
The TV prequelThe Continentalis the franchise’s only project that has gone back further in the timeline
Ballerinashows Eve meeting Winston and becoming part of the Ruska Roma’s assassin training program as a young girl after her father’s death. While her exact age at that point is not confirmed, it’s clearly something that takes place many years before the core story. This makesBallerina’s flashbacks to Eve’s childhood the earliest point in the timeline the movies have explored. The TV prequelThe Continentalis the franchise’s only project that has gone back further in the timeline.Ballerinaexploring this universe before the firstJohn Wickis quite notable, even if its not for the entire runtime.
