The Ballerina movie is the first spin-off of the John Wick franchise, and the place of the story in the overall timeline of John Wick is obvious. The John Wick movies have a fairly dense timeline, where all the events in John Wick’s life in the main series take place in a span of six months.
This creates quite a unique challenge when trying to develop a series beyond Keanu Reeves’ character, as the movie Ballerina did. The movie has its own story that follows the journey of Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas), as she takes revenge on the people who killed her father.
1. Official Timeline of the Ballerina Movie in the John Wick Franchise
As the first spinoff of the franchise, Ballerina certainly has a lot to do with John Wick. Some of the actors from the previous movie reappear in Eve’s story. Their presence raises more questions about the movie’s place in the John Wick franchise timeline.
Especially in explaining how Keanu Reeves could reappear in Ballerina, even though the character of John Wick seems to be gone in John Wick: Chapter 4. Now, the answer to the timing of this movie in the franchise has been revealed, and it shows a shift from the initial information about the movie’s background.
Lionsgate has confirmed that the Ballerina movie takes place during the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, the third film in the franchise that releases in 2019. This confirmation comes alongside the release of Ballerina’s first trailer and the brief synopsis that accompanies it.
“Set during the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum,” clearly indicates when this spinoff movie takes place. Looking at the overall timeline, this indicates that Ballerina takes place in 2014, when John Wick returns to action as Baba Yaga.
The placement of Ballerina, which takes place at the same time as John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum can be seen directly in the movie itself. There are scenes that give a new perspective to the events in John Wick 3, such as when Eve sees John Wick visiting The Director.
John Wick is also seen to have a similar scar on his face in the movie Ballerina, just like the one seen in the third sequel. This shows high attention to detail to maintain overall consistency. The returning characters and storyline of the movie will likely feature more links to John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum.
2. Eve and Winston’s First Meeting Happens before the First John Wick
A large part of the movie Ballerina may take place during the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, but that’s not the only part of the timeline being explored. The movie will also delve into Eve’s entire character background, not just her main revenge mission.
Little Eve’s first meeting with Winston is presented in the movie, as is her training under The Director. These events should overlap more with John Wick 3 and the other major films, but the meeting between Eve and Winston takes place before the first John Wick movie.
Ballerina depicts the moment when Eve meets Winston and joins the Ruska Roma assassin training program as a young girl after the death of her father. While her exact age at the time is unclear, it is clear that the event took place many years before the main story.
Ballerina’s flashback to Eve’s childhood is the starting point in the timeline that these films have explored. The only project in the franchise that delves deeper into the past is the TV prequel, The Continental. Interestingly, Ballerina explores this universe before the events of the first John Wick movie, though not for the entire duration of the movie.
Moving Ballerina to coincide with John Wick 3, instead of after it, is not too big a change. Considering the time the main series goes through is so short, the backdrop of the movie is only shifted by less than six months.
Moreover, this decision was most likely made in consultation with the franchise’s director/producer, Chad Stahelski, and possibly Keanu Reeves as well. This should ease concerns about Ballerina’s new placement in the John Wick timeline that could disrupt overall continuity.
