‘Harry Potter’ adds nine cast members (Photo Credit: HBO)
The cast is filling out for HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series. The premium network just announced nine new additions to the ensemble, including the actors who will play Draco and Lucius Malfoy.
The newcomers will join previously announced series stars Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley. Emmy winner and Oscar nominee John Lithgow plays Albus Dumbledore, Emmy nominee Paapa Essiedu is Severus Snape, Oscar and Emmy nominee Janet McTeer is Minerva McGonagall, and Emmy nominee Nick Frost is Hagrid. Luke Thallon and Paul Whitehouse will appear in recurring roles as Quirinus Quirrell and Argus Filch.
The New Harry Potter Cast Members:
Molly Weasley – Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley
Malfoy family members – Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy and Johnny Flynn as Lucius Malfoy
Hogwarts students – Leo Earley as Seamus Finnigan, Alessia Leoni as Parvati Patil, and Sienna Moosah as Lavender Brown
Dursley parents – Bel Powley as Petunia Dursley and Daniel Rigby as Vernon Dursley
Cornelius Fudge – Bertie Carvel as Cornelius Fudge
Francesca Gardiner is adapting J.K. Rowling’s bestseller for the series and will serve as an executive producer. J.K. Rowling, Neil Blair, Ruth Kenley-Letts, David Heyman, and Mark Mylod will also executive produce, with Mylod directing multiple season one episodes.
Michael Fassbender as Martian in ‘The Agency’ season 2 (Photo Credit: Luke Varley/Paramount+)
Paramount+’s critically acclaimed The Agency: Central Intelligence has signed on new cast members for the series’ upcoming second season. Christian Ochoa Lavernia, Clayne Crawford, Keanush Tafreshi, and Medalion Rahimi have boarded the spy thriller. Raza Jaffrey and Tessa Ferrer are also committed to season two roles.
The just-announced cast will join returning series stars Michael Fassbender, Jeffrey Wright, Jodie Turner-Smith, and Richard Gere. Season two is now in production, but Paramount+ has not announced a target premiere date.
Tony winner Jez Butterworth and John-Henry Butterworth are the writers and serve as executive producers. Additional executive producers include Michael Fassbender, Joe Wright, Keith Cox, Nina L. Diaz, David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle, David Hutkin, and Bob Yari. George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Alex Berger, Ashley Stern, and Pascal Breton also executive produce.
The Agency New Season 2 Cast and Characters:
Christian Ochoa Lavernia (Silo) is Grandma, an undercover agent with Grandpa.
Clayne Crawford (Chad Powers) is Viking, wanted by the CIA in connection with a dangerous military group.
Keanush Tafreshi (V/H/S/99) is Hassan Zamani, the hot-headed son of an Iranian government advisor.
Medalion Rahimi (Hacks) is Darya, the niece of a powerful Mullah and Hassan Zamani’s girlfriend.
Raza Jaffrey (Homeland) is Craig, a data analyst on the Iranian Desk.
Tessa Ferrer (Swagger) is Robyn, a United States Air Force nurse in Suffolk, England.
“The Agency: Central Intelligence follows Martian (Fassbender), a CIA agent living undercover in his own life. Samia (Turner-Smith), his lover, is a political prisoner in Sudan, and he will do anything to try to save her, even past the point of treachery. The only way out is deeper in. A knife-edge Martian must walk if he is to save love, life, and his mission,” reads Paramount+’s synopsis.
The 2025 Tony Awards, which aired on CBS on June 8th, had the awards show’s best ratings since 2019. CBS reports the viewership was up a whopping 38% over 2024. In addition, the 78th Annual Tony Awards hosted by Cynthia Erivo drew in the largest streaming audience on Paramount+, increasing the streaming viewership by 208% over last year.
Maybe Happy Ending emerged the big winner, taking home the Best Musical, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (Darren Criss), Best Direction of a Musical (Michael Arden), Best Book of a Musical (Will Aronson and Hue Park), Best Scenic Design of a Musical (Dane Laffrey and George Reeve), and Best Original Score (Music: Will Aronson, Lyrics: Will Aronson and Hue Park) trophies. Buena Vista Social Club followed with four, and Stranger Things: The First Shadow and Sunset Blvd. picked up three each.
2025 Tony Awards Nominees and Winners:
Best Book of a Musical
Buena Vista Social Club
Dead Outlaw
Death Becomes Her WINNER: Maybe Happy Ending
Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
Dead Outlaw – Music & Lyrics: David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna
Death Becomes Her – Music & Lyrics: Julia Mattison and Noel Carey WINNER: Maybe Happy Ending – Music: Will Aronson, Lyrics: Will Aronson and Hue Park
Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical – Music & Lyrics: David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoë Roberts
Real Women Have Curves: The Musical – Music & Lyrics: Joy Huerta and Benjamin Velez
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
George Clooney, Good Night, and Good Luck WINNER: Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!
Jon Michael Hill, Purpose
Daniel Dae Kim, Yellow Face
Harry Lennix, Purpose
Louis McCartney, Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Laura Donnelly, The Hills of California
Mia Farrow, The Roommate
LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Purpose Sadie Sink, John Proctor Is the Villain WINNER:Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical WINNER: Darren Criss, Maybe Happy Ending
Andrew Durand, Dead Outlaw
Tom Francis, Sunset Blvd.
Jonathan Groff, Just in Time
James Monroe Iglehart, A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical
Jeremy Jordan, Floyd Collins
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Megan Hilty, Death Becomes Her
Audra McDonald, Gypsy
Jasmine Amy Rogers, BOOP! The Musical WINNER: Nicole Scherzinger, Sunset Blvd.
Jennifer Simard, Death Becomes Her
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Glenn Davis, Purpose
Gabriel Ebert, John Proctor Is the Villain WINNER: Francis Jue, Yellow Face
Bob Odenkirk, Glengarry Glen Ross
Conrad Ricamora, Oh, Mary!
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Tala Ashe, English
Jessica Hecht, Eureka Day
Marjan Neshat, English
Fina Strazza, John Proctor Is the Villain WINNER: Kara Young, Purpose
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Brooks Ashmanskas, SMASH
Jeb Brown, Dead Outlaw
Danny Burstein, Gypsy WINNER: Jak Malone, Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical
Taylor Trensch, Floyd Collins
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical WINNER: Natalie Venetia Belcon, Buena Vista Social Club
Julia Knitel, Dead Outlaw
Gracie Lawrence, Just in Time
Justina Machado, Real Women Have Curves: The Musical
Joy Woods, Gypsy
Best Scenic Design of a Play
Marsha Ginsberg, English
Rob Howell, The Hills of California
Marg Horwell and David Bergman, The Picture of Dorian Gray WINNER: Miriam Buether and 59, Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Scott Pask, Good Night, and Good Luck
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Rachel Hauck, Swept Away WINNER: Dane Laffrey and George Reeve, Maybe Happy Ending
Arnulfo Maldonado, Buena Vista Social Club
Derek McLane, Death Becomes Her
Derek McLane, Just in Time
Best Costume Design of a Play
Brenda Abbandandolo, Good Night, and Good Luck WINNER: Marg Horwell, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Rob Howell, The Hills of California
Holly Pierson, Oh, Mary!
Brigitte Reiffenstuel, Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Dede Ayite, Buena Vista Social Club
Gregg Barnes, BOOP! The Musical
Clint Ramos, Maybe Happy Ending WINNER: Paul Tazewell, Death Becomes Her
Catherine Zuber, Just in Time
Best Lighting Design of a Play
Natasha Chivers, The Hills of California WINNER: Jon Clark, Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Heather Gilbert and David Bengali, Good Night, and Good Luck
Natasha Katz and Hannah Wasileski, John Proctor Is the Villain
Nick Schlieper, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Best Lighting Design of a Musical WINNER: Jack Knowles, Sunset Blvd.
Tyler Micoleau, Buena Vista Social Club
Scott Zielinski and Ruey Horng Sun, Floyd Collins
Ben Stanton, Maybe Happy Ending
Justin Townsend, Death Becomes Her
Best Sound Design of a Play WINNER: Paul Arditti, Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Palmer Hefferan, John Proctor Is the Villain
Daniel Kluger, Good Night, and Good Luck
Nick Powell, The Hills of California
Clemence Williams, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Best Sound Design of a Musical WINNER: Jonathan Deans, Buena Vista Social Club
Adam Fisher, Sunset Blvd.
Peter Hylenski, Just in Time
Peter Hylenski, Maybe Happy Ending
Dan Moses Schreier, Floyd Collins
Best Direction of a Play
Knud Adams, English
Sam Mendes, The Hills of California WINNER: Sam Pinkleton, Oh, Mary!
Danya Taymor, John Proctor Is the Villain
Kip Williams, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Best Direction of a Musical
Saheem Ali, Buena Vista Social Club WINNER: Michael Arden, Maybe Happy Ending
David Cromer, Dead Outlaw
Christopher Gattelli, Death Becomes Her
Jamie Lloyd, Sunset Blvd.
Best Choreography
Joshua Bergasse, SMASH
Camille A. Brown, Gypsy
Christopher Gattelli, Death Becomes Her
Jerry Mitchell, BOOP! The Musical WINNER: Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck, Buena Vista Social Club
Best Orchestrations
Andrew Resnick and Michael Thurber, Just in Time
Will Aronson, Maybe Happy Ending
Bruce Coughlin, Floyd Collins WINNER: Marco Paguia, Buena Vista Social Club
David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber, Sunset Blvd.
Best Play
English
The Hills of California
John Proctor Is the Villain
Oh, Mary! WINNER: Purpose
Best Musical
Buena Vista Social Club
Dead Outlaw
Death Becomes Her WINNER: Maybe Happy Ending
Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical
Best Revival of a Play WINNER: Eureka Day
Romeo + Juliet
Thornton Wilder’s Our Town
Yellow Face
Best Revival of a Musical
Floyd Collins
Gypsy
Pirates! The Penzance Musical WINNER: Sunset Blvd.
SundanceTV’s Butchers of L.A. documentary series explores the brutal murders committed by the Freeway Killers back in the ’70s and ’80s. The three-part true crime docuseries premieres on Thursday, June 26, 2025 at 10pm ET/PT on SundanceTV, Sundance Now, and AMC+. Part two airs on July 3, followed by part three on July 10.
David Harvey (The Heiress and the Heist) directs and Peninsula Television’s Mariana Rios Sanchez serves as a producer. Sphere Abacus’ Jonathan Ford executive produces.
“From the early 1970s, gay men were being savagely murdered and their bodies carelessly discarded along Southern California’s highways. Initially, police suspected a single perpetrator, but the detectives’ investigation ultimately revealed that three killers were operating, independently of each other, in the same vicinity,” reads SundanceTV’s synopsis. “With intertwined storylines and dramatic twists and turns throughout, Butchers of L.A. exposes three sadistic serial killers — Patrick Kearney, William Bonin, and Randy Kraft — and explains the truth behind these horrifying events.”
Poster for ‘Butchers of LA’ (Photo Credit: SundanceTV)
Netflix just released the trailer for Trainwreck: The Cult of American Apparel, the fourth installment in the eight-episode Trainwreck anthology series. The episode, which delves into the clothing company American Apparel, will premiere on July 1, 2025.
Sally Rose Griffiths (Born Famous) directs and Sheun Adelasoye De Nicola, Alexander Marengo, Tim Wardle, Casey Feldman, Erica Roberts, and William Swann serve as executive producers.
“In the early 2000s, American Apparel becomes one of the United States’ most successful fashion brands, known for its colorful casual clothing, ethical production and its sexually provocative advertising campaigns. For young staffers it’s an exciting time; a chance to be part of a cult-like company revolutionizing the fashion industry, and an opportunity to learn from American Apparel’s charismatic CEO and founder, Dov Charney,” reads Netflix’s synopsis.
“But as the brand quickly expands, the young employees begin to realise that American Apparel’s shiny surface is hiding a darker reality. Charney’s chaotic management starts to hit the company’s finances, and he is accused of sexual harassment by female employees. As problems mount and the company begins to implode, staff members are forced to come to terms with the toxic work environment Charney has created.”
Poster for ‘Trainwreck: The Cult of American Apparel’ (Photo Credit: Netflix)
Details on the Other Trainwreck Episodes
The Astroworld Tragedy
Launch Date: June 10, 2025
Synopsis: On November 5, 2021, Travis Scott stepped on stage to perform his set at Astroworld: what would have been the best night of the festival-goers lives quickly turned into a catastrophe that left 10 of them dead. The Astroworld Tragedy takes an exclusive look at that night, told from the perspective of the survivors, paramedics, and security staff that were at the center of this catastrophe.
Mayor of Mayhem
Launch Date: June 17, 2025
Synopsis: In the 2010 Toronto Mayoral election, political outsider Rob Ford unexpectedly throws his hat into the ring. Widely dismissed as a joke by other politicians and the media, he defies critics with a shocking landslide victory. But his administration soon becomes a slow motion trainwreck, with an avalanche of scandals, and allegations of hard drug use leading to an international media frenzy.
Poop Cruise
Launch Date: June 24, 2025
Synopsis: It was supposed to be a luxury cruise: a four day round trip from Galveston, Texas to Cozumel, Mexico. But for the 4,000 passengers and crew on board, the reality proves catastrophically different. After an engine room fire destroys electrical cables supplying the entire ship, the boat is left drifting with no power for propulsion, refrigeration, lighting, air-conditioning or… worst of all, flushing toilets.
Soon raw sewage leaks out all over the ship, food supplies start dwindling and passengers begin to revolt. As the cruise company races to control the fallout, a media frenzy ensues. Soon everyone is talking about ‘The Poop Cruise’.
The Real Project X
Launch Date: July 8, 2025
Synopsis: In 2012, A teenage girl in the small Dutch town of Haren creates a Facebook event for her sixteenth birthday party, but mistakenly makes it public instead of private. Inspired by a love of the Hollywood movie Project X, Dutch teenagers make the event go viral, and soon tens of thousands of people sign up to come to the party.
Despite warnings, police and local authorities don’t think anyone will turn up. No provisions are made to entertain the masses of young people who arrive in Haren, and the party soon explodes into a full-blown riot.
Balloon Boy
Launch Date: July 15, 2025
Synopsis: On October 15, 2009, a father in Fort Collins Colorado calls 911, claiming that his home-made flying saucer has escaped from the backyard, carrying his six-year-old son inside. This stranger-than-fiction claim is backed up by footage from a news helicopter, which catches up with the balloon and is live-streaming the chase. What starts as a local emergency quickly escalates into a national one, as everyone from the National Guard, to the Sheriff, and Homeland Security, struggles to come up with a plan to safely rescue ‘Balloon Boy’.
As the balloon softly lands, people pray for a miracle reunion – but instead they discover no boy inside. What appears to be a tragedy takes a sharp turn into something else. Public sympathy quickly turns into righteous outrage, as Balloon Boy quickly becomes one of America’s most infamous, and bizarre news stories.
P.I. Moms
Launch Date: July 22, 2025
Synopsis: In 2010, Lifetime Channel commissions a reality TV series about a private investigation agency staffed by soccer moms. Everyone is convinced they have the next big hit on their hands, until the production crew starts to notice something is off. The moms’ investigations keep falling apart, leading to allegations of sabotage. At the same time, a mysterious informant accuses the agency’s boss of running an illegal drug operation on the side, abetted by a corrupt cop. For both the TV series and the criminals dealing drugs, it is only a matter of time before things fall disastrously apart.
Storm Area 51
Launch Date: July 29, 2025
Synopsis: This is the story of the greatest sh*tpost ever made. When 20-year old Matty Roberts creates a Facebook event inviting people to storm the classified Air Force facility Area 51 in the Nevada desert, the post quickly goes viral, with hundreds and then thousands saying they’ll join the event that stated, “They can’t stop all of us”.
This prompts the US Air Force, FBI officials and the Federal Aviation Administration to strongly advise against anyone illegally trying to access the base, and the Military warns that they stand ready to protect America and its assets with deadly force. The meme continues to go viral and spread to other social media apps and soon millions have signed up to attend…
Some joke, “If we Naruto run we can move faster than their bullets” but will a crazy party in the desert turn into a deadly confrontation? Featuring an epic ensemble cast of meme lords, military commanders, UFO hunters, sexy aliens and YouTubers, this is the ultimate story of the internet bursting into the real world.
HBO’s set a premiere date and released a trailer for Surviving Ohio State, the documentary about the university’s sex abuse scandal. The documentary will premiere on HBO on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at 9pm ET/PT.
Oscar and Emmy winner Eva Orner directed and serves as a producer. Additional producers include David C. Glasser, Grant Heslov, and George Clooney. Jon Wertheim, David Hutkin, Bob Yari, Ron Burkle, Corey Salter, Colin Smeeton, Marc Rosen, Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, and Bentley Weiner executive produce.
Poster for ‘Surviving Ohio State’ (Photograph Courtesy of HBO)
HBO offers this synopsis:
“Surviving Ohio State tells the story of the male victims of Dr. Richard Strauss, a sports medicine physician and serial sex abuser employed by The Ohio State University (OSU) from 1978 to 1998. Bravely told by the student-athletes and others who concealed their trauma for years, the film builds on the efforts of whistleblowers and journalists who exposed the scandal in 2018. It also examines the culture that allowed the abuse to continue unchecked for nearly two decades at OSU, as well as the survivors’ present-day fight to hold the school accountable.
Based on Jon Wertheim’s Sports Illustrated cover story ‘Why Aren’t More People Talking About the Ohio State Sex Abuse Scandal,’ Surviving Ohio State features numerous male athletes, including several former All-American wrestlers, who have come forward to share their experiences of abuse during their time at The Ohio State University. The film includes revealing interviews with OSU student-athlete alumni Mark Coleman, Adam DiSabato, Michael DiSabato, Will Knight, Al Novakowski, Rockey Ratliff, Dan Ritchie, and Mike Schyck; OSU alumnus Stephen Snyder-Hill, wrestling referee Frederick Feeney, and others.”
The official trailer for FX’s Alien: Earth confirms Xenomorphs aren’t the only horrifying creatures humans have to fear. Five different life forms from the darkest corners of the universe were collected and have escaped. “If we don’t lock them down, it will be too late,” warns Kirsh, played by Timothy Olyphant.
The cast also includes Alex Lawther as Hermit, Samuel Blenkin as Boy Kavalier, Babou Ceesay as Morrow, Adrian Edmondson as Atom Eins, and David Rysdahl as Arthur Sylvia. Essie Davis plays Dame Sylvia, Lily Newmark is Nibs, Erana James is Curly, Adarsh Gourav is Slightly, and Jonathan Ajayi is Smee. Rounding out the ensemble are Kit Young as Tootles, Diêm Camille as Siberian, Moe Bar-El as Rashidi, and Sandra Yi Sencindiver as Yutani.
Poster for ‘Alien: Earth’ (Photo Credit: FX)
“In the year 2120, the Earth is governed by five corporations: Prodigy, Weyland-Yutani, Lynch, Dynamic and Threshold. In this Corporate Era, cyborgs (humans with both biological and artificial parts) and synthetics (humanoid robots with artificial intelligence) exist alongside humans,” reads FX’s synopsis. “But the game is changed when the wunderkind Founder and CEO of Prodigy Corporation unlocks a new technological advancement: hybrids (humanoid robots infused with human consciousness). The first hybrid prototype named ‘Wendy’ marks a new dawn in the race for immortality. After Weyland-Yutani’s spaceship collides into Prodigy City, ‘Wendy’ and the other hybrids encounter mysterious life forms more terrifying than anyone could have ever imagined.”
Alien: Earth premieres on Hulu on August 12, 2025.
Emmy winner Noah Hawley (Fargo) created the series and serves as executive producer. Additional executive producers include Ridley Scott, David W. Zucker, Joseph Iberti, Dana Gonzales, and Clayton Krueger.
Game of Thrones‘ Sophie Turner stars as an actress who is trapped in a safe room in the trailer for Trust. The thriller comes from the producers of Saw and will open in theaters on August 22, 2025.
The cast also includes Rhys Coiro, Billy Campbell, Peter Mensah, Forrest Goodluck, Gianni Paolo, Renata Vaca, and Katey Sagal.
“After a scandal, a Hollywood starlet (Sophie Turner) retreats to a remote cabin—but she’s not alone,” reads Republic Pictures’ synopsis. “Betrayed by the man she trusted most, she’s trapped in a brutal game of survival. She can hide, but she can’t run.”
Carlson Young (Upgraded) directs and Gigi Levangie (The Starter Wife) wrote the screenplay. Producers include Miles Koules, Ketura Kestin, and Oren Koules.
Poster for ‘Trust’ (Photo Credit: Republic Pictures)
The official trailer for Wicked: For Good has dropped and it’s worth taking a few minutes to read the comments on YouTube. But if you don’t have time to spare, the consensus seems to be that the trailer’s everything fans hoped it would be and more.
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande return to lead the cast as Elphaba and Glinda. The conclusion to the epic fantasy musical also stars Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, Jonathan Bailey as Prince Fiyero, Jeff Goldblum as The Wizard, and Ethan Slater as Boq. Marissa Bode plays Nessarose, Bowen Yang is Pfannee, Bronwyn James is ShenShen, and Sharon D. Clarke is the voice of Elphaba’s childhood nanny, Dulcibear.
Wicked opened in theaters on November 22, 2024. Wicked: For Good will be released theatrically on November 21, 2025.
Poster for ‘Wicked: For Good’ (Photo Credit: Universal Pictures)
Universal Pictures released the following description of the concluding chapter of Wicked:
“Elphaba (Erivo), now demonized as The Wicked Witch of the West, lives in exile, hidden within the Ozian forest while continuing her fight for the freedom of Oz’s silenced Animals and desperately trying to expose the truth she knows about The Wizard (Goldblum).
Glinda (Grande), meanwhile, has become the glamorous symbol of Goodness for all of Oz, living at the palace in Emerald City and reveling in the perks of fame and popularity. Under the instruction of Madame Morrible (Yeoh), Glinda is deployed to serve as an effervescent comfort to Oz, reassuring the masses that all is well under the rule of The Wizard.
As Glinda’s stardom expands and she prepares to marry Prince Fiyero (Bailey) in a spectacular Ozian wedding, she is haunted by her separation from Elphaba. She attempts to broker a conciliation between Elphaba and The Wizard, but those efforts will fail, driving Elphaba and Glinda only further apart. The aftershocks will transform Boq (Slater) and Fiyero forever and threaten the safety of Elphaba’s sister, Nessarose (Bode), when a girl from Kansas comes crashing into all their lives.
As an angry mob rises against the Wicked Witch, Glinda and Elphaba will need to come together one final time. With their singular friendship now the fulcrum of their futures, they will need to truly see each other, with honesty and empathy, if they are to change themselves, and all of Oz, for good.”
Jon M. Chu directs and Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox are the writers. Marc Platt and David Stone serve as producers. Executive producers include Holzman, Fox, Stephen Schwartz, David Nicksay, and Jared LeBoff. The film is based on the musical stage play with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by Winnie Holzman, from the novel by Gregory Maguire.
Ana de Armas as Eve in ‘Ballerina’ (Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate)
For the past 10 years, the original John Wick has spawned three sequels. After four adventures of its title character, the next logical step for any franchise worth its salt is a spinoff. So that’s what we get with From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, or, for short, just Ballerina.
Ballerina is about a young woman named Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas from Knives Out) whose father is killed by a band of marauding murderers. She is sent to live with her father’s “family,” which happens to be the Ruska Roma organization that also produced famed assassin John Wick. There, Eve is trained as both a ballerina and as an assassin. When, on an unrelated mission, she unexpectedly encounters an agent from the group that killed her father, Eve goes rogue to get her revenge.
Ballerina was written by Shay Hatten, who also wrote John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and John Wick: Chapter 4, which makes sense, since the story takes place in the time between those two movies. Instead of being directed by stuntman-turned-director Chad Stahelski like all of the other John Wick movies, Ballerina was helmed by action movie stalwart Len Wiseman, who also did movies for both the Underworld and Die Hard franchises. At least, Wiseman is solely credited as director. It is rumored that Stahelski, who served as a producer, was heavily involved with the film’s reshoots. Which makes sense, given that the film’s biggest draw is its stunts.
See, Ballerina isn’t quite as complex of a movie as the other John Wick films. It’s pretty much a straight-up, paint-by-numbers revenge flick. It clearly takes place in the same universe as John Wick and even shares some of the same characters (yes, Keanu Reeves appears as John Wick, as does the late Lance Reddick as Charon in his last screen role). But Ballerina doesn’t feel like it takes full advantage of the complete John Wick mythology. Aside from Eve being a Ruska Roma, the same world-building just isn’t there.
Make no mistake—Ballerina is a John Wick movie, with all of the impressive stunt work and meticulous fight choreography that goes with it. Eve fights her way through seemingly anyone and everyone on her quest for revenge, and the combat uses everything from bare knuckles to sniper rifles. There’s even an incredible flamethrower fight. The action and fight scenes seem to be where the union between Wiseman and Stahelski is most solid.
Unfortunately, Ballerina doesn’t quite have the same multi-layered narrative and hairpin twists as the rest of the John Wick saga. It’s a formula revenge movie. It follows that formula well, but it still uses it, nonetheless. There are very few surprises, and the ones that are there are telegraphed way in advance, so they aren’t very…well, surprising. It does have much of the same sly humor, which is probably due to Hatten’s sense of the characters and world, and that humor is the most fun part of the movie (aside from the aforementioned flamethrower fight, which is pretty awesome). The story itself is fairly one-note.
And speaking of one-note – Ana de Armas isn’t quite the action star that Gal Gadot or Charlize Theron is (you remember Atomic Blonde, right?). That’s a better John Wick movie than Ballerina). She shows bits of emotion in some places, but most of the time, she’s a block of wood with an accent. Which is surprising, because she’s a talented actress. That talent just doesn’t seem to cross over into the high-action world of John Wick. In trying to emulate the cold calculation of Keanu Reeves’ earlier performances in the franchise, she seems to lose the humanity of her character, which is what should get the audience behind her on her search for vengeance. Instead, it’s like watching a robot mindlessly plow through bodies.
Action movie fans should have some fun with Ballerina. John Wick fans may have some trouble buying into it, mainly because it feels like Wick-lite. And general movie fans will most likely find it brainless and silly. Which is kind of the point, but that point shouldn’t be quite so obvious. There’s a thin line between fun and ludicrous, and Ballerina crosses it. But not intentionally.
Or maybe it’s just that the John Wick universe can’t support a movie that doesn’t have John Wick as the focus.
GRADE: C+
Rating: R for language and strong violence throughout
Release Date: June 6, 2025
Running Time: 2 hours 5 minutes
Studio: Lionsgate
