Summer is here, and sure, that definitely means we’re gearing up for some big 2026 movie releases, but it also means that the time has come to show off all that work you’ve put into getting bikini-ready. We’ve seen black bikini summer, and we’ve seen white bikini summer, but Kylie Jenner, Gal Gadot and Ana De Armas are out here proving that it doesn’t matter what color swimwear you’re sporting — this season is all about the abs.

We could have guessed that Kylie Jenner’s summer wardrobe might be stomach-forward when she brought back the noughties belly chain, but just in case you missed it, she flashed her toned abs in a recent Instagram Stories post, which you can see below:

Kylie Jenner says no bikini, no problem — she can still show off her toned stomach even if she’s not headed for the beach. The makeup mogul wore a floral halter top knotted into a floppy bow just below her bust, which left her midriff exposed — certainly a look that was approved by her fashion sounding board.

The youngest sibling on the Kardashian-Jenner family tree loves to show off her bikini bod — possibly more than she loves to show off her Birkins — so I have no doubt we won’t have to wait too long for more pics of her swimsuit-ready muscles.

In the meantime, she’s not the only one showing off the results of so many crunches. Ana De Armas posted a nonchalant selfie to Instagram, showing off the picturesque location where she was relaxing by the water but also making sure to get those toned abs in the shot:

Ana de Armas pulled off some “badass” stunts in last year’s Ballerina, according to John Wick’s Keanu Reeves — including assembling a gun in 14 seconds — so I have no doubt that her fitness regime is intense. She’s definitely earned those abs.

As for Gal Gadot, well, she was literally Wonder Woman, so I can’t exactly say I’m surprised that she’s ready for swimsuit season, but my goodness she’s looking toned and trim in a recent social media post.

We’ve got the women bringing the muscles to the summer of abs so far, so it looks like the ball’s in your court, fellas. I know Alan Ritchson’s got the goods, since he maintains his Reacher abs at all times. Jon Bernthal’s out there punishing somebody with that chiseled midsection, and you know Shemar Moore is bringing new meaning to the “dad bod.”

Honestly, though, I’m just fine to just see the girlies taking some time this summer to relax by the water and show how good they feel in their bodies by posting photos of the abs they’ve probably worked pretty hard in the gym for.

Hopefully this is only the beginning of good vibes and good views to come this summer.

After Wonder Woman 3 was canceled as a result of the DCEU ending in favor of launching the DCU, a huge update on the return of the DC heroine came out in June. It stated that a new Wonder Woman movie is being written, with no word yet on who will take on the lead. As actress Ana de Armas has spoken before about playing the Amazonian warrior, AI has shown us what she’d look like as Diana Prince, and prepare to be blown away.

We’ve seen astonishing fan art before of what actresses would potentially look like as Wonder Woman. White Lotus’ Alexandra Daddario’s big blue eyes shine through in her DC fan art, and Scream’s Melissa Barrera’s fan art had her looking fierce and strong in her armored costume. Well, @eddiewhittonjr on Instagram us a scarily realistic AI image of what Ana de Armas would look like as the famed heroine, and it’s like she was born for the DC reboot:

If I didn’t know that was AI, I’d truly believe that really was the Cuban-Spanish American actress donning Diana Prince’s costume. It’s truly amazing what AI can achieve in its scarily similar likeness.

Previously, Ana de Armas got real on whether she could see herself play Wonder Woman. While she was aware that the scrapping of the third movie meant an opening in the iconic superheroine role, the Blonde actress said she couldn’t picture herself replacing the Warner Bros. flick’s original actress, Gal Gadot. But with Wonder Woman being a reboot, it’s unlikely that we’ll see the Snow White actress reprising her memorable role.

While Gadot was astounding as Diana Prince, I could see de Armas being the next star to take on the big role. Her projects like No Time to Die and Ballerina have demonstrated she could handle the physical challenges of being a badass superhero. The Oscar nominee’s dramatic capabilities have also been shown in Blonde and Knives Out, which would help her portray Diana Prince’s determination and compassion. I hope DC Studios co-president James Gunn sees this fan art to help him better make up his mind.

Gunn recently addressed Wonder Woman’s future by saying he’s going to pick the best woman for the role with no regard to their film or TV-centric background. The Superman director also acknowledged that even though a Diana Prince solo movie is a priority as one of DCU’s four “pillars,” he doesn’t want anything “fast-tracked” as everything will get moving once he reads a script he’s proud of. Considering its sequel, Wonder Woman 1984, had mixed critical reactions, I can understand the pressure to make sure its revamp treatment gives the DC superheroine justice.

Ana de Armas may not see herself as Wonder Woman, but AI can certainly see the Blade Runner 2049 actress playing the part. Even if we never see the Golden Globe nominee wield the Lasso of Truth, at least fan creations like this can allow us to dream.

If you want to relive the glory days of seeing Gal Gadot bring Diana Prince to life, Wonder Woman and its sequel are available with your HBO Max subscription. You can also keep your eye out for news concerning the Wonder Woman-related series Paradise Lost, though the upcoming DC TV show doesn't have a release date set yet.

Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas have an upcoming movie together, so when the pair started to be seen out and about, it wasn’t necessarily that surprising. However, it didn’t take long for observers to realize that what was going on between the two was more than just co-stars hanging out. The pair had reportedly been dating, but there’s bad news for fans of the latest celebrity ship, as the Cruise/de Armas coupling is apparently over.

Cruise and de Armas were seen together frequently this past spring, including having dinner on Valentine’s Day and de Armas’ birthday, hinting the pair were more than friends. But an unnamed source tells The Sun that the couple have decided to end their romantic relationship, as they realized things weren’t going to go anywhere serious and have decided to simply be friends. According to the source…

There are always fans of celebrity relationships, and those people are likely disappointed by this news. But in the end, there’s not a lot to say. Sometimes two people just aren’t romantically compatible, no matter how much they might like each other. According to this unnamed source, that’s exactly what happened here. It sounds like both parties are ok with that, and that’s all you can ask.

While Ana de Armas did talk a little about her relationship with Tom Cruise, the pair's dating was never publicly acknowledged. It needs to be said that all of this might be much ado about nothing. Cruise has previously been rumored to be dating his Mission: Impossible co-star Hayley Atwell. However, Atwell later shut down those rumors, indicating there was never anything there. This wouldn't be the first time Cruise broke up with an actress he was never actually dating.

If we take this comment at face value, however, it does give us a bit of insight into the thinking of the stars and where they are when it comes to relationships. If Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas ended their relationship because they realized it wasn’t going to “go the distance,” then that would seem to indicate both actors are looking for something serious and aren’t going to spend time on a relationship that doesn’t have the potential for that.

Of course, fans who still want to see Cruise and de Armas together will get their wish. They may not get snapped by paparazzi going to dinner, but the pair still have a movie to make together, and because the relationship has ended amicably, the film is moving forward without issue. The source continued…

According to reports, the upcoming movie is called Deeper and will be directed by frequent Cruise collaborator Doug Liman. It will see the pair go up against a “terrifying force” discovered during an undersea dive.

As talk continues about whether or not John Wick: Chapter 5 will happen (for the sake of Keanu Reeves’ body, maybe it shouldn’t), let’s not forget about the heroine who debuted in the franchise earlier this year. Ana de Armas starred in the 2025 movie release Ballerina as Eve Macarro, who went on her own mission of revenge, just like Mr. Wick. I enjoyed watching Ballerina, including that moment where de Armas assembled a gun in 14 seconds, and am now even more impressed to see the stunt was indeed done practically.

In a video making the rounds that was originally shared by @cinema.encyclopedia, we see Ana de Armas successfully putting together a gun opposite one of the stunt team’s members. It was important for her to do it as quickly as possible for one of Ballerina’s key scenes, and just look at the joy on her face when she made it happen.

For safety’s sake, I hope the components of that gun were inspected several times over, as I’ll admit I got concerned when Ana de Armas pointed it right at the person opposite her. That aside, I can only imagine how much training it took for the actress to learn how to do this in a quarter of a minute. For Eve Macarro, doing so was a matter of life or death, as she needed to assemble that gun to kill a former Ruska Roma member and complete her assassin training, as you’ll see below:

By completing that final task, Eve became the Kikimora and carried out various missions for the Ruska Roma. However, it wasn’t long before she left the group to pursue exacting vengeance on The Cult, which was responsible for the death of her father when she was a child. While she succeeded in killing The Cult’s leader, known only as The Chancellor, and many of its members, the survivors put a $5 million bounty on her head, forcing her to seek refuge at the New York Continental.

Immediately after seeing Ballerina, I wondered how the events of John Wick: Chapter 4 affected Eve’s current status quo. More importantly though, will we reunite with her in a Ballerina sequel? Although the John Wick spinoff earned positive critical reception, it had a disappointing box office return of just $137.2 million worldwide off a reported $90 million budget. Still, I hope Lionsgate does decide to bring Ana de Armas back to reprise Eve, whether that’s in another solo movie or as a supporting character elsewhere, like Donnie Yen’s Caine spinoff. She’s too good a character to never use again.

Along with being available for digital and physical purchase, Ballerina can now be streamed on Starz, which you can add on to your Hulu subscription. You can also sign up for a Peacock subscription to watch all four of the main John Wick movies and the prequel TV series The Continental.

Sydney Sweeney has quite a bit going on these days, between her latest release Americana seemingly bombing at the box office (which it didn’t really) to her jeans controversy to MGK dating rumors. That doesn’t even cover it, given the work she’s done on the highly anticipated Euphoria Season 3 and now Eden, which is set to hit the 2025 movie calendar on August 22. The reviews are in, and while the critics don’t agree on the movie overall, they all seem to be praising the performances.

Eden is directed by Ron Howard and stars Sydney Sweeney alongside Ana de Armas, Jude Law, Daniel Brühl and more in the film that’s based on the true story of settlers on Floreana Island in the Galapagos. While Sweeney’s TIFF premiere method dressing was giving more Handmaid’s Tale than Eden, it didn’t distract from the “astounding true story,” according to Pete Hammond of Deadline, who writes:

Jesse Hassenger of AV Club grades the movie a B, agreeing with other critics that the trio of female leads (Vanessa Kirby, Sydney Sweeney and Ana de Armas) are impressive with nuanced performances in this tale of a “hell-is-other-people collapse of a society.” The critic writes:

Itzel Luna of the AP notes the impressive cast assembled by Ron Howard and says Sydney Sweeney steals the show. The performances, however, aren’t enough to make up for the overambitious plot, Luna says. The critic gives Eden 2.5 out of 4 stars and says:

Travis Hopsin of Punch Drunk Critic rates Eden 2.5 out of 5 stars, saying there’s a lethargy that hangs over Ron Howard’s portrayal of the fascinating true events. The screenplay lacks tension, Hopsin says, and while there are some good performances, the lack of depth to the characters leads to some unintentional moments of humor. The critic continues:

Ross McIndoe of Slant also takes issue with Eden’s tone, as well as the characters, ideas and accents never quite coming together as a coherent whole. The critic rates the film 2 out of 5 stars and calls it a “ridiculous shambles,” but strangely that doesn’t make for a wholly unenjoyable experience. In McIndoe’s words:

Critics as a whole seem as conflicted as those above, with Eden sitting with a 60% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. If there’s one thing they do seem to agree on, though, it’s the work of the leading actors, particularly the women. If this sounds like a thriller you can’t miss, Eden hits theaters on Friday, August 22.

I’m a huge fan of the John Wick franchise, and while I was a little frustrated with the timeline issues in Ballerina, I thought it was a solid, though not spectacular, movie. However, the spinoff’s disappointing box office has me concerned that the franchise can only succeed if Keanu Reeves is the star, and I hope that’s not the case.

Ballerina Has Big Stars, But Not Big Returns

Ana de Armas certainly has the star power to carry a movie, and the rest of the Ballerina cast, including Gabriel Byrne, Norman Reedus, Anjelica Houston, Ian McShane, and the late Lance Reddick, bring plenty of glitz and glamour to the film as well. Then, of course, there is the star of the franchise, Keanu Reeves. Reeves was originally only announced as a cameo in Ballerina, but he ended up with a bigger role.

That star power didn’t translate to box office power, though. According to the latest numbers from Box Office Mojo, Ballerina has brought in just under $92 million worldwide. That is on a reported budget of $90 million. There is still time for the movie to make a little more money in theaters, but I think it’s safe to say that wherever the final numbers land, it will be underwhelming. That has me worried about the future of the franchise, especially in projects that don’t include Reeves, like the planned spinoff starring Donnie Yen as his character, Caine.

Can The World Of John Wick Succeed Without John Wick?

Director Chad Stahelski and writer Derek Kolstad (along with writer Shay Hatten) have created an incredible world in the John Wick movies. They’ve managed to do the seemingly impossible these days in Hollywood: build a new franchise without relying on existing I.P. The four films have all been successful with fans and critics alike, and while Ballerina has been generally praised by reviewers and audiences who have seen it, it seems not enough people are excited to see a movie that isn’t focused on John Wick himself.

This leads to the natural question: as popular as the character is, and as great as all the movies have been, including Ballerina, can this franchise succeed without the titular character? It’s a question I can’t answer yet, but if it's going to, the box office returns will have to be better.

The Future, With And Without Keanu Reeves

John Wick 5 is on the way, and it’s a safe bet that it will be massively popular, just as the first four have been. Reeves and Stahelski will be back, and it's hard to imagine it won’t be as good – and as successful – as the first four. Stahlelski is also excited about the Caine spinoff, which won’t feature Reeves.

On the flip side, however, is the undercurrent of both Ballerina’s less-than-stellar box office numbers and the spinoff prequel show, The Continental, that didn’t set the world on fire, either. The show, starring Mel Gibson and Colin Woodell, which you can stream on Peacock, got mixed reviews, and while it continued to build the world, it didn’t bring a whole lot more to the table.

So, that leaves us where we are today. We know the future of the John Wick franchise is bright when Reeves’ now-iconic character is the focus, but it has me wondering if it can be without him. I sure hope so, because I really want more of the this world in my life.

Warning: SPOILERS for Ballerina are ahead!

While the Peacock subscription-exclusive series The Continental marked the first time that the John Wick franchise expanded past the narrative focused on Keanu Reeves’ title character, Ballerina is undeniably getting more attention. It’s no surprise, considering it’s not only one of the 2025 movie releases, but also saw Reeves reprising Wick for this tale set during and after the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum, but before John Wick: Chapter 4 (and yes, that does present a timeline issue).

And yet, as I was leaving the theater after seeing Ballerina, I couldn’t help but wonder how Ana de Armas’ Eve Macarro was affected by one of Chapter 4’s most explosive moments… literally!

How Ballerina Left Off With Eve Macarro

By the end of Ballerina, Eve had finally killed The Chancellor, leader of The Cult and the man who was responsible for the death of her father, Javier, 12 years earlier. Her mission of revenge was finally over, but such an action came with consequences. Just because The Chancellor was dead doesn’t mean The Cult was suddenly no more. While they might not have wanted to go to war with the Ruska Roma like he did, the surviving members did place a $5 million bounty on Eve.

At that point, she’d already checked into the New York Continental, and while she felt safe enough shortly thereafter to go see her former friend Tatiana’s ballet performance, she bailed from the theater immediately after getting notified of the bounty. So just like Daniel Pine had done at the Prague Continental, Eve now finds herself holed up in the New York branch since no “business” can be conducted on Continental grounds. Granted, we saw in Ballerina that some are willing to flaunt that rule if the price is high enough, but then they’ll face severe punishment for doing so — usually by being executed.

Eve Won’t Be Able To Stay At The New York Continental For Long

There’s just one problem: the New York Continental isn’t going to be around for much longer. At the beginning of Chapter 4, the Marquis Vincent Bisset de Gramont had the hotel be destroyed as part of Winston Scott’s punishment for failing to kill Wick in Chapter 3, along with being declared excommunicado and killing his concierge, Charon. Prior to meeting with the Marquis, Winston was informed that the New York Continental has been declared condemned and was given one hour to evacuate the premises.

So we at least know that Eve didn’t die when the hotel was blown up, but nevertheless, where does she go from here? It seems to me the resolution to this bounty would be covered in a Ballerina sequel rather than dealt with offscreen ahead of the events of Chapter 4. So with the New York Continental temporarily gone (remember that Winston was reinstated as its manager at the end of Chapter 4, so it’ll be reconstructed), she’s back to being out in the open with all kinds of assassins gunning for her.

Now, some of you reading might be saying that Eve could just check in at another Continental, and that is true. However, I’m not so sure that those other branches would be quite as welcoming towards her. It was one thing for her to be welcomed at the New York branch since she went way back with Winston, but other Continental managers might not be as accommodating. Maybe they feel it’s not worth the risk of housing her with the entire Cult and the assassins wanting that bounty after her.

Between that and being exiled from the Ruska Roman for disobeying The Director, Eve finds herself with few allies by the time John Wick: Chapter 4 rolls around. Although it was said in 2023 that Lionsgate had plans to develop a Ballerina sequel, the project hasn’t been greenlit yet. If Ballerina 2 does happen, I hope a little bit of time is dedicated to revealing how this event from Chapter 4 affected Eve. It’s too big a shakeup to ignore.

The first of what will be several movies set in the World of John Wick arrived over the weekend. And, while Ballerina failed to win the box office on its opening weekend, it received solid reviews from both critics and fans. Above all, Ana de Armas is getting a lot of positive buzz due to her performance. That includes kind words from John Wick himself, Keanu Reeves, who recalled one particularly cool instances that exemplifies de Armas' badass status.

John Wick does make an appearance in Ballerina and, with that, he was on hand for the film’s premiere. While speaking with THR on the red carpet, Reeves was asked what he thought was the most “badass” thing Ana de Armas did on set, and the only thing better than what he said was what he didn’t say. Reeves takes a step back and remains silent as he truly contemplates his answer, by apparently running through their entire fight in his head. Check it out:

Far too often, especially on a red carpet, celebrities who get peppered with questions have canned responses that frequently don’t really answer the question and often don’t include much interesting information at all. But Keanu Reeves stops to think, because he wants to give the best possible answer to the question. As somebody who, on occasion, gets to ask famous people questions, I appreciate the thoughtfulness on display.

And, to be sure, Keanu Reeves does have an answer to the question. After thinking about it for a moment, the most “badass” thing that Ana de Armas apparently does in Ballerina is try to give the best possible action performance, by taking what she did in rehearsal and improving on it once the camera is rolling. Reeves said…

Fans saw some of what Keanu and Ana de Armas did to prepare for Ballerina and, seeing the final execution of that work on the screen, it’s difficult not to argue that both stars brought their next-level game. Ballerina may not be quite at the level of the John Wick films, but the new movie is certainly a worthy addition to the larger franchise.

It’s far too early to tell if we’ll see more of Ana de Armas in the John Wick franchise. While the events of Ballerina have us questioning the John Wick timeline, the franchise is only going to grow from here and, as more spinoffs and sequels are created, opportunities for de Armas’ character to return will certainly be there. It seems certain if that happens, she will bring her A-game, and Keanu is already a big fan.

The following contains minor spoilers for Ballerina.

I am an unapologetic fan of all things John Wick. I've seen all the movies. I've been to the Las Vegas Continental. I love the Keanu Reeves-led franchise, and so the fact that we’re not only going to get more John Wick sequels, but prequels and multiple spinoffs, makes me a happy guy. As such, I was very much looking forward to seeing the first of those spinoffs, the Ana de Armas-led Ballerina.

Overall, I think Ballerina was a solid effort. The action sequences, while not quite up to the same standard as the John Wick films, were still well done, with a few really standout moments. Ana de Armas held her own throughout the film, as so many of us hoped she would. But while Ballerina was a solid action movie, I felt it was lacking as a John Wick film, and not because it didn’t have enough Keanu Reeves.

Ballerina’s Villains Are Less Interesting Because They’re Outside The Rules

Ballerina introduces a new group of professional murderers that had not been previously mentioned in the John Wick movies. The group is referred to as a cult, and the description is proven to be apt as they all live together, insulated from the rest of the world.

But what sets them apart from the rest of the characters we know is that this cult does not operate within the rules that have previously been established. It’s made clear that this cult has something of an uneasy peace with the world that exists under High Table. They’re given access to High Table resources like the Continental, but mostly so that world can keep an eye on them.

We see how this new group operates when they attempt to manipulate the High Table assassins into carrying out a killing on the grounds of the Continental. In the end, when that doesn’t quite work, they have no problem pulling triggers themselves and "doing business" on hotel grounds.

While I love Gabriel Byrne, and was excited to see him in Ballerina, I found the villains of the movie boring because operating outside the rules simply means we can ignore the rules, and the rules are what make the World of John Wick special.

The Rules Are What Makes The World Of John Wick Interesting And Unique

If you're going to create a new story set in the World of John Wick, it needs to take the rules of the world into account. Those rules might be limiting in some ways, but that simply means finding creative ways to use the rules (or to embellish them) in order to make the story work.

Even Ballerina does this a little. When Ana de Armas' character is threatened with death for breaking the rules, she points out she was only ever defending herself, and that she never actually killed anybody on Continental grounds. The rule against "conducting business" is suitably vague enough that this works.

With another major spinoff, Caine, starring Donnie Yen, on the way, as well as an animated John Wick prequel. I hope the new films take a lesson from Ballerina and not follow in these footsteps. Don't ignore the rules; instead, find creative ways to use them that will make your action and your story more interesting.

The rules of the John Wick universe are far from clear, and they’re more than a little bizarre. The gold coin-based economy makes basically no sense, but I don’t care. The rules are what make John Wick movies different from other action movies, and as we see more sequels and spinoffs, and whatever else in the John Wick universe, I hope we see more movies that find interesting ways to use the rules, and not simply ignore them.

From The World Of John Wick: Ballerina is one of the most hotly anticipated movies on the 2025 movie schedule. As a big fan of the franchise and the world it has created, it was high on my list, too. I was a little worried about how the reported problems with the production, including director Len Wiseman stepping away at one point because of a health issue, would turn it into a disaster on screen.

I’m happy to report that it isn't the hot mess I feared it could be. Ballerina is actually pretty good. It does seem, however, that the production turmoil has led to a real problem with the franchise’s timeline. Before I go any further, I have to make it clear that there will be major spoilers ahead for Ballerina (and the third and fourth John Wick movies, for that matter), so proceed with caution if you haven’t seen the Ana de Armas-led action movie.

Just What Were The Original Plans For Keanu Reeves In The Movie?

Since very early on in the development of Ballerina, we've known that Keanu Reeves, who, of course, plays John Wick in four movies in the franchise, would make an appearance. We also knew that Ballerina would take place between the third and fourth installments of the John Wick movies. We just didn’t know how big a role Reeves would have, or how it would work into the plot.

Early in the movie, Eve (de Armas) sees Wick come to the theater where she is training with “The Director,” played by Angelica Huston. What Eve sees, from a different perspective, is what audiences saw in John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum. Wick is branded over his tattoo, indicating he is out of the Ruska Roma. As he is leaving the theater, he and Eve have a brief encounter. I have to wonder if this was originally supposed to be the full extent of Reeves’ participation in the movie.

Reeves Has A Much Larger Role Than I Expected

It’s well known that the director of the four principal John Wick movies, Chad Stahelski, stepped in after initial production wrapped to do re-shoots with Reeves, but just how much work he did is subject to debate. Some reports claim there were extensive re-shoots, but Stahelski himself has downplayed just how much he did. Stahelski told The Hollywood Reporter,

Reeves’ role is much bigger than I thought it would be, with Wick appearing in much of the final act. It seems that at least some of this footage is what Stahelski is responsible for. It is also the part of Ballerina that really messes with the franchise timeline.

When Did That Final Scene In Austria Take Place In The Timeline?

We know the story is supposed to take place between the third and fourth John Wick movies, and the first scene with Reeves in the theater seemingly confirms that, as we see the scene from Parabellum. We also know that Wick is in bad shape at the end of Parabellum, barely clinging to life after falling from the roof of The Continental. He’s certainly not in any kind of shape to travel to Europe and take on a village of assassins, as he does alongside Eve in Ballerina.

Most speculation is that there are about six months between Parabellum and Chapter Four, and we know that during that time, however long it is, he is recovering from his extensive injuries with The Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne). We also know that Wick has been expelled from the Ruska Roma by The Director, yet it is Wick whom she calls to help Eve in the village of their rivals. There is no possible way that he could have gotten back in fighting shape and back on good terms with The Director in those few months between the third and fourth movies.

Maybe The Village Battle Came After Chapter 4?

The only possible explanation is that there is a much larger time jump between the first time Eve meets him at the theater and when he joins her in the mountain village. It has to come after the events of Chapter Four, and after Wick has again recovered from the injuries he received in that movie.

Unfortunately, none of that is made clear, so we’re left to wonder just what is going on. It seems entirely possible that the final fight scene in Ballerina could have come many months after the scene in the theater, as Eve has already completed both her training and her first mission protecting the daughter of a rich client.

BUT – that’s not actually possible either, as at the end of Ballerina we see Eve checking in to The Continental with Charon (Lance Reddick) at the front desk, and Charon was tragically killed in Chapter 4.

We’re Going To Have To Suspend Belief Here

In the end, there just isn’t a way to explain how the timeline isn’t screwed up by Ballerina. Either John Wick would be too beat up to be that powerful in the village, or Charon has come back from the dead. Either way, it makes no sense.

That’s not to say it ruins Ballerina or the John Wick franchise. Given the complications of the production and the film's delays, we all just need to be okay with the glitch in the matrix, so to speak. This film still delivers in the ways I want to see in the John Wick universe film, it’s just a little frustrating that the creative forces behind the franchise have elegantly built a really fun world, and this is a blemish on it.

If you want to catch up or rewatch all four John Wick movies, you can do so with a Peacock subscription, which is how I made sure I wasn’t going crazy with these timeline questions.

It’s been eight long years since it was announced that John Wick was getting a spinoff, so there’s no doubt that Ballerina comes highly anticipated for fans of the John Wick franchise. The film — starring Ana de Armas as Eve Macarro, the ballerina assassin who seeks revenge for her father’s death — finally hit the 2025 movie calendar on June 6, and critics are here to help us decide if we want to buy tickets to the new action movie.

The John Wick spinoff Ballerina, according to director Len Wiseman, is actually more of a parallel story, as it takes place between 2019’s Chapter 3 – Parabellum and 2023’s Chapter 4 (available to stream with a Peacock subscription).

The film received a glowing reaction from Tom Cruise (who has sparked dating rumors with Ana de Armas). However, in CinemaBlend’s review of Ballerina, Eric Eisenberg contends his low expectations helped his enjoyment of the “meh” spinoff. He rates the movie 3 out of 5 stars, writing:

Clint Gage of IGN gives the movie a “Great” 8 out of 10, admitting the movie does get off to a slow start, but once the story kicks in, Ballerina proves a worthy offering in the franchise, continuing the traditions that draw fans to John Wick but standing on its own in a surprising way. Gage continues:

Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com gives it 2.5 out of 4 stars, noting that the fight scenes — especially early on — don’t live up to what we’ve come to expect from this franchise. However, the movie’s second half is full of enough action that you won’t care. In Tallerico’s words:

Brian Truitt of USA TODAY calls the Ana de Armas movie a “game-changer,” as the actress is deemed a great addition to the John Wick universe. Truitt enjoys how the character uses more random objects, flamethrowers and knife work for her kills instead of mimicking Wick’s gun fu. He gives the movie 3.5 stars out of 4 and writes:

David Rooney of THR says everyone in Ballerina understands the assignment, including director Len Wiseman, who doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel with the franchise’s new protagonist. The flick very much stays true to the intense gun-fu franchise, making for a great summer afternoon at the movies. Rooney says:

Ballerina is also notable as it was Lance Reddick’s final movie before his 2023 death at age 60. If you’re a fan of the ever-expanding John Wick franchise and want to give this new assassin a shot, Ballerina is in theaters now.

Ana de Armas demonstrates tremendous skills playing Eve Macarro in Ballerina – the new spinoff/sequel from the John Wick franchise. With a variety of weapons in hand (or sans weapons), she operates like a veteran ass-kicker. Watchin the movie, one can respect that she gained a lot of confidence as an action star in the making of the blockbuster... but that confidence also led her straight into a seriously emotional experience when it came time to shooting the film's flamethrower sequences.

When I interviewed director Len Wiseman about Ballerina earlier this year, he told me about how his lead actress cried when she first set a stuntperson on fire, and CinemaBlend's own Hannah Saulic asked Ana de Armas for her own perspective on events while speaking to her at the film's New York press day. She explained that she initially declined practice with the flamethrower, figuring she could learn how to use it on set, but the stunt crew explained that it was something she needed to get used to:

Part of the John Wick aesthetic is not only doing things practically but having stars perform the majority of their own stunts. There was no CGI flamethrower, and there was never intention to use a double. The No Time To Die star was given a seriously dangerous weapon that blasted real fire.

Continuing, Ana de Armas said that she knew that she was working with the best in the business when it came to using fire on set and that everyone was being as safe as possible... but that knowledge didn't soften the fact that she was setting another human being aflame. Subsequent blasts didn't affect her the same way, but it sounds like it's something she'll never forget:

That "105" number may seem like a lot, but after watching Ballerina, you'll find yourself saying, "Yeah, that sounds about right."

On that note, audiences will have the opportunity to see the film starting this weekend when it arrives in theaters everywhere – the new John Wick title featuring a talented ensemble including Gabriel Byrne, Lance Reddick, Anjelica Huston, Norman Reedus, Ian McShane, and Keanu Reeves. After you do, be sure to head back here to CinemaBlend for more from our interviews with the cast.

I try and go into every movie with an objective perspective as a means of keeping myself open to surprises both positive and negative… but I am an ordinary human, and it’s literally my job to be aware of how titles get developed and the ups and downs they go through being made. I maintain that I am generally able to not let expectations wholly color my opinions, but I am also cognizant when a production flies up a string of red flags. It’s inevitable that information like that stays at the back of mind when taking in a new release.

My experience watching director Len Wiseman’s Ballerina is a textbook example of this internal conflict. I am a big fan of the John Wick franchise that has birthed this spinoff, with an emphasized appreciation for both the stylized action and the surprisingly engaging worldbuilding – and that fanhood means that I have been acutely aware that this is a movie that went through principal photography nearly three years ago and has spent significant time since then undergoing major reshoots. When a movie gets constantly delayed because it needs to make serious pivots away from the vision that initiated its creation, the end result is not typically a feature that gets labeled with words like “masterpiece.”

As I sat and waited in the theater for Ballerina to start, my attitude amounted to “fear the worst, hope for the best.” I mentally set a low bar, and ultimately, it proved low enough for the action film to step over it. On a narrative and character level, the film skates on doing pretty much the bare minimum (perfect example: it never actually provides a name for the antagonist cult that the hero is targeting for revenge), but when it comes to the ass-kicking, it doesn’t skimp, and it provides satisfying thrills.

Weaving through the established John Wick canon, the film introduces protagonist Eve Macarro as a young girl (Victoria Comte) living on the run with her rogue mercenary father (David Castañeda), and she winds up seeing him killed by a mysterious man named the Chancellor (Gabriel Byrne) and a group of trained soldiers who accuse him of betrayal. Orphaned, Eve is helped by Winston Scott (Ian McShane) – a friend of her father’s – and he has her initiated into the Ruska Roma assassin guild in New York City.

Twelve years later, Eve (Ana de Armas) is on the verge of completing her training, and after having an encounter with the legendary John Wick (Keanu Reeves) – a moment set during the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum – she is sent out for her first mission. Never far from her mind, however, is her desire to find the group responsible for her father’s murder, and when she finally gets a lead, her loyalty to the Ruska Roma is tested as she must seek vengeance without the guild’s approval.

Ballerina sports a too-basic revenge plot that never independently gets exciting.

Reaching for a comparison, I can say that Ballerina is the movie that I thought John Wick: Chapter 2 was going to be when I first saw it in 2017. With the action in the franchise’s seminal film receiving overwhelming acclaim, I was apprehensive that the sequel was going to put a much greater emphasis on cool set pieces and render the big picture dynamics of the assassin-filled world as an afterthought – and I was blissed out when that apprehension turned out to be needless.

It can be said that Ballerina doesn’t ignore the unique qualities of the John Wick world, and it does do some scope-expansion for the canon, but it’s also by far the most undercooked work in the franchise.

The movie’s best idea is the cult run by The Chancellor, which seems like an ordinary European mountain village community until it’s revealed that every man and woman is an armed killer, but it’s hung at the end of what is otherwise a flimsy and overly basic revenge plot. Because of the overt effort to fit Ballerina into the continuity like a puzzle piece, the story takes far too long to get on its feet (it’s not until about 45 minutes into the runtime that Eve starts on her big mission), and all of the twists the film attempts to employ feel like first thoughts and fail to carry any weight.

Ana de Armas shows off some serious skills in set pieces up to the John Wick standard.

Be it because of an unimpressive shooting script or because of the extensive reshoots, Ballerina doesn’t build much of a narrative, but it is able to successfully hang a bunch of on-brand action on to it, and that prevents walking away from the movie overly disappointed. Franchise trademarks provide the framework for the set pieces, with firefights playing out in hotel suites and neon-bathed dance clubs, and the skilled choreography is brilliant.

All 5’6” of Ana de Armas doesn’t make her much a physically imposing threat, but Eve is trained to take every advantage given to her in an altercation, and it’s a joy to watch her get creative – from crotch hits to smashing plates to unleashing the full fury of a flamethrower. Within the canon, it’s an ideal mix of familiar and new, and following the skills she previewed during her quick role alongside Daniel Craig’s James Bond in No Time To Die, de Armas proves herself to be an exceptionally capable action star in her own right.

Arriving a couple months after Lionsgate’s announcement regarding an ambitious expansion of the John Wick world (including John Wick: Chapter 5, a Donnie Yen-directed Caine spinoff, and an animated prequel), Ballerina isn’t quite a “best foot forward” feature arriving at a critical juncture, but the saving grace is that it’s not the disaster that many have fretted while it’s long been awaiting release. Like a battle featuring a flamethrower vs. a firehose, high franchise standards clash with low expectations and the result is tepid but fine.

The red carpet shimmered brighter than a mirrored jewelry box as Ana de Armas and the radiant cast of the upcoming Ballerina took center stage at the John Wick offshoot's premiere, serving only the highest of fashion. With elegance and enough sparkle to put a Swarovski showroom to shame, the ladies of the not-quite-a-spinoff action movie arrived dressed to kill, sporting tulle and sparkles, and they were absolutely En Pointe.

In one image from the event, which you can see below, de Armas was front and center, dazzling in a lavender, body-hugging gown drenched in sequins. Her look struck the perfect balance between classic Hollywood and cold-blooded assassin, very much in tune with the character's lethal grace in her 2025 movie release. Her cascading waves and understated glam, which she shared a closer look at on her Instagram account, gave her the poise of a prima ballerina and the firey visage of a woman you do not want to cross.

Joining her in this couture corps de ballet was Catalina Sandino Moreno (far left), whose crystal-dusted ivory gown flowed like chiffon. Though plot details are under wraps tighter than a dancer’s bun, one thing’s clear: Moreno’s role is central, and her front-and-center red carpet presence proved it.

Victoria Comte (to the right of de Armas), the young actress portraying the childhood version of de Armas' character, steals the spotlight in her delicate frosted-tulle dress, reminiscent of a fairytale. However, her confident stance reminds us that this story isn't about damsels in distress; instead, it's centered on strong survivors. Clearly, Young Eve is in very capable acting hands.

Then there was the iconic Anjelica Huston, striking in a no-nonsense black suit that radiated power and precision. While the other women floated in flowing fabrics and shimmer, Huston stood firm and commanding, like the ballet mistress of this symphony of violence and revenge. Her presence, both on screen and on the red carpet, exudes pure gravitas—no pirouettes needed.

Keanu Reeves, who reprises his role as John Wick in the film, arrived looking sharp, as always, in a dark suit and tie. On-screen, Wick tangos with Eve in a tension-laced gunfight teased in the trailer. Off-screen, Reeves brought the calm intensity of a danseur noble—a man who’s been through all four acts and is still standing.

The rest of the fantastic Ballerina cast, featuring Norman Reedus, Ian McShane, and Gabriel Byrne, strengthened the lineup. Reedus and McShane maintained a Wick-inspired aesthetic, mainly wearing all-black outfits, with McShane sporting a suitably plum undershirt. In contrast, Byrne added a subtle twist with a muted teal suit, introducing a hint of color without disrupting the noir mood. Together, they formed an impressive supporting ensemble on stage, and surely, at the box office when the film drops.

Ballerina is the latest title in the expanding John Wick universe, following the prequel series The Continental, which is streaming with a Peacock subscription. A few weeks ago, it was announced that several other exciting projects related to the franchise are also in development.

Don't worry if you haven't seen The Continental; neither has cast member Ian Shane. He refused to watch because he disagreed with how his character was portrayed. Fortunately, it's not necessary to catch up on the series before watching the Ana de Armas-led film, which will be released in theaters everywhere on Friday, June 6th.

When it comes to discussing franchises, there is a vast lexicon of terms that can be used to describe different installments. We live in an age where there are far more than just simple sequels: there are spinoffs, prequels, crossovers, team-ups, capstones, legacyquels, reboots, retcons, and more. It provides modern filmmakers with a lot of creative options when it comes to adding to an existing canon, and it’s something that director Len Wiseman very much appreciates when it came to making his new action movie Ballerina starring Ana de Armas.

Ballerina is a title that expands the breadth of the ever-growing John Wick universe (which announced a number of other exciting in-the-works projects a few weeks ago), and it sits in an interesting position within the continuity. When I spoke with the film’s director earlier this year during a press day at 87Eleven Action Design, he explained how the movie slots into the timeline of the action franchise and noted that it’s something a bit different than your standard sequel or spinoff. Said Wiseman,

Audiences who have seen John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum have gotten an early look into the part of the canon world that will be further explored in Ballerina. In the 2019 movie, the titular Keanu Reeves character is looking for safe harbor as he is being hunted by every assassin on Earth, and he finds it in a theater with an old acquaintance known as The Director (Anjelica Huston). It’s during the sequence at this location that we learn of a program that simultaneously trains young women to be both dancers and killers – and it’s here that Ana de Armas’s Eve Macarro enters the picture.

The story in Ballerina essentially uses this sequence as a launching pad, and while it unfurls principally with Eve on a solo mission of personal vengeance, the plot also eventually sees her cross paths with the legendary Baba Yaga as he is gearing up for what audiences got to witness in 2023’s John Wick: Chapter 4. It’s a cool twist for fans who enjoying marathoning their favorite franchises in special watch orders.

Further solidifying it within the John Wick franchise, Ballerina not only features Keanu Reeves’ return as the world’s most dangerous assassin and Anjelica Huston reprising her role as The Director, but it also has Ian McShane back as Winston Scott and Lance Reddick delivering is final performance as Continental Hotel concierge Charon. Long in the works, Ballerina will be arriving in theaters everywhere on June 6.

The John Wick franchise became more than just a saga following Keanu Reeves’ title assassin when it delivered the Peacock subscription-exclusive prequel series The Continental in 2023. Now we’re about to enter spinoff territory again with the 2025 movie release of Ballerina, which stars Ana de Armas in the lead role. This time though, Reeves gets to partake in this side quest as John Wick, although this didn’t mark the first time he and de Armas met. A decade ago, the former showed the latter choreography from the first John Wick movie.

Ana de Armas, who has previous action experience from No Time to Die, The Gray Man and Ghosted, reflected on that experience while appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. She and Keanu Reeves first worked together on Knock Knock, and after they made each other’s acquaintance, he showed off some of the moves he’d done for John Wick, which hadn’t been released yet. In de Armas’ words:

As well he should have been! While Keanu Reeves had no idea at the time that John Wick would spawn a popular franchise, the action choreography alone was enough to make it stand out from the crowd. So Ana de Armas and everyone else in that restaurant got a special tease for what was to come, and man, I wish I could’ve been there. When John Wick was released in October 2014, it was met with positive critical reception and made $86 million worldwide, somewhere around three-four times its budget. Chapter 2 was greenlit a few months later, and the rest is history.

Now the time has come to spotlight Ana de Armas’ Eve Macarro in Ballerina, as we’ll see her training to exact revenge on the people who killed her father. That will include her clashing with John Wick, and de Armas went on to explain just how much these movies mean to Keanu Reeves, whom she’s now worked with three times (they also co-starred in Exposed):

Ballerina takes place between the events of the third and fourth John Wick movies. As such, we’ll find Reeves’ character after he was found by The Bowery King, but before he started carrying out his mission of vengeance against The High Table. Although John Wick: Chapter 5 is in development, if it doesn’t get off the ground it’s entirely possible Ballerina will be the last time we see him playing the character since Chapter 4 ended with him being presumed dead.

But ultimately Ballerina is Ana de Armas’ platform to shine on, and her other co-stars include Anjelica Huston, Ian McShane, the late Lance Reddick, Gabriel Byrne and Norman Reedus, among others. The action flick, which arrives in theaters on June 6, was directed by Len Wiseman and written by Shay Hatten, and John Wick helmer Chad Stahelski oversaw the reshoots, although he’ll go uncredited for that work.

Tom Cruise - as Ethan Hunt - is saving the world (again) in the upcoming Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning. However, the ageless action star took a moment from insisting on doing his own stunts for his 2025 movie release to talk about another explosive title: the highly anticipated Ballerina, the upcoming John Wick spin-off led by Ana de Armas. Cruise did not hold back, and now, I’m even more excited to see the film!

Mexican film reviewer Javier Ibarreche posted a video to Instagram, which was recorded at the London premiere of The Final Reckoning. It was at the event that Ibarreche caught up with the leading man himself and shot the breeze. While highlighting the movies he’s excited to see this summer, the Top Gun veteran dropped a candid review of De Armas’ solo outing in the John Wick Universe. The 62-year-old Hollywood A-lister reports about the upcoming action flick:

That’s not just polite premiere banter. The Jerry Maguire alum was beaming, clearly impressed by what he’d seen. For those who might not know, Ballerina features Keanu Reeves reprising his role as the gun-fu legend John Wick and follows de Armas' Eve Maccaro, a lethal ballerina out for revenge. And, if Tom Cruise -- a man who literally pilots helicopters and runs full-speed through explosions for a living -- says your film "kicks ass," that’s one hell of a compliment.

Of course, Cruise's praise didn’t come out of nowhere. He and de Armas have been seen together several times recently, sparking tabloid whispers about a possible romantic relationship. The duo were spotted sharing dinner in London around Valentine’s Day and have reportedly taken more than one helicopter ride together; yes, one of those piloted by The Mummy actor himself.

However, according to recent reports by People, the relationship between the two A-listers is purely professional, with sources close to both actors stating that they’re collaborators and “just friends.” On the flip side, we know that de Armas and Cruise are starring in a movie together, and the new details surrounding that project sound pretty exciting.

In a recent interview on Good Morning America, Ana de Armas added fuel to the work-focused narrative, revealing that she and Cruise are actively developing multiple projects together. “Not just one, but a few,” she said, name-dropping Edge of Tomorrow director Doug Liman and Mission: Impossible maestro Christopher McQuarrie as key players in their upcoming collaborations.

Tom Cruise’s endorsement of Ballerina does more than stoke my curiosity; it suggests the John Wick franchise has legs well beyond its original lead. And with de Armas taking the spotlight and earning approval from the genre’s reigning king of mayhem, expectations just shot through the roof, and I can't wait to catch it when it hits theaters on June 6th!

As for Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, it hits theaters on May 23. Cruise's latest has already been shown to critics, and many think it’s a solid wrap-up for the series.

Tom Cruise is the biggest movie star in the world. He’s also possibly Hollywood’s most eligible bachelor. The Mission: Impossible actor seems to be romantically linked to every beautiful celebrity he comes in contact with, and this has become the case once again. Cruise has recently been seen in the company of the star of the upcoming John Wick spinoff Ballerina, Ana de Armas.

While we don’t know what the personal status of the couple is, we do know that there is a professional relationship as well. Cruise and de Armas are starring in a movie together, and it sounds pretty exciting.

Tom Cruise And Ana De Armas’ New Movie Sounds Awesome

We have a few details about the new movie and the incredible talent attached. Frequent Cruise collaborators Doug Liman and Christopher McQuarrie will both be involved, with Liman set to direct and McQuarrie taking a pass on a script originally penned by Bright scribe Max Landis.

The film is called Deeper and will star Cruise as an astronaut on an undersea dive who discovered what Deadline calls a “terrifying force.” How de Armas will fit into the story is unclear, but it appears that at least part of the reason the two have been spending so much time together is that they are undergoing dive training for the movie.

We would certainly expect Tom Cruise to do any required undersea diving for a movie himself, but it seems Ana de Armas is following suit. We’ve seen her getting physical in her preparation for Ballerina, and now it appears she’s going to continue down that path. It certainly gives the two something in common if they are actually dating.

Are Tom Cruise And Ana De Armas Dating?

While there have been no official statements from either party or their people regarding a relationship, rumors continue to swirl that Ana de Armas and Tom Cruise may be involved romantically. To be sure, the pair have been seen together multiple times over the last few months. The first time was reportedly on Valentine’s Day, which is the sort of thing that certainly could be a coincidence, but absolutely won’t be completely overlooked.

The duo also had dinner together on de Armas’ birthday, and they both attended David Beckham’s birthday party in London. The actors were spotted leaving together, which seemed to confirm they attended as a pair and weren’t simply both at the star-studded affair.

Of course, previous Tom Cruise has been linked to Hayley Atwell, his Mission: Impossible co-star, and there was never confirmation that there was anything there. It was once suggested he had eyes for Shakira in a situation where there was almost certainly nothing going on. Just because he and de Armas are spending time together doesn’t mean there’s anything going on... unless there is.

Action, adventure, and intrigue can be found throughout the 2025 movie schedule. But I think it’s a safe bet people might perk up at the mere mention of Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas in the same sentence. With several projects on the docket, the two have been spotted out quite a bit - so much so that some are keeping tabs on the rumored Cruise/de Armas romance.

During her recent appearance on GMA, the Ballerina star seemed to indirectly acknowledge those rumors, while talking about the link between herself and the Mission: Impossible leading man. Responding to the actual question, in which host Michael Strahan asked whether or not their partnership could lead to some “other crazy stunts,” Ana de Armas aptly danced around the subject with this carefully worded response:

Is it just me, or does this feel like reminiscent of those previous rumors of Tom Cruise and Hayley Atwell’s alleged romance? Admittedly, the latest star to join the rapidly growing John Wick movie franchise didn’t outright dismiss those claims like Ms. Atwell did. That being said, the short and sweet statement above doesn’t exactly invite a casual assumption that Ana de Armas is merely being low-key.

It’s also worth noting that according to Page Six, de Armas seemed to be in a happy relationship with Manuel Anido Cuesta as of this past February. Seeing as that overlaps with the Valentine’s Day take out sighting of both Tom Cruise and the No Time To Die star, those claims may be equally questionable.

There is still a good chance that all of the paparazzi friendly sightings of these collaborators is just a part of the collaborative process that goes into several projects together. And seeing as both Cruise and de Armas are known to be intense in their preparation for action roles, this could just be a pair of friends and colleagues obsessing over future cinematic excitement.

Although even if we were to be told flat out that these two were “just good friends,” that won’t stop true believers from hoping something more is going on. Just ask the stans who still want Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga’s alleged romance from A Star is Born to be an actual thing.

At least we can count on two things to be true at the moment: Tom Cruise is ready to wow the crowd with Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning on May 23rd, and Ana de Armas is locked and loaded to do the same with Ballerina on June 6th. It may not answer your queries about whether these two are truly a couple or not, but you might be able to cross some burning Mission: Impossible 8 questions off your list.

Any fan of the John Wick franchise has to be looking forward to the release of From the World of John Wick: Ballerina. The film will take fans back to the strange underworld created by the Keanu Reeves-led franchise, and it will include his titular character in a much bigger role than we initially believed. In fact, fans are so excited to see Keanu in some behind-the-scenes fight footage from Ballerina that some appear to have forgotten Ana de Armas is in this movie too.

Sharing behind-the-scenes training from John Wick movies is almost a staple of the franchise. We know just how hard this team works to get its action sequences perfect. Ballerina star Ana de Armas was sure to share some Instagram footage of her training with Keanu Reeves himself, and to be sure, it looks great. Check it out.

Both de Armas and Reeves are looking good here. As a massive fan of the John Wick franchise, I’m looking forward to Ballerina's release on the 2025 movie schedule in a month. However, based on the comments included on the post, most fans aren’t nearly as excited to see the title character of the film as they are excited to see Keanu as John Wick once again. Comments include…

• Imagine working with Keanu Reeves? Ana won at life 😂 -scarlyolsen
• How Keanu said “you do your thing” 😍 he is just the kindest human being in this planet -yeahalis
• Omg! I love this! Love seeing behind the scenes training videos of John Wick movies. Keanu is too sweet. Can't wait to see this two fight in Ballerina! 🔥🔥-johnwickfanatic
• How great is Keanu Reeves! He is my love! 😍❤💪👊🔥🔥🔥-sushiyant_2025
• Keanu Reeves 😍😍 -hir1to

While there are certainly some comments talking about how good de Armas looks, most seem focused on just how great Keanu Reeves is. They’re certainly not wrong. He is great, but the Knives Out actress is the one really showing off how hard she’s working here, and she is the star of the movie.

De Armas was incredible in her small role in the last James Bond movie, and Ballerina is giving her a real chance to show off what she can do, possibly cementing her place as a modern action star alongside John Wick himself.

While the Ballerina trailer seems to indicate that Keanu Reeves' appearance in the film is more than a simple cameo, it’s probably not a major supporting role either. If people are only really excited for the spinoff film to see John Wick again, it’s likely that a lot of fans may end up disappointed. However, personally, I'm excited to see both him and de Armas as the action heroes they are in this next movie that hits theaters on June 6.

Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas have the gossip pages bubbling. While there has been no confirmation of any kind that the two stars are dating, there is some smoke rising. Whether there is any (public) fire in the future remains to be seen. The two, who both have big upcoming projects on the 2025 movie schedule, have been seen together quite a few times over the past couple of months. I’ve been keeping track, so let’s take a look, and you can decide what to think of the situation

Valentine’s Day And A Couple Of Helicopter Rides

On Valentine’s Day this year, de Armas and Cruise were spotted getting carry-out from a restaurant in London. According to the Daily Mail, they were “mobbed” by fans as they walked in and out of the restaurant. They stopped and took some selfies before hopping in a cab together. There were no outward signs of affection, per the report, but they were all smiles and seemed to be having a very good time. The paper contacted reps for the two stars, but as of yet the article has not received a reply.

The next time the Mission: Impossible star and the Knives Out lead were spotted together was on March 16th, when TMZ reported Cruise and de Armas hopped out of a helicopter together at a helipad in London. According to the article, they had been seen at the same helipad the night before, as well.

About a month later, on April 14th, the two were photographed again by TMZ at the helipad. This time, according to the gossip site, they had just returned from a “whirlwind hop from Madrid, Spain.” The report was light on details about the trip, but this was now the third time they’d been spotted together.

They Love Sinners As Much As Everyone Else

Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan’s Sinners is one of the biggest hits of the year so far, and Cruise and de Armas were seen getting in on the hype at a movie theater in London. The Daily Mail reported that a fan also attending the movie spied the two taking it in. Cruise later posted a congratulatory message on X to the cast and crew of Sinners, though de Armas was not in the photo:

Dinner On De Armas’ Birthday And Celebrating David Beckham's

Early last week, de Armas and Cruise were seen together again, according to Page Six, this time both at the heliport in London, and then later at a Mexican restaurant enjoying dinner. It also happened to be de Armas’ 37th birthday, April 30th.

Over the weekend, it was rumored that the two would appear together at David Beckham's 50th birthday party. Page Six confirmed this when paparazzi caught a glimpse of Cruise and de Armas leaving the party together.

It is entirely possible that this is all just business, as at least one source told Page Six. It wouldn’t be crazy for the two stars to talk about starring in a movie together or working together in other ways. Both have big movies coming out this summer, as well. Cruise has Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, the (possible) final installment of the Mission: Impossible movies, and de Armas has Ballerina, a spin-off in the John Wick franchise. Ballerina is set for release on June 6th, while M: I – The Final Reckoning hits theaters a couple of weeks earlier, on May 23rd. Maybe things will be clearer after the premiere of one or both of those movies.

As an actor, affection for a character and/or projects is key, but the impact you and your character leave behind is just as important. There are many instances where certain demographics are underused in popular movie genres. Actress Ana de Armas reflected on her place in the James Bond film No Time to Die, as well as using her experience to advocate for more Latin actors in action films.

In a YouTube interview with Entertainment Weekly, Ana de Armas looks back on her time as Paloma in No Time to Die, as well as touch briefly on filming with co-star Daniel Craig in both that project and Knives Out. When describing her time on the set of No Time to Die, the star had this to say:

Since her time on the James Bond set, de Armas has starred in a few action movies. In 2023 she was asked about taking over from Gal Gadot to play Wonder Woman after Patty Jenkins’ third movie was scrapped. And while she didn’t take the role of Diana Prince, de Armas fought like a total badass in the 2025 film Ballerina. She was breaking plates over people’s faces and did some insane stunt work for that movie. On the topic of Latin actors in action movies, de Armas put it simply.

She does go on to say that she wants Latina actresses to star in their own movies, rather than be a co-star or side-character in someone else’s film. This line of thinking is similar to her original trepidation of going through with her role in Knives Out, which she did go on to star in.

Outside of her place in action movies, she did star in Blonde as the candle in the wind Marilyn Monroe herself. Though this casting did face a bit of backlash. However, the author for Blonde had praises for de Armas taking up the role of depicting Monroe.

De Armas’ range is quite vast, and she clearly cares about her impact not just in the film, but as a Latina actress. Not to mention she is quite the inspiration for fellow Latina actresses, speaking out that their place is not just on the sidelines of an action movie, but can be right in the spotlight.

A lot of people, if they met Keanu Reeves in person, would probably have some amount of difficulty actually talking to him. He is the internet’s boyfriend, after all. He’s become a nearly mythic figure in Hollywood. Ana de Armas is a pretty big star herself, but there was a time when she wasn’t, and she apparently embarrassed herself in front of the actor when they first met.

Keanu Reeves and Ana de Armas will share the screen later this year when the John Wick spinoff Ballerina arrives in theaters, but it will actually be the second time the two have been in a movie together. Ten years ago, they co-starred in the thriller Knock Knock. On stage receiving the CinemaCon award for Action Star of the Year (via THR), de Armas revealed that she was afraid to speak to Keanu when they had dinner together because her English wasn’t very good. She said…

De Armas may have been trying to avoid embrassassing herself with what she felt were her poor English skills, but it seems she did not avoid that. The topic of Reeves' biggest movie to date, The Matrix, came up, and the star asked de Armas if she had seen the film.

Unfortunately, she didn’t quite understand the question. She continued…

Things have come a long way. Reeves also discussed John Wick at the dinner, a movie that he had just completed. Nobody could have guessed that John Wick would become a franchise and that it would spawn spinoffs that would bring the two actors back together.

Keanu Reeves will reprise his role as John Wick in Ballerina. It's also been confirmed that John Wick 5 is in development. Perhaps Ana de Armas will return the favor and appear in that one.

Ana de Armas might be a bit embarrassed by the story, but apparently not enough to avoid telling it in front of a lot of Hollywood elites and media. Honestly, it’s a pretty endearing tale, as most of us would probably embarrass ourselves in front of Keanu Reeves. Plus, today, Ana de Armas is a major star in her own right, somebody a lot of people would probably be too nervous to talk to if they had the chance.

John Wick: Chapter 4 seemed designed to be the end of the story of Keanu Reeves’ killer of assassins but this week we received conformation that’s not the case. Not only is John Wick: Chapter 5 in development, but the World of John Wick is growing even more, with three other John Wick projects currently on the way. The most exciting of them all may be the new film, Caine, starring Donnie Yen, and he is certainly excited for it.

In addition to Ballerina staring Ana de Armas being on the 2025 movie schedule and John Wick: Chapter 5 in its early stages, we’re set to get an animated John Wick from Ultraman: Rising director Shanon Tindle and an additional spinoff starring Donnie Yen’s Caine, who was introduced in John Wick: Chapter 4. Not only will Yen star in the movie, he will also direct it. And Yen responded to the news on Instagram in a simple way that, as a fan, has me seriously pumped up. He said simply…

As a fan of the entire John Wick franchise, and of Donnie Yen specifically, I am also ready, and can’t wait to see this new movie when it arrives. Donnie Yen has always been one of the great martial artists in film history and seeing more of his work, done in the John Wick style, and under his own direction, adds up to what could be an absolutely incredible action movie.

Of course, Donnie Yen’s comment on Instagram also raises some important questions, because, why is Donnie Yen telling John Wick that he is ready? The new Caine movie will be set following the events of John Wick: Chapter 4, the story in which John Wick apparently died. We know that, if a fifth movie is happening, John Wick won’t stay dead. Could this mean that, like Ballerina, John Wick might make an appearance in Caine?

It’s certainly a possibility. What we initially thought was only going to be a Keanu Reeves’ cameo in the John Wick spinoff Ballerina now looks to be a bit more than a simple cameo, as Wick will be called in to stop the titular Ballerina played by Ana de Armas. It wouldn’t be that surprising if some reason is given for Wick and Caine to cross paths again.

Of course, Ballerina is set prior to John Wick’s “death” so an appearance by Keanu Reeves in Caine would require an explanation that isn’t needed in Ballerina. Still, it’s all quite possible.

Whatever happens and whoever appears in Caine, it’s an exciting project for fans of Donnie Yen and the World of John Wick. Production on the spinoff is supposed to start later this year, so a 2026 release date isn’t outside the realm of possibility.

I think most people who are casually familiar with Ballerina hitting the movie release schedule on June 6, 2025 are probably already John Wick fans. While we’ve known for a while Keanu Reeves would factor into the plot, I really couldn’t tell from Ballerina’s trailers if this movie would stack up with what we’ve seen from the franchise before. I can now only humbly apologize to Lionsgate and say that thought was probably out of line. At CinemaCon 2025 today during the studio's panel (which we covered live), audiences were treated to a scene of Ana De Armas literally breaking a slew of plates in another woman’s face.

The Ballerina Scene That Debuted At CinemaCon 2025 Was Wild (And Involved Plates)

In Ballerina Ana De Armas plays Eve, a woman looking for revenge. During the sequences we saw today – and spoilers on what will probably be one of the most spectacular action sequences in the movie (and if it’s not, holy smokes what are we in for?)-- a man shows up at a restaurant intent on killing and shooting Eve. They attempt to gun one another down in the restaurant, but both seemingly run out of ammo. Quick thinking Even starts grabbing glasses and launching them at the man trying to kill her.

Next, she jumps on his back and claws at his eyes (it’s visceral) before he shoves her off and throws her onto a table. She wraps her legs around his neck and he picks her up and slams her into the table over and over again. The sound effects are intense, but she manages to annihilate his hand and then finds her gun and kills him. People were very pleased by this sequence watching it in the theater. They reacted loudly, but it turned out there was more.

She unexpectedly encounters a woman in the kitchen who has a large knife in her hand and tries to tell her she’s safe, but it turns out the woman is also there to kill her. She throws a meat pulverizer at her head and a tray of plates falls over. The two women scramble to grab plates and slam each other in the face repetitively with the serving ware before Ana de Armas nabs a gun and shoves the kitchen worker into the walk-in fridge, securing the door with a frying pan before muttering, “What the fuck.”

Director Len Wiseman said this off-kilter sequence is exactly the world he wanted De Armas’ Eve to inhabit. He told the room full of exhibitors and journalists that he wants moments the audiences will never “expect.” He likes waiting for those little pockets where the audience is breathing and thinks everything is safe and then going for the jugular, which is exactly what we saw with the plate scene. Or as he put it:

It’s a strategy that seems like it’s going to work, too.

But It Didn’t Come Without A Ton Of Intensity From Ana De Armas

Ana De Armas was at CinemCon for the clip premiere, and spoke about the intense work she went through in order to play the character. First and foremost it was “winter in Prague” when the movie was filming and there was ice everywhere. They ended up putting spikes in her shoes in order to ground her for some of the movie’s outdoor sequences. However, this isn’t 1923; and the weather wasn’t the real challenge. Instead the stunts were. She told the crowd:

She also said during the panel she spent months doing these mad dash hours with the stunt team and then when she was done she’d ‘jump in a car’ and go to the shooting range and practice her form with that too. De Armas previously teased while filming “how much pain” she was in, and now that I’ve seen the scene I have, I totally get it. It sounds like she dug deep and used an inner mastery of pain to connect with the idea of being a ballerina.

She’d keep in mind “her own pain” from holding the guns and all the training, calling it “really good” to help her to get into the right mindset and embody the character in the film. All in all, the new footage really sucked me in in ways the early trailers hadn’t.

We still have a while to wait on Ballerina, but Lionsgate also released some cool chatter about the new Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping movie, as well as new information on another Stephen King film (The Long Walk). This was peppered in between Now You See Me sequel footage and some info about the remake of American Psycho. More on the slate to come.

When it comes to upcoming action movies on the 2025 movie schedule, From the World of John Wick: Ballerina is arguably one of the biggest titles. Fans have been treated to a number of looks at the Ana de Armas-led flick thus far and just received their latest during a virtual trailer event from Lionsgate. I tuned in for the proceedings and can honestly say it was the wildest launch for new footage of any kind that I’ve ever seen. And, as eventful as it was, I’m curious as to whether Mr. Wick himself would’ve been able to sit through it.

The event in question for the highly anticipated Ballerina, which was billed as the Fire vs. Ice Launch, streamed live early Wednesday morning on X. It began with a countdown clock, during which fans were chosen to receive a prize or “bounty.” The launch began in earnest with a quick introduction from Ana de Armas, before the action shifted to a dark room with a monitor surrounded by blocks of ice. Also in the vicinity was a person holding a flamethrower, like De Armas uses in the movie.

As explained, the goal of the user-fueled event is for all the blocks of ice to be melted so that the new trailer can be revealed. Fans help to make that happen by hitting the fire emoji constantly at the specified time to fuel the flame meter. With that, the person with the flamethrower is able to cut through a new layer. If this all sound too wild to be true, know that it really happened, and you can check out an image below:

On top of that, there was an incentive for fans to join in the festivities. Above the screen was also a gauge indicating access to new bounties. So, as the person with the flamethrower came closer to penetrating the ice, fans reached a new opportunity to claim a prize like a Continental coin used in the film or ice skates signed by the film’s lead actress. The ultimate “bounty” was a trip to London for the movie’s world premiere, and fans had to compete for such prizes by typing in a term at the specified time:

I have to give it to Lionsgate that this is definitely a creative way to market a film, to say the least. However, considering the event as a whole lasting nearly 50 minutes, it did run quite long. In my experience, a number of trailer launches usually don’t last too long, though they admittedly aren’t as grandiose as this one. It would’ve been easy for fans to become somewhat impatient, and I’d imagine that Keanu Reeves’ Wick would’ve been the same. After all, the character, as intuitive as he is, definitely isn’t one to sit around too long.

Nevertheless, I’d wager that fans are still excited to see what the latest entry in the saga of John Wick films has to offer. Set in between the events of the third and fourth films in the main series, Ballerina centers around Ana de Armas’ Eve Macarro, an assassin who seeks to avenge her father’s death. That mission puts her in conflict with dangerous forces, including the Baba Yaga himself. Check out the new trailer below:

It’s cool to see both Eve and Wick share the screen, and the fight between them should be quite a spectacle. (Keanu Reeves’ return should also serve as some kind of comfort for fans who’ve been craving for him to return for a fifth Wick film.) As for the event that unveiled this new footage, it’s hard to say just how effective it’ll be as a marketing tool. Though I can say I’ll surely never forget it either way.

From the World of John Wick: Ballerina opens in theaters on June 6, and I have a feeling it’s going to be straight fire. (Sorry, I just couldn’t help myself.)

Some of the most extraordinary performances in movie or TV history have seen the actor completely disappear into a role, not only changing their appearance but also adopting a voice almost entirely different from their own. Take a look at some of the most impressive voice alterations that an actor took on to perfect their unique portrayal of a now iconic character (or characters).

Robert De Niro (Cape Fear)

One thing that makes the 1991 remake of Cape Fear one of the most amusing Martin Scorsese/Robert De Niro collaborations is the actor's approach to playing Max Cady. The Academy Award-winning Italian-American dons a thick, over-the-top Southern accent but is still no less chilling as the sadistic, recently released convict seeking revenge on the defense attorney (Nick Nolte) who put him away.

Lupita Nyong'o (Us)

One of the scariest modern horror movie villains is Red (Lupita Nyong'o) from writer and director Jordan Peele's 2019 sophomore feature, Us. The Academy Award winner brilliantly differentiates the vengeful, "tethered" person from her above-ground double, Adelaide, and gives her an even more unsettling presence, with a raspy voice inspired by a condition called spasmodic dysphonia, which inhibits airflow and is commonly a symptom of traumatic experiences.

Daniel Day-Lewis (Lincoln)

As he would with any other role, Daniel Day-Lewis went to great lengths to become the sixteenth President of the United States for his Oscar-winning performance in Steven Spielberg's 2012 biopic, Lincoln. He even made sure to match Honest Abe's voice, which was high-pitched and reedy (according to the Library of Congress), as opposed to the low bellow many previous portrayals mistakenly attempted.

Mel Blanc (Looney Tunes)

To this day, it is almost shocking to learn that most of the original Looney Tunes characters were brought to life by just one actor. Until he passed away in 1989, Mel Blanc provided the diverse voices of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, and plenty more favorites under the Warner Bros. animation umbrella.

Austin Butler (Elvis)

The key to portraying Elvis Presley is nailing his distinct Southern drawl, which Austin Butler went to great lengths to perfect when he was cast as the influential musician in Baz Luhrmann's 2022 biopic. The work he put into the voice seemed to have a lasting effect on the actor, whom audiences could not help but notice continued to speak in the same accent during public appearances.

Seth MacFarlane (Various)

In addition to being one of the creative forces behind two of TV's longest-running hit animated shows for grown-ups, Seth MacFarlane is also responsible for bringing many of their most important characters to life. He voices Peter, Stewie, and Quagmire on Family Guy and plays Stan and Roger on American Dad – all of whom require him to be completely unrecognizable, while Family Guy's Brian is no different from his real voice.

Catherine O’Hara (Schitt's Creek)

What makes Moira Rose (Catherine O'Hara) one of the funniest characters on Schitt's Creek is the way she pronounces certain words with her over-the-top, posh accent. Classic examples include "baby" (beh-beh) and "enchiladas" (ahn-chuh-lah-dahs).

Jim Carrey (How The Grinch Stole Christmas)

It is still sometimes hard to believe that it is Jim Carrey playing the title role in Ron Howard's live-action adaptation of Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas from 2000. Not only is he covered head-to-toe with green skin and matching fur in the Christmas movie classic but the comedic mastermind disguises his voice with an accent that earned comparisons to Sean Connery, as he told Entertainment Weekly.

Eddie Murphy (Coming To America)

Eddie Murphy started a career staple of playing multiple roles in the same movie with 1988's Coming to America. He dons an African accent to play Prince Akeem and brings his voice to higher octaves as Randy Watson and Clarence, but he undergoes the most intensive alteration of both his appearance and voice when playing elderly barber shop patron, Saul.

Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight)

The Dark Knight is a superhero movie that won Oscars for Sound Editing and for Heath Ledger's astonishing, transformative performance as The Joker. No matter how many times you watch Christopher Nolan's acclaimed 2008 sequel to Batman Begins, it is always shocking to hear that wheezy, menacing voice coming from the late Australian actor.

Dan Castellaneta (The Simpsons)

If you have ever seen any of comedian Dan Castellaneta's live-action acting credits, it might shock you to learn that his most famous role is Homer Simpson. However, the Simpsons cast member provides the voice of plenty more characters than the infantile, Duff-swilling family man, including Grampa Simpson, Krusty the Clown, and Groundskeeper Willie.

Bill Skarsgård (Nosferatu)

Bill Skarsgård is no stranger to dramatically altering his appearance and his voice for the sake of scaring the living daylights out of audiences, having played Pennywise in back-to-back creepy clown movies, It and It Chapter Two. However, his transformation into Count Orlok for Robert Eggers' 2024 reimagining of Nosferatu was an even more challenging process, requiring a month-and-a-half of vocal training to perfect the vampire's dread-inducing growl.

Joaquin Phoenix (Walk The Line)

Joaquin Phoenix did all of his own singing when portraying Johnny Cash in James Mangold's acclaimed music biopic, 2005's Walk the Line. While appearing on Late Night with Conan O'Brien that year, the future Oscar winner told the late night talk show host that he worked with a dialect coach to replicate the Man in Black's deep baritone voice as authentically as possible.

Amanda Seyfried (The Dropout)

For her Emmy-winning performance on the Hulu original true crime miniseries, The Dropout, Amanda Seyfried had the challenge of imitating the infamous low voice of Elizabeth Holmes, the founder and CEO of the fraudulent blood-testing company Theranos.

Hugh Jackman (X-Men)

Many have been shocked to learn that Hugh Jackman is an Australian as his most famous role is the Canadian-native, Adamantium-clawed mutant, Wolverine. Of course, the Tony winner does more than just drop his natural accent for the X-Men movies but also incorporates a deep, nigh-animalistic growl.

Stephanie Beatriz (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)

When Stephanie Beatriz debuted in the Brooklyn Nine-Nine cast, she used her natural, higher-tone voice to play Det. Rosa Diaz. However, over time, the character's voice became progressively deeper until the actor settled on a low, more gruff tone that better suited the cop's hard-edged exterior.

Christian Bale (The Dark Knight Trilogy)

To play the lead in Christopher Nolan's beloved live-action Batman movies, Christian Bale pulled double-duty on changing his voice. In addition to dropping his Welsh accent when appearing as Bruce Wayne, he adopted a gravelly, identity-concealing growl when patrolling Gotham as the Dark Knight.

Kristen Stewart (Spencer)

Kristen Stewart did more to earn her Academy Award nomination for portraying Princess Diana in the 2021 biopic, Spencer, than donning a blonde hairdo and an English accent. The actor revealed to Howard Stern that she went so far as to dramatically evolve her vocal inflection by opening her mouth more widely than she normally would and, as a result, practically altered her physical appearance in the film.

Phil LaMarr (The Adventures Of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius)

Prolific voice actor Phil LaMarr, in addition to his transformative characters as a MADtv cast member, has made himself unrecognizable for countless iconic animated roles, such as John "Green Lantern" Stewart on Justice League or the title hero of Samurai Jack. However, no blip on his resume is nearly as surprising as the recurring role of foreign exchange student Bolbi Stroganofsky on Nickelodeon's The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius.

Mark Hamill (Batman: The Animated Series)

There are two different kinds of Mark Hamill fans. There are those who know the actor as Luke Skywalker from the Star Wars movies and then there are those who know him as The Joker on Batman: The Animated Series and many subsequent animated Batman movies. The voice he puts on for the role – a wonderful mix of comically over-the-top theatrics and scintillating intimidation – has been recognized as the definitive portrayal of the Clown Prince of Crime in the eyes of many DC fans.

Robin Williams (Popeye)

Robin Williams proved that he was the perfect choice to lead director Robert Altman's live-action adaptation of the Popeye comic strip. He matched the brave, spinach-swilling sailor's fast-paced growl, as originated by voice actor Billy Costello, to a tee in the 1980 film.

Maggie Wheeler (Friends)

Maggie Wheeler stole the show from the Friends cast with her recurring role as Janice Hosenstein, who was famous for her signature catchphrase, "Oh. My. GAWWWWWD!" What sold the character was her thick, nasally Brooklyn accent, which the actor came up with when she auditioned to play the character, as she revealed to Access Hollywood.

Idris Elba (Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom)

Idris Elba earned rave reviews for his portrayal of Nelson Mandela in the Oscar-nominated 2013 biopic, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. Being raised by West African immigrants helped the English-born actor develop an appropriate dialect to play the influential South African President, as he revealed to Oprah Winfrey.

Mia Goth (X)

Mia Goth played dual roles in Ti West's acclaimed A24 horror movie, 2022's X – both of which required her to conceal her mousy English accent. She spoke with a raspy Southern drawl as young aspiring starlet Maxine Minx and sounded similar, but significantly aged up, when playing homicidal elder, Pearl.

Megan Mullally (Will & Grace)

Megan Mullally absolutely earned her two Emmy Award wins for her committed performance as Karen Walker on the classic TV sitcom, Will & Grace. The key to the spoiled socialite's scene-stealing presence was her ear-piercing voice, which truly sounds nothing like the actor in real life.

Ana De Armas (Blonde)

Cuban-born actor Ana de Armas is known for having a strong accent, which she concealed in order to portray Marilyn Monroe in Blonde. Her commitment to matching the Hollywood icon's dialect in the 2022 Netflix original biopic would earn her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role.

Billy West (Various)

Billy West could be called the Mel Blanc of his generation as he can claim to have played about as many memorable animated characters as the iconic voice actor behind much of the Looney Tunes line-up did. To list just a few of West's best-known credits, he was both of the title characters from The Ren & Stimpy Show, took over as Popeye at one time, led Futurama as Fry, and plenty more.

Nicole Kidman (Being The Ricardos)

Nicole Kidman's Academy Award-nominated portrayal of Lucille Ball in 2021's Being the Ricardos was achieved with more than just makeup. The actor shed her Australian accent and added a smokiness to match the I Love Lucy star's natural voice but was also challenged to imitate the more high-pitched tone of the comedy icon's onscreen alter ego.

Melissa Rauch (The Big Bang Theory)

Dr. Bernadette Maryann Rostenkowski-Wolowitz easily boasts one of the most impossibly high-pitched voices in sitcom history. However, The Big Bang Theory cast member Melissa Rauch actually sounds nothing like Howard Wolowitz's bride, yet maintained the façade convincingly for 10 seasons on the hit CBS comedy.

Chris Pratt (The Super Mario Bros. Movie)

Despite making "total sense" to the directors of Illumination's The Super Mario Bros. Movie, fans of the original Nintendo video game series had some initial hesitation over Chris Pratt's casting as the older Mario brother. However, the actor wisely avoided the plumber's stereotypical Italian dialect from the games in favor of a Brooklyn accent that effectively masked his natural voice.

Robert Pattinson (Mickey 17)

Robert Pattinson plays the title role of Bong Joon-ho's 2024 sci-fi comedy Mickey 17 with an entirely unrecognizable and, admittedly, kind of goofy voice. According to IndieWire, the English actor based the voice for his "expendable" character and his many clones off of comedian Steve-O.

Johnny Depp (Charlie And The Chocolate Factory)

Say what you want about Tim Burton's 2005 adaptation of Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory but you have to admit that Johnny Depp did try something amusing with the role of Willy Wonka. To play the eccentric chocolatier, he adopted a high-pitched wheeze that almost makes you question if it really is the same guy who played Capt. Jack Sparrow under that top hat.

The 2025 movie schedule is filled with excellent titles that are already drumming up buzz. One such flick is the highly anticipated From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, which sees Ana de Armas play the lead role. The footage that’s been revealed so far suggests that the actress truly committed to the fight sequences. De Armas has looked like a total badass, and that still rings true with a newly debuted featurette for the film. What I really love about the video, though, is the starlet’s funny comments about shooting that wild flamethrower scene.

The upcoming action flick – which is directed by Len Wisman – was one of the many titles showcased at this year’s CCXP Brazil. Lionsgate held a panel for the film, during which the featurette you can see above played for attendees. What fans can see within the reel are various snippets that show Ana de Armas’ Eve Macarro fighting her way through a plethora of opponents. Those who watch the clip can see Eve hurling people down stairs, pinning sparring partners to mats and much more.

It’s impressive to see just how the Blonde star seamlessly performs the fight choreography. As someone who appreciates many of the best action movies, I love receiving insight into how such brutal moments are staged for the screen. Amid all of the bad-assery that’s at play though, I really have to talk about that one scene that sees Eve repelling a flamethrower with a hose. Said scene was already exciting for me when the Ballerina trailer dropped, but I can’t be the only one who got a kick out of the following take from the leading lady herself:

Personally, I can’t help but appreciate the No Time to Die actress’ humorous honesty about shooting that particular sequence. Her sentiments – and the BTS footage of her on set – seem to indicate that she had a great time working on that particular moment. And, of course, how insane does that scene look? The fiery-looking action sequence not only gives me an even greater appreciation for the work that stunt actors do. (And it also makes me glad that I’m not one of the unfortunate souls feeling Macarro’s wrath in the movie.)

Set between the events of John Wick Chapters 3 and 4, Ballerina shifts the focus from Keanu Reeves’ notorious Baba Yaga to Eve. This cinematic origin story of sorts will see Eve come into her own as an assassin and abiding by the laws of the Ruska Roma. She’ll also use her skills to avenge the death of her father. As explained in the video by Len Wiseman and franchise producer Chad Stahelski, they aren’t merely setting out to create a female version of Wick. They want to craft a layered character that stands on her own. And Ana de Armas relished being tapped for the role:

Ana de Armas previously described the film as “exciting,” “dangerous,” “sexy” and “very John Wick,” which is an exciting prospect. Thanks to this featurette, I remain hopeful about what the film has to offer, especially hearing sentiments from co-stars like Ian McShane as well as the late Lance Reddick. I don’t know about you, but this flick should be fun – and I’m probably going to need to see that flamethrower scene on the biggest screen possible.

You can check out From the World of John Wick: Ballerina when it opens in theaters on June 6, 2025. In the meantime, check out the first three Wick movies for free on Pluto TV, and stream the fourth using a Starz subscription.

Ana De Armas is on the move again… but she’s not headed back to the City of Stars. Since her move to the East Coast two years ago, the Ghosted actress has spent time back in Los Angeles filming various projects. Despite that, her recent decision to put down roots in yet another place further solidifies her position among Florence Pugh, Matthew McConaughey and more stars who've left Tinseltown. Now, de Armas is getting real about her decision to live off "the grid."

The Deep Water actress is just one of the many celebrities to move away from the City of Angels in the past few years alone. You would expect most of them to be retired, but that is not the case. Some of Hollywood’s younger brood have moved away. For instance, the aforementioned Florence Pugh moved back to London. So what gives? The Knives Out star got real with E! News about the move, saying it was about finding a space where she could actually relax:

Her new off-the-grid home is a mansion with views of the stunning Vermont mountainscape, a place the paparazzi don’t frequent. Away from the flashing lights of Hollywood, she’s finally able to get some peace and privacy. By the sounds of it, she doesn't regret her decision to stay away from Hollywood.

The Blonde star's viewpoint seems to be the shared sentiment of a lot of celebrities that have moved away from Los Angeles: safety and peace. Many are raising families, like Angelina Jolie and Matthew McConaughey, who don’t want their kids growing up in that celebrity crazed environment. However, it’s a lot for anyone, and after the dangerous and scary attention she received while dating Ben Affleck, it's honestly hard to blame Ana de Armas for moving all the way across the country to New York.

With some of Hollywood’s brightest dispersing in every direction, is this a changing of the guard or a power vacuum for a new filming hub? Mark Wahlberg, who also recently moved his family out of LA, hopes to make his new home city Las Vegas look appealing to production companies. Atlanta and Vancouver have already been established as notable filming locations, with major studios setting up shop there in the past decade. To me, it seems like the film industry is slowly decentralizing from LA, although the SoCal city remains the biggest player, and I don’t see that changing all too soon.

After all, while Vermont offers incredible leaf peeping and winter sports, filming in the Green Mountain State is far and few between. But, lucky for The Gray Man actress, her most recent project, Eden alongside Sydney Sweeney, filmed on location in Australia. Being a celebrity has its downsides but it also has its perks!

While a distributor has yet to be announced for Eden, fans can look forward to seeing Ana de Armas in the John Wick spinoff Ballerina, which is set to premiere on our 2025 Movie Schedule.

While the future of the main John Wick film series remains shrouded in uncertainty considering the way John Wick: Chapter 4 ended, the franchise as a whole isn’t going anywhere. Next up is Ballerina, the Ana de Armas-led spinoff that takes place between the third and fourth John Wick movies, and will be one of the 2025 movie schedule’s summer releases. The Knives Out and No Time to Die actress used four words to describe the first of the John Wick spinoff movies, and this makes me all the more eager to see its first trailer.

Ana De Armas spent some time discussing Ballerina when she was at the Toronto International Film Festival to promote her historical drama Eden (which doesn’t have a release date set yet). Although the actress was initially worried when she learned that Ballerina needed another round of filming, she’s now now confident that the new scenes only improve the movie, saying to Collider:

“Beautiful,” exciting,” “dangerous” and “sexy,” as well as “very John Wick.” I was already planning on watching Ballerina on the big screen, but after reading Ana de Armas’ latest comments about the action movie, now I’m really itching for the first trailer to come out. Given that Ballerina hits theaters next summer, however, we probably shouldn’t expect that preview to drop until sometime in early 2025. But hey, good things come to those who wait.

Ballerina sees de Armas playing Eve Maccaro, a ballerina who's exacting revenge on the people who killed her family using the same kind of assassin skills that Keanu Reeves’ John Wick used all too frequently. Speaking of which, Reeves will reprise his character, which works given Ballerina’s place in the franchise’s timeline, and Ian McShane, Anjelica Huston and the late Lance Reddick will also appear, with this being the latter’s final onscreen role. The Ballerina cast also includes newcomers Gabriel Byrne, Catalonia Sandino Moreno, Norman Reedus, Sharon Duncan-Brewster and David Castañeda.

Directed by Len Wiseman and written by Shay Hatten, Ballerina comes out on June 6, 2025. The first three John Wick movies are currently available on fuboTV, and Chapter 4 is on Starz, and you can access both platforms as an extension of your Hulu subscription.

The future of Keanu Reeves’ John Wick character is somewhat in question. While the John Wick: Chapter 4 ending seemingly gave us a definitive conclusion for the character, there have been reports that John Wick: Chapter 5 is still a very real possibility. But John Wick as a franchise is still very much going forward, though there appear to be some problems there as well, which have resulted in the upcoming spinoff Ballerina getting pushed back by a full year.

Ian McShane (who will appear in the John Wick spinoff) recently appeared on the UK’s The One Show (via Twitter) where he explained the need to push the film off the 2024 release calendar. It seems, to put it bluntly, there’s a feeling that the movie just isn’t good enough in its current form. There’s a fear that if Ballerina doesn’t turn out well, it could damage the franchise, so they're going back to try and make things better. McShane said… 

McShane doesn’t say what it is about Ballerina that needs to be “better.” It could be an issue with the story or could be a problem with action sequences not living up to John Wick’s, admittedly high, standard, or some combination. There certainly wasn’t any previous indication that there was a problem with the movie. 

Last fall director Len Wiseman said he was editing the film and called the movie “really fun.” He did say the movie was “on pause” following editing the film into his director’s cut. It’s possible the pause was due to the studio figuring out how to move forward.

Interestingly, when one of the hosts brings up The Continental limited series, McShane shuts down the conversation, not wanting to discuss it. McShane has previously been critical of the show, which is available with a Peacock subscription. The Continental wasn’t very well-received but had the benefit of not including Keanu Reeves or other actors from the film series. One wonders if the show’s lack of success played a part in Ballerina being given extra attention. 

While it’s certainly not great news for Ballerina to see a year-long delay, most fans probably want the movie to be great too, so the fact that time and money are being spent to try and make that happen, rather than just releasing a “best possible” version of what has already been filmed, should be seen as a good thing. 

Have you ever caught a rerun of an older TV show and during the opening credits sequence, you spotted someone who made you say, “Hey, I know that person!”? This is actually a more common occurrence than you may realize, as there many A-list celebrities whose first IMDb credit (or one of the first) was a supporting role on a series long before they earned the honor of being a leading presence on the big (or small) screen. The following are some of our favorite examples of famous actors who appeared a bit further down the the line on the call sheet on a TV show when they were starting out.

Chris Pratt (Everwood)

Before Guardians of the Galaxy made him a leading man, Chris Pratt really began to gain traction from starring in the Parks and Recreation cast as Andy Dwyer. However, even earlier than that, he starred on a WB family drama called Everwood as high school joke Bright Abbott alongside fellow future MCU star Emily VanCamp, who played his sister, Amy.

Jennifer Lawrence (The Bill Engvall Show)

Before her Academy Award-nominated performance in 2010’s Winter’s Bone, her star-making role as Katniss in The Hunger Games and Oscar-winning turn in Silver Lining’s Playbook, Jennifer Lawrence was a sitcom star — specifically a cable network sitcom star. On The Bill Engvall Show, which lasted three seasons on TBS, she starred opposite the eponymous stand-up comedian as his on-screen alter ego’s teenage daughter, Lauren Pearson,

Austin Butler (Zoey 101)

The musical talents that earned Austin Butler the title role of Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis can be traced back to his part on Ruby & the Rockits, which lasted 10 episodes on ABC Family (now Freeform) in 2009. However, the Oscar nominee’s first major TV role was on the final season of Nickelodeon’s Zoey 101 as James Garrett — a character missing from Paramount+’s feature-length follow-up, Zoey 102.

Margot Robbie (Pan Am)

While her earliest role was actually the long-running soap opera, Neighbours — much like many other Aussie A-listers — we thought we would highlight American audiences’ first true introduction to Margot Robbie on Pan Am. An interesting fact about Robbie is that the future Oscar nominee and DC movies star was actually roommates with co-star Christina Ricci while playing 1960s-era flight attendant Laura Cameron on the short-lived ABC drama from 2011 to 2012.

Seth Rogen (Freaks And Geeks)

While still part of the main ensemble, Seth Rogen’s role as the initially arrogant Ken Miller pretty much got the short end of the stick amongst the Freaks and Geeks cast, for the most part. Ironically, Rogen, arguably, went on to become the painfully short-lived coming-of-age dramedy’s biggest star, which is really saying something, given his co-stars include Jason Segel, Linda Cardellini, and John Francis Daley.

Brie Larson (Raising Dad)

A notable moment in Academy Award winner Brie Larson’s evolution from child star to modern A-list actor was her role as the late Bob Saget’s youngest on-screen daughter on Raising Dad — a sitcom that ran for one season on The WB (now The CW) in the early 2000s. Following her success as the MCU’s Captain Marvel, Larson returned to TV in 2023 — reprising her Scott Pilgrim vs. the World role for Netflix’s animated series reboot, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, and leading the Lessons in Chemistry cast for Apple TV+.

Leonardo DiCaprio (Growing Pains)

While doing press for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt recalled how they both appeared on the hit ABC sitcom Growing Pains much earlier in their career. Of course, Pitt had a one-episode guest appearance while the Oscar-winning The Revenant star and Titanic cast member had a prominent role as Luke Brewer — a homeless teen taken in by the Seavers in Season 7. 

Ana De Armas (The Boarding School)

One of the films that earned Academy Award nominee Ana de Armas a spot on the A-list was Rian Johnson’s hit whodunit, Knives Out, from 2019. More than a decade earlier, the Cuban-born actor landed a role on a coming-of-age mystery TV show called El Internado (or The Boarding School), which originally aired in Spain from 2007 to 2010.

Michael B. Jordan (The Wire)

After getting his start as a Toys ‘R Us kid, the fascinating Michael B. Jordan made his official acting debut on an episode of The Sopranos, but later landed a more prominent role on another acclaimed, gritty HBO series in 2002. He appeared amongst The Wire cast as Wallace — an orphan whose tragic story had a profound impact on the Emmy-nominated series beyond his 13-episode stint.

Anne Hathaway (Get Real)

Anne Hathaway fans should know that before she broke into the mainstream by leading Disney’s The Princess Diaries cast, the Academy Award winner made her acting debut on a 1999 Fox TV show called Get Real as a high school senior who shocks her family with the decision to refuse college. Coincidentally, the short-lived dramedy was also the debut of Hathaway’s Rio co-star, Jesse Eisenberg, and was an early gig for NCIS' Eric Christian Olsen as well.

Denzel Washington (St. Elsewhere)

With two Oscars to his name, it’s hard to imagine a TV screen big enough to contain the talent of one Denzel Washington, yet it was a TV show that helped launched the young actor’s career in the early 1980s. Following his official debut in the 1977 TV movie Wilma, the future Training Day lead played Dr. Philip Chandler on NBC’s hit medical drama, St. Elsewhere.

Michelle Williams (Dawson's Creek)

For years, Michelle Williams was known best from the Dawson’s Creek cast as Jen Lindley. Now — after receiving multiple Academy Award nominations for acclaimed dramas like Manchester by the Sea and Steven Spielberg’s The Fabelmans — that role on the hit teen drama is, typically, among the last things mentioned in regards to her career.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt (3rd Rock From The Sun)

As a child actor, Joseph Gordon-Levitt starred in some good movies and made a few notable TV guest appearances before landing his first successful series regular gig with 3rd Rock from the Sun. He played the eldest member of a group of extra-terrestrial visitors, and the character resembles a teenager in human form on the Emmy-winning sci-fi sitcom.

George Clooney (The Facts Of Life)

As a TV star, George Clooney is best known from his main role on the popular ‘90s show, ER, on which he played Doug Ross. Much earlier, however, the future two-time Oscar winner had a memorable recurring role on Diff’rent Strokes' (very different) spin-off, The Facts of Life, as George Burnett — a carpenter who would become close to the girls living under Mrs. Garrett’s roof.

Woody Harrelson (Cheers)

With multiple Academy Award nominations to his name, Woody Harrelson is known today as one of Hollywood’s most versatile movie stars, but his first big break came when he joined the Cheers cast in the mid-1980s. In fact, he won his first Emmy Award for playing the naive, but lovable, Woody Byrd, whom Sam (Ted Danson) hires on as a new barkeep following he death of Coach (Nicholas Colasanto).

Jason Bateman (Little House On The Prairie)

At least before he led Netflix’s Ozark cast, Jason Bateman has always best known on the small screen as a sitcom star, with his roles as David Hogan on Valerie (later changed to The Hogan Family) and Michael Bluth on Arrested Development being the famous examples. However, his very first gig was playing James Cooper Ingalls for 21 episodes of Little House on the Prairie during the early 1980s.

Don Cheadle (The Golden Palace)

An early Don Cheadle role you may have forgotten about was featured on a TV show spin-off you may not have heard of, either. The future Academy Award nominee and MCU actor starred alongside most of the Golden Girls cast on The Golden Palace as Roland Wilson — the young manager of the titular hotel where the short-lived sitcom took place. 

Jason Momoa (Baywatch)

Even long before he landed the role of Aquaman in the DC movies, Jason Momoa was no stranger to saving lives in the water. The Hawaiian-born actor made his debut in his home state when he joined the Baywatch cast as a character also named Jason from 1999 to 2001.

Marisa Tomei (A Different World)

We know her from her Academy Award-winning role in My Cousin Vinny as Mona Lisa Vito (who she'd love to revisit) or as Peter Parker’s (reinvented) Aunt May in the MCU, to name a few examples. Yet before many people knew who Marisa Tomei was, she was on the first season of The Cosby Show spin-off, A Different World, as Hillman student Maggie Lauten.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (The Get Down)

One interesting fact about Yahya Abdul-Mateen II: before he was an Emmy-winning DC TV show star (for playing Cal Abar on HBO’s Watchmen) and a scene-stealing DC movie villain (Black Manta in Aquaman), he worked as a San Francisco city planner until he was laid off in 2010. The role that first helped him make a name for himself as an actor was night club owner Clarene “Cadillac” Caldwell in Netflix’s musical period drama series, The Get Down, from co-creator Baz Luhrmann.

Alexandra Daddario (All My Children)

Speaking to Women’s Health in 2022, Alexandra Daddario recalls that she was fired from the long-running daytime soap opera, All My Children, which she actually found to be a liberating, educational experience. It led to seek improvement in her acting skills and pave the way for her to breakthrough in the Percy Jackson movies, give an Emmy-nominated performance as part of the HBO’s The White Lotus cast, and star in many other notable works.

Adam Driver (Girls)

Without Lena Dunham, there might not be a Kylo Ren — or at least, the memorable version of the Sith Lord we got in the hands Adam Driver. The former Marine’s scene-stealing role on HBO’s Girls as Adam Sackler is what got Hollywood to take notice of his talent, leading to his casting in the Star Wars movies and his Oscar-nominated performances in BlacKkKlansman and Marriage Story.

Melissa McCarthy (Gilmore Girls)

Gilmore Girls proved to be a launch pad for many A-listers — few of which would blow up quite like Melissa McCarthy, who played Sookie St. James on the hit dramedy.  She later won an Emmy for her leading role on the CBS sitcom Mike & Molly and received an Academy Award nomination for her supporting role as a member of the Bridesmaids cast. And that film skyrocketed her to the A-list as a trusted name in comedy and more.

Drake (Degrassi: The Next Generation)

One of the most memorable and important characters from Degrassi: The Next Generation is Jimmy Brooks, who served as an inspirational representation for wheelchair users on the long-running Canadian coming-of-age drama. The role was played by an actor named Aubrey Graham, who still acts on occasion — an Anchorman 2 cameo, for instance — but primarily performs as a rapper under the moniker Drake.

Kiernan Shipka (Mad Men)

At just eight years old, Kiernan Shipka proved to be a stand-out alongside AMC’s Mad Men cast with her performance as Sally Draper. She later went on to lead her own TV show (Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) and headline movies like Amazon Prime’s horror-comedy, Totally Killer and The Silence.

Ryan Reynolds (Fifteen)

Despite his many earnest roles over the years, it may be hard to picture Ryan Reynolds as anything other than the smarmy goof he plays in the likes of the Deadpool movies and National Lampoon’s Van Wilder, for instance. Perhaps watching him make his debut in the Canadian coming-of-age drama Fifteen will help audiences see another side of him.

Tommy Lee Jones (One Life To Live)

It is amazing to think about how many acclaimed and even legendary actors started out on soap operas, such as Tommy Lee Jones. One of the earliest roles for the Academy Award-winning star of The Fugitive and the Men in Black movies was the ill-fated Mark Toland on One Life to Live from 1971 to 1975.

John Travolta (Welcome Back, Kotter)

Before his Academy Award-nominated role in 1977’s Saturday Night Fever — and its fantastic movie soundtrack — made him one of the biggest stars of all time, John Travolta was better known by another name: Vinnie Barbarino. That was the future Pulp Fiction cast member’s character on Welcome Back, Kotter — a hit sitcom that never made it to 100 episodes. He practically stole the show from star and co-creator Gabe Kaplan with his famous catchphrase, “Up your nose with a rubber hose!”

Jennifer Love Hewitt (Kids Incorporated)

Her role as Sarah Reeves on the original Party of Five may have made Jennifer Love Hewitt a teen idol, but it was not her first major TV gig. The Ghost Whisperer star was 10 when she demonstrated her multiple talents on Disney Channel’s Kids Incorporated, which focuses on the lives of a group of young artists who perform live music at a club for children.

Benedict Cumberbatch (Fortysomething)

It was his eponymous role on the modern crime drama Sherlock that made Benedict Cumberbatch a nigh-unpronounceable household name, but his first starring role on a TV series was Fortysomething. The MCU’s Doctor Strange actor played the on-screen son of none other than House’s Hugh Laurie on the English dramedy that lasted six episodes.

Jared Leto (My So-Called Life)

In one of the best ‘90s shows that ended too soon, My So-Called Life, Jared Leto portrayed what would become his first iconic role: high school heartthrob Jordan Catalano. The much celebrated coming-of-age drama also marked one for the first times the future Academy Award winner acted alongside his sibling and Thirty Seconds to Mars bandmate, Shannon.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Passions)

Movie star Mary Elizabeth Winstead has more than a few very notable small-screen roles — such as a leading stint in Fargo Season 3 and Hera Syndulla alongside the Ahsoka cast for Disney+. The Scott Pilgrim vs. The World cast member’s earliest major TV gig, however, was on the supernatural soap opera Passions.

For any TV actors out there hoping one day to make it onto the big screen, let these stories serve as proof that your dreams may not be far away from becoming a reality.

It is not unusual for an actor just starting out in the business to film scenes for a movie that, ultimately, never see the light of the day. In fact, it's not out of the ordinary for that same thing to happen to an established A-lister either. See for yourself by taking a look at some of the biggest stars you did not realize were almost in some of your favorite film, if not for the magic of editing.

Ana De Armas (Yesterday)

Yesterday is a universe-altering movie that takes place in a reality in which the Beatles never existed. Coincidentally, there exists an alternate cut of the film featuring Ana de Armas as a Late Late Show guest Himesh Patel’s Jack Malik romantically sings “Something” to. Per writer, Richard Curtis explained that the character was cut to avoid making Jack’s relationship with Ellie (Lily James) any more complicated. Though De Armas did appear in the trailer, and fans pursued legal action against Universal over the marketing.

Kevin Costner (The Big Chill) 

In one of the best movies of the ‘80s, The Big Chill, a group of friends reunite for the funeral of their friend, Alex, who was supposed to be played by the future Oscar-winning star and director of Dances with Wolves (pictured), Kevin Costner. Star Jeff Goldblum told Yahoo! that the Yellowstone cast member was “wonderful” in a flashback scene that was ultimately cut from the 1983 ensemble dramedy, in which his character finds himself reluctant to carve a Thanksgiving turkey and ruin its perfection.

Christopher Lee (The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King)

One of the most important characters from the Lord of the Rings movies, Saruman, is not in the third installment, The Return of the King. Per Ain’t It Cool News, Peter Jackson felt his scene — which was originally shot for The Two Towers — served as more of a wrap-up to the previous film than a suitable beginning for this one. While appearing at University College Dublin, Saruman actor Christopher Lee shared how shocked he was to learn his scene from the Best Picture Oscar winner — in which he stands off against the Fellowship — was cut before recommending the crowd “buy the extended DVDs.”

Harrison Ford (E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial)

Steven Spielberg told EW that, as a favor to him and writer Melissa Mathison (also his then-girlfriend), Harrison Ford shot a scene for E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial as Elliot’s (Henry Thomas) school principal that can be found on YouTube today. It never made the final cut of the 1982 box office smash, but know that had it been included, the star of the Indiana Jones movies (pictured) still would have gone mostly unseen as the camera never shows his face.

Andy García (Dangerous Minds)

Andy García told BlogTalkRadio (via Express) that when he was approached to star in 1995’s Dangerous Minds as a love interest for Michelle Pfeiffer’s inner city teacher, Louanne Johnson, he openly expressed that he found the role unnecessary. Still, the star of Father of the Bride (pictured) shot the scenes that were written for him (but not included in the initial script). But they were indeed removed from the final cut.

James Gandolfini (Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close)

The late James Gandolfini shot scenes for 2011’s Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close as a man Sandra Bullock’s widowed character meets at a 9/11 victims support group meeting. The Sopranos cast member (pictured) was even credited on the Oscar-nominated drama’s poster. According to the LA Times — his role was removed following a poor test audience reception.

Eric Stoltz (Back to the Future)

One of the most infamous examples of an actor cut from a movie — save one frame — is Eric Stoltz, who led the Back to the Future cast for about a month before director Robert Zemeckis and others realized his “intense” approach to the role was not working. As Collider recalls, Zemeckis got approval to reshoot most of the movie and replace Stoltz with their initial choice, Michael J. Fox, whose performance in the time travel movie classic as Marty McFly is iconic.

Ashley Judd (Natural Born Killers)

In a sequence cut from Natural Born Killers (which can be found on YouTube), Ashley Judd plays Grace Mulberry — the sole survivor of Mickey (Woody Harrelson) and Mallory Knox’s (Juliette Lewis) mass teenager murder. She appears in court to be personally cross-examined by Mickey, who then stabs her to death with a pencil on the stand. In an interview for Metrograph, director Oliver Stone recalls removing it for its “length, and violence,” but now believes the “touching” scene belongs in the controversial 1994 satire.

Tobey Maguire (Life Of Pi)

In 2012’s adaptation of the novel, Life of Pi, the title character (portrayed as an older man by Irrfan Khan) recalls his unbelievable story of survival to a writer, played by English actor, Rafe Spall. However, according to USA Today, the role was originally played by Tobey Maguire until director Ang Lee decided the sSpider-Man star (pictured) was too distractingly recognizable and opted for reshoots. 

Chris Cooper (The Ring)

Anyone who ever wondered who Naomi Watts’ Rachel passes the curse tape along to at the end of The Ring should know it was Chris Cooper. The Oscar-winning star of Adaptation. (pictured) told Sci-Fi Wire (via MovieHole) that he shot bookend scenes for the 2002 horror movie classic. One establishes his character as a serial killer and the other shows him receiving the tape. Both were cut for disrupting the flow.

Shailene Woodley (The Amazing Spider-Man 2)

The Amazing Spider-Man franchise was meant to introduce of Shailene Woodley as Mary-Jane Watson to Andrew Garfield’s Peter Parker. Per MovieWeb, the Divergent star did shoot a cameo for TASM 2, which was later cut so she could officially debut in the next film — a plan ruined when the franchise was cancelled completely.

Robert Pattinson (Vanity Fair)

Before Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson played lovers in Water for Elephants, they played mother and son in the 2004 period drama, Vanity Fair. But the then-teenage actor — who went on to hit it big in Twilight (pictured) — was cut from the move, which he discovered while attending the premiere, according to his 2017 W Magazine interview.

Skeet Ulrich (Cursed)

The 2005 werewolf movie, Cursed, marked a reunion for director Wes Craven, writer Kevin Williamson, and original Scream cast member Skeet Ulrich that audiences never saw. According to MovieHole (via Killer Movies), Ulrich — also known for Riverdale (pictured) — was removed in lieu of studio-optioned rewrites and reshoots. But in 2022, the Scream fan site, Hello Sidney, revealed his role via stills from an unreleased director's cut.

Michael Biehn (Terminator 2: Judgment Day)

Despite Kyle Reese' death in 1984’s The Terminator, Michael Biehn reprised the role in the 1991 sequel, which is now regarded one of the greatest action movies of all time. However, according to ScreenRant, the sequence — in which he comes to Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) in a dream — was cut from Terminator 2: Judgment Day to maintain a tighter pace, but was later restored for an extended special edition. 

Angela Bassett (Mr. & Mrs. Smith)

Technically, Angela Bassett is in Mr. & Mrs. Smith, but her part as Brad Pitt’s boss was originally meant to be more than an uncredited voice role. On YouTube, you can find deleted scenes from Doug Liman’s 2004 romantic action-comedy with the two-time Oscar nominee appearing in person alongside Keith David as Father.

Adrien Brody (The Thin Red Line)

Several major actors had their roles were either severely trimmed or completely removed from Terrence Malick’s 1998 war epic, The Thin Red Line, like including Mickey Rourke and George Clooney, as ScreenRant recalls. However, Academy Award-winner Adrien Brody’s character, Cpl. Fife, was the central lead of James Jones' original novel and had even done press for the film when he discovered right before the premiere that he was barely in it, per The Independent (via Eskimo).

Mick Jagger (Fitzcarraldo)

Mick Jagger’s underrated acting skills were praised by Werner Herzog (per Playboy, via The Local), who cast the rock star in his 1982 adventure film, Fitzcarraldo. Unfortunately, according to Far Out, multiple problems facing the production — including star Jason Robards’ dysyntery, as the New York Times reported — caused a delay that interfered with The Rolling Stone's touring schedule. Thus, Herzog was forced to recast Robards’ title role with Klaus Kinski and write Jagger’s character out entirely.

Matt Damon (Ocean's 8)

Ocean’s 8 had some fun cameos from members of Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s Eleven cast — namely Elliott Gould’s Rueben and Shaobo Qin as Yen — but we almost saw more. In addition to the late Carl Reiner telling Vanity Fair he filmed a scene with Sandra Bullock, THR reports that Matt Damon's cameo as Linus Caldwell from the 2001 heist favorite (pictured) was taken out due to “editorial and storytelling reasons,” as director Gary Ross claimed. The article does, however, mention a petition to remove Damon following comments he made about the #MeToo movement and Harvey Weinstein scandal.

Michelle Monaghan (Constantine, Syriana)

When Michelle Monaghan spoke to MovieHole to promote Mission: Impossible III, it was mentioned that she was removed from two different movies released in 2005: Constantine and Syriana. The fantasy comic book movie did preserve one of her scenes, but she's nowhere to be found in Steven Soderbergh’s Oscar-winning political drama, which already had many storylines to juggle, as Monaghan herself mentioned.

Tim Roth (Once Upon A Time In Hollywood)

Tim Roth is in many of Quentin Tarantino’s best movies — including Pulp Fiction (pictured) — and came very close to joining 2019’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. But Tarantino was orced to remove Roth's part to avoid a five-hour runtime. Roth did share in an interview with Uproxx that he appreciated, at least, being mentioned in the credits as “cut.”

Ellen Pompeo (Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind) 

As a video essay by Film Radar demonstrates, if Ellen Pompeo role’s in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind had not been removed, we would have seen Michel Gondry’s trippy romantic sci-fi dramedy in a whole different light. In deleted scenes, the Grey’s Anatomy star plays Naomi — the woman Jim Carrey’s Joel left for Clementine (Kate Winslet) and whom he reconciles with after his memory wipe. Though he leaves her again when he meets Clementine on the train, unaware he has done this before.

Paul Rudd (Bridesmaids)

The Bridesmaids cast included plenty of funny people, but did you know Paul Rudd was also part of it for a moment? Director Paul Feig told EW he “felt bad” cutting the Ant-Man actor’s darkly funny cameo as Annie’s (co-writer Kristen Wiig) deranged blind date, but did so to shave down the runtime and avoid distracting from Annie’s love triangle with Ted (Jon Hamm) and Rhodes (Chris O’Dowd).

Katherine Langford (Avengers: Endgame)

In a deleted scene from Avengers: Endgame, immediately after Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) “snaps” Thanos (Josh Brolin) away, he is given the chance to say one final goodbye to an older version of his daughter, Morgan (Katherine Langford), in the Soulworld. At least the sequence’s omission gives Langford a chance to play a different Marvel character at some point, hopefully.

Uma Thurman (Savages) 

The 2012 crime drama Savages could have been touted as a reunion between John Travolta and Uma Thurman, who first worked together on Pulp Fiction (pictured), had the latter’s role as Ophelia’s (Blake Lively) mother not been removed. Director Oliver Stone revealed to Huff Post that Paqu was actually one of several character from Don Winslow’s novel did not make it into the movie due to time constraints.

Amy Poehler (Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy)

When mentioning her axed cameo as a bank teller in 2004’s Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy with Vulture, Amy Poehler admits she correctly predicted the movie was already too long to keep her scene, which also featured fellow SNL star Maya Rudolph as a gang leader. Thankfully, the Parks and Rec cast member did appear in the 2013 sequel alongside her buddy, Tina Fey.

Rachel Weisz (To The Wonder)

In 2012, Rachel Weisz spoke to La Stampa (via EW) about how she had the pleasure of working with Terrence Malick on To the Wonder, but would “not have the pleasure of seeing [her] work.” For unknown reasons, the Oscar-winning star of The Constant Gardener (pictured) was removed from the romantic drama starring Ben Affleck and Olga Kurylenko. And she wasn't alone, as IndieWire later reported that Barry Pepper, Michael Sheen and Amanda Peet were also missing from the final cut.

Viggo Mortenson (The Purple Rose Of Cairo)

One of the first movies Academy Award nominee Viggo Mortenson worked on was Woody Allen’s 1985 fantasy rom-com, The Purple Rose of Cairo. The star of the Lord of the Rings movies (pictured) spoke to ABC News' Peter Travers about how his frustrating experience shooting the film turned out to be meaningless since he was edited out the movie after it was released.

Matthew Fox (World War Z)

The 2013 adaptation of Max Brooks’ World War Z was plagued by rewrites and reshoots that resulted in an entirely new third act from what was intended. As a result, Lost cast member Matthew Fox’s role as a paratrooper was scaled down to just one line of dialogue, which may have been disappointing for the self-proclaimed fan of the OG book, per Huff Post.

Jack Whitehall (Frozen)

In a clip shared to Jack Whitehall’s official YouTube channel, the British comedian shares with an audience how his one-line role as a troll in Disney’s Oscar-winning animated film, Frozen, was reduced to a non-speaking part. The Jungle Cruise cast member and star of Clifford the Big Red Dog (pictured) goes on to say that, after discovering his line was removed when he first saw the movie, a friend of his found a photo of him at a Frozen press junket and meme-ified it. 

James Van Der Beek (Storytelling)

Tom Solondz’s 2002 anthology dramedy, Storytelling, consists of two segments dealing with various challenging topics, but there were original three. As EW reported, the omitted third chapter starred James Van Der Beek — known for being part of the Dawson’s Creek cast and Varsity Blues (pictured) — as a high school football player discovering he's gay.

Sienna Miller (Black Mass)

Before the 2015 crime thriller released, it was already confirmed tha Sienna Miller had been cut from Black Mass. She was cast as Catherine Greig, who had a relationship infamous gangster, Whitey Bulger (played by Johnny Depp in the film). Director Scott Cooper admitted to The Boston Globe that it was a difficult decision to remove the English actor -- then best known for American Sniper (pictured) -- but it ultimately “came down to narrative choices.”

Jena Malone (Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice)

Following previous rumors that she would play Robin, Jena Malone’s comic book movie debut in Zack Snyder’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice actually never made it to the big screen. Luckily, her role as head S.T.A.R. Labs scientist Jenet Klyburn — first revealed in leaked footage —  would be included in the 2016 DC movie’s three-hour “Ultimate Cut."

So if your friends ever quiz you about has or hasn't starred in major movies, this list should provide you with some interesting loopholes.

Leading characters draw us into the movies. But every once in a while, a strong supporting player can leave us talking about their scene-stealing performances, or the untapped potential they left on the table because they didn’t get as much screen time as we thought they deserved. The following characters all stood out in their respective films. And the main thing they all have in common is that we all wish they got more time on screen, because they were so much fun.

Les Grossman

The Hollywood satire Tropic Thunder took huge swings at the entertainment industry, with a group of spoiled actors tasked with making a war picture getting mistaken for actual soldiers and getting captured behind enemy lines. But it was an unrecognizable Tom Cruise, playing tough-talking studio executive Les Grossman, who danced away with the picture. There was talk of a Les Grossman movie coming out one day. I hope that’s still on the table. 

Lester Bangs

There’s nothing better than when a young up-and-comer finds the perfect mentor. Philip Seymour Hoffman played that role to perfection in Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous. Rock journalist Lester Bangs showed William Miller (Patrick Fugit) what his future could hold, and it wasn’t always bright. But in Hoffman’s hands, it was raw, honest, real, and very uncool.

Blake

Always be closing. It’s a mantra we can all recite because Alec Baldwin was so convincing in the movie adaptation of the brilliant stage play Glengarry Glenn Ross. His character, Blake, is supposed to be motivating a team of salesmen, played by a murderer’s row of character actors (Al Pacino, Ed Harris, and Jack Lemmon). So for any actor to come in and dominate that room is impressive. Plus, the moment Blake’s gone from the screen, you immediately want him back. Leave them wanting more.   

Megan Price

It takes a lot to emerge from the pack of gifted comedians assembled for Bridesmaids and be the one that people are talking about. Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph were at their peak, while Rose Byrne and Ellie Kemper were making noise leading into it. But Melissa McCarthy ripped Bridesmaids away from those ladies, partially by doing something nasty in a sink, but also by creating an unforgettable character who had quirks, compassion, and a formidable funny bone.

Floyd

We didn’t realize at the time of True Romance that we were watching an actor who would go on to become one of the biggest movie stars on the planet. But in his scant few scenes as couch surfer Floyd, Brad Pitt demonstrated his ability to completely lose himself in a character, sell a vibe, and hang with fellow heavy hitters like James Gandolfini and Christian Slater. A star was born. 

Spider-Ham

When the multiverse opened up in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) met all sorts of strange versions of his spider hero. The strangest, and most interesting, had to be the heroic Spider-Ham, a pig in costume who… ate hot dogs? Spider-Verse remains one of the best Spider-Man movies ever made, and it’s because of unexpected inclusions in the cast like this. 

Rod Tidwell

Show him the money, Jerry. At its heart, Jerry Maguire is a love story. It’s also a human journey, where a self-centered sports agent learns how to love himself again. But Jerry Maguire takes flight every time Cuba Gooding Jr. lights up the screen. His football star Rod Tidwell gives Jerry purpose, and Gooding gave Cruise the ideal foil on screen. Like so many people on this list, the role was so good, it earned him an Oscar win. Well deserved.

The Wolf

His name is Winston. He solves problems. He shows up in Quentin Tarantino’s masterpiece, Pulp Fiction, at a time when Jules (Samuel L. Jackson) and Vincent (John Travolta) have a very big one. Harvey Keitel owns the role, but there are so many questions we have regarding The Wolf (including the party he’s throwing, his tuxedo, and how he got to be known for this task), you could easily do a Pulp Fiction spinoff all about him, and I’d watch it a thousand times.

Spike

We have a few people on this list who are bummy roommates stealing scenes by loafing around. That’s how Rhys Ifans steals Notting Hill away from Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. The film is as romantic as they come, but Ifans makes sure all of his scenes as Spike are equally hilarious.

Ken

There are so many Kens to choose from. Barbie Land has its fair share of male dolls. But I have to go with Simu Liu’s competitive Ken, who holds a grudge against Ryan Gosling’s Ken, seems to have the upperhand on him at every turn, and practically demands more screen time so we can figure out what makes this Ken tick.    

Mark Hanna

I don't exactly know what Matthew McConaughey is channeling in his The Wolf of Wall Street scene. I know it's primal. I know it's unpredictable. I know it's unlike anything I have ever seen before. And I know that the movie needed more of it... whatever it is. Now, start beating your chest. 

Captain Dickson

Ice Cube might be a teddy bear in real life, but he portrays “angry” so easily that if he were to yell at me, I’d turn into a puddle. So there’s something special about the way that he yells at Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill in 21 Jump Street and its sequel. He makes it funny. Still scary. But also pretty hysterical.

Paloma

The most recent James Bond thriller, No Time to Die, was structured as a sendoff for Daniel Craig. But throughout it, we met a new 007 in Lashana Lynch, and watched Bond fight alongside a feisty agent, Paloma (Ana de Armas), who we’d love to see on screen again.

The Critic

Pixar’s classic, Ratatouille, focuses on a fledgling cook and the rat who helps him create vivid dishes. But they mostly want to please a discerning critic, who picks and chooses his moments, then excels with a return to his childhood courtesy of a bite of food that brings him back. I loved every scene with the Critic in Ratatouille, and wanted more of him. 

Nigel

The three women at the head of The Devil Wears Prada dominate the scene, Meryl Streep is flawless as a fashion editor, while Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt excel as worker bees earning her favor. But the character I wish we had more time with is Nigel, played to crisp perfection by the wonderful Stanley Tucci. He has history with Miranda Priestly, and more story to be told there. 

Rudy Reyes

In a superhero movie, all eyes are on the hero (and also usually the villain). And DC’s most recent Blue Beetle delivered plenty of exciting new twists to the story of Jaime Reyes (Xolo Mariduena), including leaning on his family. And in that tight-knit group we found Rudy Reyes (George Lopez), the paranoid uncle with one eye on the government who also ended up being one of the funniest characters in the DCU. More Rudy, whenever Blue Beetle shows up again in James Gunn’s comic universe. 

Grace

Edie McClurg is a legend. She created so many memorable characters in classic 1980s comedies. For the purpose of this feature, I’m going to single out the clueless receptionist Grace that she played in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. She made a pencil funny. But there has to be an extra shout out for her turn opposite Steve Martin in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. The lady knew how to make the absolute most of her screen time, and it was never enough. 

Chet

The late Bill Paxton made every movie better. Be it Aliens, Apollo 13, Twister, or the hilariously bizarre Weird Science, Paxton committed fully, and demonstrated immense range. Chet might be one of the worst characters created for the screen… but he’s so deliciously evil to his brother in the teen comedy that we relished every moment Paxton was on the screen. Even when he was a blob of garbage. 

Emma Watson

This is a fun aspect of this list. Some people are able to steal scenes by playing themselves. The armageddon spoof This is the End allowed several celebrities to play enhanced versions of their Hollywood personas, and Harry Potter icon Emma Watson seemed to really enjoy lampooning her image during her too-brief cameo. 

Gin Slagel

Bernie Mac left us too soon. The man was a powerhouse comedian, a larger than life personality that owned the screen every moment he occupied it for a comedy, or even a comedic thriller (like as part of the ensembles of the Ocean’s movies). Some might forget that he was a part of Bad Santa, a holiday staple marked by Billy Bob Thornton’s memorably dark performance. But Mac’s role as mall security makes him the ideal foil for Thornton, and he needed plenty more time on the screen. 

Pizza Poppa

If there’s one thing we know about Pizza Poppa (Bruce Campbell), it’s that he gets paid. Sam Raimi loves Campbell. And we love Campbell in Raimi movies, including  when he showed up for an all-too-brief and strange (no pun intended) cameo in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The appearance makes good use of Campbell’s physical comedy, and also leads to a spot-on end credits scene.  

The Bus Driver

There’s a trend on this list. Comedic performers who left us too soon. Chris Farley belongs on that list. And while he will always have his standalone hit in Tommy Boy, but it’s his cameos that hit me the most. I loved him in Adam Sandler’s Billy Madison as the disgruntled bus driver, who amuses himself by stealing kids’ lunches. 

Boris Podgorny

Another one of the classic mentor roles, this one appearing in Steven Spielberg’s autobiographical winner, The Fabelmans. Young Sammy Fabelman needed a voice of reason at an important point in his maturation. It came in the form of his visiting uncle (Judd Hirsch), who shared tales of the circus, and a life spent entertaining. Hirsch was a spark that ignited the story, and his absence was felt during the remainder of the film. 

T.D.K.

Mind you, almost everyone in the opening scene of James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad could be on this list. They all exit the screen in spectacular fashion, and much earlier than anticipated. But I’m going with Nathan Fillion’s T.D.K., mainly because of what his power is. And if you don’t know yet, go put this movie on now and enjoy.

Large Marge

Alice Elizabeth Nunn doesn’t have a long list of acting credits. If you, like me, grew up on Tim Burton’s Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, though, you will remember her as Large Marge. Her legend grows by the day. So when you get to the rest stop, tell them Large Marge sent you.

Steven

John Cena has mastered the art of scene stealing. The all-star wrestler seamlessly transitioned over to the silver screen, thanks to hilarious and go-for-broke performances like the one he gives opposite Amy Schumer in Trainwreck. Part of me wishes that Cena got the girl in this movie. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be. 

Gloria Cleary

I miss the days when Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson were good for an annual comedy. Wedding Crashers probably ranks as the duo’s best, and while many single out Will Ferrell’s bathrobe-wearing bachelor as the standout character, I wanted more screen time with the irascible Isla Fisher, who goes toe-to-toe with Vaughn and emerges as the most memorable comedian in this wild ensemble. 

Trudi Frazer

Quentin Tarantino is a master at creating unforgettable characters. Even one of the smaller roles will still grab you, and not let go. Young Julia Butters owns the screen opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. She’s a savvy kid actor with more confidence than DiCaprio’s Rick Dalton will ever have. I want to know the type of career that Trudi went on to have, because she’s a fascinating slice of a complicated pie that only Tarantino can cook up.

Whiskey

On the surface, it seems like Whiskey (Madelyn Cline) doesn’t belong with the group that has gathered on the island in Glass Onion. But the more that you learn about her, the more you realize she has as many games to play as the rest of them. Cline leaves us wondering how Whiskey earned her seat at the table, but that’s the point of this list. Lingering questions surround almost all of these interesting characters.

Peter

Sugar Bear. Peter (Rob Delaney) is Deadpool’s favorite member of his new super-powered team, X-Force. Peter has no powers. He’s just positive, and willing to play along. He’s the best part of Deadpool 2, and the movie definitely needed more of him.

Gary

"How can that be profitable for Frito Lay?" All that Gary (Jesse Plemons) wants to do is participate in Game Night. Sure, he’s socially awkward. But given the problems that surface in the group as the movie unfurls, Gary would be an ideal player. Just, keep the blood off of his dog, please. 

Chirrut Imwe

Listen, I want more Donnie Yen in everything. He blew us away in John Wick: Chapter 4, and has a rich history of dominating Asian cinema. But it’s his blind hero in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story that I think demands more time. And given the existence of Disney+ shows like Andor, I think more Donnie Yen in that Galaxy far far away is a distinct possibility. 

The John Wick movies may, or may not be over and done, but what’s clear is that John Wick as a franchise, and as a universe in which to tell stories, is far from done. We’re about to get the premiere of The Continental on Peacock, and next year we’ll see Ana de Armas star in the John Wick spinoff movie Ballerina. Fans are certainly looking forward to this one, and director Len Wiseman recently provided update on its status.

Ballerina isn’t set to open until next summer, so it’s probably going to be some time before we actually get to see any of it, but Underworld franchise director Len Wiseman, who is helming Ballerina recently told EW that, he just finished his “director’s cut” of the movie, saying… 

This is certainly great news if you’re excited about Ballerina. If Len Wiseman has finished a director’s cut then there is at least a version of the movie that is essentially done and ready for release. It’s unclear if there’s already a plan to release a director’s cut version of the film or if this is just his edit that he has now submitted to the studio, which could see some additional changes before it's finalized, but it sounds like things are certainly moving forward.

Wiseman saying the movie is “on pause” does indicate, however, that there may still be a bit more work to do. A lot of movies are on pause right now due to the two strikes taking place simultaneously with both Hollywood writers and actors. While Ballerina’s main shoot is clearly done, if there are reshoots that need to be done, those are certainly on hold until these strikes are resolved.

With a release date of next summer, there’s still plenty of time for that to all be taken care of and still hit the date without a problem, even if there is still significant work that needs to be done. That puts Ballerina in a much better position than a lot of projects. Several high-profile projects had to stop filming in the middle of principal photography and their future remains unclear as both strikes remain ongoing. And even if one of them gets resolved, the other would still leave many movies in limbo.

Of course, the big question regarding John Wick and the movies is if there will be more of them, or if Keanu Reeves’ cameo in Ballerina will be the last we see of him. The John Wick: Chapter 4 ending gave the series a conclusion, though not one that can’t be escaped if everybody involved is willing to do so. A John Wick: Chapter 5 had been planned at one point, so seeing that movie eventually certainly isn’t impossible.  

The John Wick franchise is growing. While John Wick: Chapter 5 remains a big question mark given the ending of John Wick: Chapter 4, the world of the film will soon be expanded on the big screen with Ballerina, a spinoff starring Ana de Armas and directed by Len Wiseman. The movie is confirmed to be in continuity, with specific connections to the existing films (particularly John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum), but one thing that the project doesn’t have is the specific involvement of director Chad Stahelski, who has made a point of being hands-off when it comes to the developing canon expansion after directing all four John Wick features.

Ballerina was a project that I had the chance to discuss with Stahelski earlier this year when I spoke with him during the pre-release press day for John Wick: Chapter 4. I asked about his work on the upcoming movie and his experience collaborating with Ana de Armas, but he told me that he has made a choice not to be fully immersed in the making of the film. Said the filmmaker,

Continuing, Chad Stahelski explained that letting Ballerina be a project free of his direct influence was a choice that he made because he feels that it is a thing that is healthy for the expansion of the John Wick franchise. He had discussions with Len Wiseman about the rules (or lack of rules) in the continuity, and he is credited as a producer, but after he shared his perspective, he let the director go off and make the movie:

Ballerina will feature Ana de Armas as Rooney, a character audiences first met played by actress Unity Phelan in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum. The story will center on the protagonist’s own mission for revenge, and the movie will feature a number of standout characters from the John Wick franchise. Anjelica Huston and Keanu Reeves will be in the movie reprising their respective canonical roles, and I spoke with Ian McShane and Lance Reddick about their involvement in the film prior to the latter’s unexpected passing in the spring.

While not personally guiding Ana de Armas through the action in the developing spinoff, Chad Stahelski added that he has had the chance to meet the Ballerina star, and he’s been impressed by qualities that she shares in common with Keanu Reeves (with whom she previously worked on the 2015 horror film Knock Knock). Said Stahelski,

After starting principal photography in the last couple months of 2022, Ballerina entered post-production earlier this year… though it’s going to be a minute before audiences get to see it, as Lionsgate has made the action film part of their 2024 movie calendar. Specifically, the movie is presently scheduled to hit theaters on June 7, 2024. Stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for more updates about the project as it gets closer to release.

Apple TV+’s spy action comedy Ghosted premiered on the streaming service last weekend starring Chris Evans and Ana de Armas, and it's already reached a major milestone. Over the last week, many tuned in to watch these two A-listers in their third movie together as Evans played a guy who gets ghosted by a woman he soon finds out is a spy. This fun action flick really brought in audiences, and now the Captain America star is celebrating a big record Ghosted just broke for the streamer.

This new action rom-com gave audiences a plot that we’ve seen before in movies like Killers and Knight and Day, but swapped the gender roles by having de Armas use her James Bond-like skills, which were on display in the Ghosted trailer, as a secret agent, while Evans played her clueless date who was just trying his best. This Dexter Fletcher-directed film proved to be a hit with audiences as Deadline reported that it's become the most-watched Apple TV+ movie of all time. Upon hearing the news, Chris Evans tweeted in celebration of the great news, writing:

I’m really happy for him and the cast and crew of Ghosted for achieving this Apple TV+ milestone. According to Deadline, Skydance’s action-packed flick drew in 328,500 viewers in its first two days on the streaming service. This large number has officially surpassed the viewing numbers of other Apple TV+ films like Flinch, Spirited, Tetris, and My Mind & Me. It was also reported that Ghosted’s completion rate is 20% more than Apple TV+’s average rate. Overall, there was a lot to celebrate for both the movie itself and the streaming service.

Samba TV’s research panel believes that the “star power” of Chris Evans and Ana de Armas is a big reason why the movie is "outperforming" all of the other Apple TV+ films that have graced this streaming service. This analysis also states that since this movie has a blend of different genres like action, romance, and drama it can provide something special for everyone watching at home. As Evans and de Armas starred in massive hits like Knives Out and The Gray Man, it’s clear their real-life friendship had an impact on Ghosted. 

While the movie broke a big record to Apple TV+, Ghosted has had mediocre reviews. Critics found the 2023 movie schedule entry to be forgettable with jabs at the film’s screenplay and lack of chemistry between the two leads. However, the Rotten Tomatoes' 61% audience rating is better than the critical rating of 29%. And, our own Alexandra Ramos actually found Ghosted to be a lot of fun, especially when it came to seeing the Captain America actor play a “clumsy” action role in comparison to the shield-wielding hero we knew him as. So, this proves to be another example of a movie that hits well with audiences more than the critics.

Congratulations, Ghosted, for making Apple TV+ history by being its streaming service’s most-watched movie. To check out the movie for yourself, all you need is an Apple TV+ subscription. 

Since James Gunn and Peter Safran took over DC Studios we have had as many questions as we have answers about what the future of DC heroes on the big screen will be. We know there will be more Superman and Batman movies, though with actors we have not seen before. The fate of Wonder Woman is still largely unknown, and some fans have apparently wondered if Ana de Armas could be the new Diana Prince.

It seems that some number of people have done Google searches asking the question whether or not Ana de Armas could be the next Wonder Woman, as it came up as a question in a Wired video where she and her Ghosted co-star Chris Evans answer questions based on what comes up on the search engine. For her part, de Armas thinks that the former, or possibly still current, Wonder Woman is doing a great job, so there’s no need to replace her. The actress said…

Gal Gadot appeared as Wonder Woman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League, as well as a pair of stand-alone features. There had been plans for a third Wonder Woman movie, but it seems that the new heads of DC Studios and director Patty Jenkins could not come to an agreement, and the movie appears to be dead.

Gal Gadot did make a brief appearance as Wonder Woman in the recent Shazam!: Fury of the Gods film, but as things stand right now Shazam is in much the same boat as Wonder Woman, as we don’t really know what the plan for the future is, assuming there is one.

We know that Wonder Woman’s corner of the DCU will exist, as one project we’re getting in the first chapter of DCU stories includes an HBO Max series called Paradise Island, which will be set on Wonder Woman’s home, but prior to her existence. It certainly indicates that Wonder Woman will be appearing in the new DCU sooner rather than later, but exactly when, or who will play the role, is anybody’s guess.

And honestly, if we were going to recast Wonder Woman in the DCU, Ana de Armas would not be the worst choice in the world. She’s been on an absolute roll when it comes to action cinema, from No Time to Die to the new Apple TV+ movie Ghosted, to her upcoming John Wick spinoff movie Ballerina. It seems like only a matter of time before she gets cast in a big superhero movie, so the idea of her playing Wonder Woman is far from crazy. 

As shown by the trailer for Apple TV+'s Ghosted, the film reunites Chris Evans with Ana de Armas. The action comedy centers on a man who falls for woman and -- after not hearing from her for a while -- discovers that she’s a secret agent. Evans previously worked with de Armas in Knives Out and The Gray Man, in which both gave solid performances. Chemistry like theirs is something that most directors would probably want with their leads, and Dexter Fletcher shared some insight into how it impacted the film.

Whenever the two stars appear together, they seem to have the best time. However, someone could theoretically argue that they're just playing nice for the cameras. That's not the case, though, thankfully, as Dexter Fletcher explained. The filmmaker appeared on the latest episode of our ReelBlend podcast and initially joked about the bond between the two stars. But when getting serious, he recalled that everyone on set could tell just how close the A-listers are:

Considering their past work and friendship, it makes sense as to why the producers would be down to pair up the two Knives Out alums. Plus, as even their director explained during the interview, the two are downright delightful together during press junkets. Social media posts also give you the impression that they enjoyed their time working on this production. Ana de Armas celebrated her birthday on the set of Ghosted and, when they wrapped Chris Evans posted celebratory emojis under the actress’ post, which marked the end of the shoot.

The two share more than jokes, though, per their director. During his interview, he explained that they also possess mutual respect for each other:

Believe it or not, Dexter Fletcher nearly didn't have these particular two in the movie. As he recalled in the same interview, Chris Evans was originally going to be paired with Scarlett Johansson, before she exited due to scheduling conflicts. Apparently, the John Wick spinoff, Ballerina, made it possible for Ana de Armas to join, as the schedule for that film shifted. While Johansson probably would've done a solid job as well, I can't complain with de Armas taking over. You can see the filmmaker's full interview down below:

Though Ghosted has received mixed to negative reviews from critics, some fans across social media seem taken with Chris Evans and Ana de Armas' pairing. Hopefully, this won't be the last time that the two friends team up for another major movie. You can check out their latest right now using an Apple TV+ subscription, and take a look at the schedule of 2023 new movie releases for info on other upcoming films.

Spoilers for Ghosted ahead! Read with caution. If you haven’t seen the movie yet, be sure to check it out with an Apple TV+ subscription. 

There's nothing better than a surprise cameo in a movie, and boy did Chris Evans deliver on this front in his new rom-com Ghosted. The leading man used his Marvel connections to secure three massive, and super fun, cameos for the Apple TV+ movie as Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie and Ryan Reynolds all hilariously popped up in the 2023 movie schedule entry. 

In the movie, Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan, as well as John Cho, all play assassins out to kill Chris Evans’ Cole, who has accidentally gotten mixed up in Ana de Armas’ Sadie’s complex spy world. The scene is hilarious as the three killers try to take down the Captain America actor, but all get killed by each other in a sort of domino effect. 

While all four of these guys (Mackie, Stan, Reynolds and Cho) were all down to clown on Ghosted, Evans noted that he felt weird asking for the favor, telling EW:

I totally get why it might feel weird to ask for a favor. However, in the end, I’d assume both Mackie and Stan are more than willing to help out Evans anytime. This is especially clear if you’ve watched the Marvel movies in order because you’ll know that they’ve worked closely on quite a few projects over the years, namely the Captain America trilogy, and have made it very clear they're all quite close.

As for Ryan Reynolds, he came into the picture as one of Sadie’s exes who gets into a big fight with the two main characters in a rotating restaurant. He has a funny exchange with de Armas' character, and overall it was a really fun and goofy scene. It also looked like the Deadpool star was having a blast as the eyepatch-wearing mustachioed ex, making the cameo all the more fun.

Since Evans had a small cameo in Free Guy, he felt OK texting the Deadpool star to ask if he’d be down to pop into Ghosted. The Captain America actor said: 

Reynolds seems to both love getting and giving cameos. Along with this small role in Ghosted, he also showed up in David Leitch’s Bullet Train last summer. As for getting cameos, he’s gotten actors like Channing Tatum, Brad Pitt, some of the X-Men, and of course, Chris Evans to show up in his various projects. 

In the end, Evans said that he was happy he asked his pals for the favor, and he was able to spend time on set with them again, explaining:

I’d also like to say thank you to these four guys for showing up. Considering Evans has no plans of showing up in any upcoming Marvel projects, it was nice to have something new that featured him with his Captain America pals (and a few other fun guests). 

Even though Chris Evans likely won’t return to the MCU, three of his four Ghosted co-stars will be starring in various Marvel movies throughout the next couple of years. Anthony Mackie is set to lead the movie Captain America: New World Order, while Sebastian Stan is set to join the cast of the team-up film Thunderbolts. As for Ryan Reynolds, he’ll be making his official MCU debut in the highly anticipated Deadpool 3. As for Captain America, as played by Chris Evans, you can always go back and watch his time as an OG Avenger with a Disney+ subscription, and to see all these actors together in one movie, make sure to check out Ghosted. 

Ana de Armas and Chris Evans are onscreen together for a third time, and on their newest project they’re jumping to a new streaming service for the Apple TV+ rom-com adventure flick Ghosted. After appearing in Netflix’s Knives Out and The Gray Man, the leading duo will actually be a couple — or hopeful couple, at least — in the new movie; Evans’ Cole Turner tracks down de Armas’ Sadie Rhodes after being ghosted by her, only to find himself in way over his head. Reviews are in for Ghosted, which is available for streaming now with an Apple TV+ subscription, so let’s see if this is worth checking out this weekend.

Chris Evans is no Captain America in this movie, and he’s said it was fun to play someone far less cool. Meanwhile, Ana de Armas replaced Scarlett Johansson — Evans’ MCU co-star — when she had to exit the movie, so de Armas will get to use those James Bond skills as CIA agent Sadie. Let’s see what the critics are saying, starting with CinemaBlend’s sister site GameRadar’s review of Ghosted. Jamie Graham gives the movie 3 out of 5 stars, saying the lead actors make this one worth watching, even if the action leaves something to be desired. The critic continues: 

David Erhlich of Indiewire grades the movie a C-, calling it “insultingly bland,” and saying by the time the movie starts playing on your screen, it’s already been half-forgotten. He continues: 

Nick Schager of The Daily Beast pulls no punches with Ghosted, calling the movie the worst movie of the year, by far. The critic argues that rarely have two such charismatic stars generated fewer sparks than Ana de Armas and Chris Evans, in part because the script “falls flat with every line of dialogue.” The review continues: 

Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle takes issue with the subgenre overall that promotes the idea of self-actualization through murder. The critic says this is not a movie to see, pointing out that Cole becomes the man he always could have been after Sadie teaches him to fight and kill. The review concludes: 

Luke Y. Thompson of the AV Club gives Ghosted a D+ and was among the critics who compared it unfavorably to great romantic action movies like Romancing the Stone, only gender-swapped. From the review: 

The critics may not have enjoyed Ghosted, particularly the CGI and script, but audiences should always feel free to decide for themselves. If this sounds like a movie you’re interested in checking out, you can do so now on Apple TV+. Also be sure to check out our 2023 Movie Release Schedule to see what other movies are coming soon to the big screen and streaming. 

Hollywood is driven by schedules. Want to know when that movie you have been dying to see is finally coming out? We have a full schedule of Upcoming 2023 movies. Are you a studio looking for the best release window? Check the schedule. Are you a producer hoping to land the ideal director or cast members? You are beholden to their schedules. This is something that Ghosted director Dexter Fletcher discovered when he was working with Chris Evans to nail down a co-star. Originally, Ghosted was meant to be a Marvel reunion of sorts (something we've known about Ghosted for a while), casting Scarlett Johansson opposite the Captain America actor. But Scarlett Johansson had to exit the movie, and now we have more details as to why. Read on as you wait for the movie to arrive on Apple TV+ later this week.

Chris Evans has a rich history with both ladies, having appeared alongside Scarlett Johansson in countless Marvel stories that you will encounter if you ever try to watch the Marvel movies in order. But Evans and Ana De Armas also turned heads as members of the first Knives Out cast. See where they placed on our ranking of the five best Knives Out performances. So the moment that Johansson had to drop Ghosted, Evans rang up De Armas, according to Dexter Fletcher, who went on to elaborate:

But Fletcher confirms Scarlett Johansson was the option in the planning stages of Ghosted. Only, those aforementioned schedules (so troublesome) came into play. The director continued: 

Because as you will see when you check Ghosted out, Chris Evans can spark chemistry with virtually any actor, and he falls into a comfortable rhythm with Ana De Armas basically from the opening of this film. And the movie takes audiences to some unexpected places as it tells the story of a needy farmer (Evans) who thinks the beautiful girl he met at the Farmer’s Market is blowing him off. It might not make our current list of the best movies available on Apple TV+ at the moment, but if you are fans of the actors, you should press play starting on Friday, April 21.

Whether or not we’ll see another John Wick movie is very much an open question. The ending of John Wick: Chapter 4 left future films in serious doubt. However, we do know that the John Wick universe will continue on the big screen and that we will see Keanu Reeves in that role at least one more time. He’ll cameo in the spinoff movie Ballerina and the actress is singing the praises of the film, and working with Keanu Reeves again.

Ana de Armas and Keanu Reeves were in a movie together once before, 2015’s Knock, Knock, but certainly, Ballerina was a very different experience for everybody involved. De Armas has done her share of action movies in recent years, but the actress told ET this one was something else entirely, explaining…

We’ve seen a lot of videos of Keanu Reeves training for John Wick movies, so we know just how demanding the franchise has been for him. While Ballerina is under another director, Underworld franchise director Len Wiseman, we can guess that Ana de Armas was still put through a pretty incredible boot camp so that the action sequences are up to the level of the John Wick franchise.

Ballerina is set prior to the events of John Wick: Chapter 4, and will introduce Ana de Armas as a ballerina-assassin, one of a group of specially trained women that we see briefly in John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum. The plot of the film will see De Armas’ character, Rooney, go on the hunt for people responsible for the death of her family.

How Rooney will cross paths with John Wick is a very interesting question. It’s unclear exactly how much time has passed between the end of the third film and the beginning of the fourth, but it’s likely not a great deal. Since Wick was a student of The Director, just like the ballerinas, it may be that Rooney will seek him out for help. The fact that she’s going on a quest for revenge probably puts her on the outs with the larger underworld, meaning Wick is one person she might be able to turn to for help.

John Wick: Chapter 5 isn’t guaranteed, in fact, it does seem less likely right now, so fans of the franchise are likely looking forward to Ballerina. If John Wick movies are done or good, movies in that universe could still expand the world and give fans the high-quality action cinema they’re looking for. 

After scoring her first Oscar nomination, Ana de Armas is adding her name to another elite list – being a first-time Saturday Night Live host. She’s joining the likes of previous SNL first-timers like Jenna Ortega, Michael B. Jordan, and Quinta Brunson. The Blonde star has spent the past week preparing for her SNL debut, and like those before her, de Armas chose to document her full week at Studio 8H. So, to give her fans a glimpse into the sketch comedy world, the Ghosted star decided to share some behind-the-scenes photos of her week at SNL, and I love it.

The Knives Out star expressed her excitement about hosting SNL through her Instagram account. She took to the platform to announce her sketch comedy debut, and gave her followers peeks into her preparation for the late-night sketch show. She started by posting a glimpse of a calmer moment backstage during her busy week at Studio 8H.

Ana de Armas wasn’t done documenting her time on SNL. There was a behind-the-scenes photo between Chloe Fineman and de Armas as they reviewed some of the episode's production notes. Check out the candid moment in her dressing room with the image below:

The photos showcased the Hollywood A-lister’s excitement to be part of the process of crafting her SNL debut, and I loved it. Like multiple SNL hosts before her, de Armas seemed quite involved in the creative process. She appeared to want some input into her sketch appearances and opening monologue. I hope to see some of the Oscar nominee’s funnier side in her SNL debut. It’s always interesting to see a serious actress just let loose on the show like Pedro Pascal did. These candid photos show the actress's enthusiasm about being on the show, and they make me excited for her upcoming performance. 

The BTS photos only gave a peek into Ana de Armas’ thrilling week gearing up for her first time on SNL. Her excitement couldn’t be contained as she did a promo commercial for her upcoming episode with SNL cast members Marcello Hernandez and Bowen Yang and musical guest Karol G. Watch the cast and crew fond over the movie star in the clip below.

Ana de Armas is still riding high after starring in Blonde and The Gray Man last year as her film career continues moving forward. She followed up her Best Actress Oscar nom by reuniting with her Knives Out co-star Chris Evans in the Apple TV+ action-comedy Ghosted, which arrives on April 21. She will continue her action streak with the John Wick spinoff Ballerina, which will hit theaters on June 7, 2024.

If you want to catch Ana de Armas’ SNL hosting debut, tune in to NBC at 11:30 p.m. ET on April 15 with fellow SNL first-timer Karol G. If can't tune in "live from New York," you can catch de Armas’ episode and watch previous Season 48 episodes with a Peacock subscription. In the meantime, check out our TV schedule to see when new episodes are set to air, and who the next SNL hosts and musical guests are going to be on the sketch comedy series.  

When you make a movie centered around the idea of ghosting, obviously you’re going to get asked if you’ve been ghosted or not. So, as Chris Evans and Ana de Armas set out to promote their new movie Ghosted de Armas has been telling stories about times she’s been left on read or didn’t respond to a potential significant other. While the Marvel star is claiming it's never happened to him, however, according to the actor he's experienced something worse than ghosting, and he makes a good point.

As Ghosted prepares to drop on the 2023 movie schedule, its two stars have been joking around about the effect ghosting has on their characters, Sadie and Cole, in the movie, and how the act of not responding has impacted their personal lives. Evans clarified to MovieZine that he doesn't think he’s been the ghoster or the ghostee, however, he has experienced something even more terrible than being ignored, explaining:

Evans makes a fantastic point, it’s better to rip the Band-Aid off, and get the pain over with rather than let a wound fester. Being strung out in a “slow tortured drip” as the Knives Out cast member put it would be brutal, and I’d agree worse than ghosting. However, I’d say it all worked out for the actor, because he and Alba Baptista are adorable together, and these days it’s hard to imagine him with anyone else. 

While Evans has had to deal with something worse than ghosting before he made things official with the Warrior Nun star, de Armas explained that she has been both the ignored and the ignorer. In the same interview, the actress explained:

Considering actors will draw from personal experience to play their roles, I feel like the stories described by the Knives Out and Ghosted co-stars would have helped inform their silly roles in this new action-packed rom-com. 

As the Ghosted trailer teased, this movie follows Cole (Evans) who gets ghosted by Sadie (de Armas). However, the story devolves into chaos when Cole finds out that his crush is actually a secret agent. Shenanigans ensue, and the two end up going on an unexpected and silly adventure that all started because Sadie didn’t respond to a few text messages. 

While Ana de Armas' character only ghosts Evans’ character, things seem to get wild in this movie, and maybe a “slow tortured drip” like the actor described would have been easier to handle than going on a death-defying adventure. But, that wouldn’t make a fun movie, now would it? 

To see what Ana de Armas ghosting Chris Evans causes, you can check out Ghosted with an Apple TV+ subscription on April 21.  

The world of John Wick is expanding. While fans are presently awaiting the release of John Wick: Chapter 4 this Friday, we are also getting ready for the release of Ballerina – a spinoff starring the Oscar-nominated talents of Ana de Armas. Having recently completed filming, the movie is now in post-production, and while there is still quite a lot about it that we don’t know, we do know that it will feature Lance Reddick and Ian McShane in supporting roles, and both actors recently spoke about their time working with the film’s star.

Two weeks prior to the horrible news from this past Friday about Lance Reddick’s death, I had the chance to interview him and co-star Ian McShane at the John Wick: Chapter 4 junket. In addition to discussing the motivations of their characters, Charon and Winston, at the end of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, the actors also talked about their time on the set of Ballerina. I asked specifically about their experience with Ana de Armas, and McShane began,

For those who don’t recall, John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum features a sequence at a ballet school where Keanu Reeves’ titular protagonist meets with The Director (Anjelica Huston). In one of the scenes with the two characters, The Director is instructing a ballerina played by Unity Phelan, and it’s she who will be the protagonist in Ballerina (recast with Ana de Armas in the role). Her name is Rooney, and she is not only a dancer, but an assassin-in-training – which shouldn’t be too surprising in the context of the franchise.

The character’s work as a hired killer presumably leads her to go to the New York Continental at some point in the new film, as that that would be the logical way that she encounters both Charon and Winston.

Ballerina will feature one of the last performances by Lance Reddick, and while it doesn’t sound like he will have too much screen time in the film, he was nonetheless impressed by what he saw from Ana de Armas. Said Reddick,

In addition to Lance Reddick and Ian McShane, Ballerina will also feature an appearance from Keanu Reeves – and it will mark the third time that Reeves has worked with Ana de Armas after 2015’s Knock Knock and 2016’s Exposed.  Shay Hatten, the co-writer of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and John Wick: Chapter 4, has penned the screenplay, and Len Wiseman is directing.

Lionsgate is set to distribute Ballerina, but the studio has not yet announced a release date for the film. Of course, the wait for that movie is made easier by the fact that we are about to see the theatrical arrival of John Wick: Chapter 4, which has earned rave reviews in recent weeks following press screenings and a surprise showing at the 2023 SWSW Film Festival.

Stay tuned for more from my interviews with the stars and director of the new sequel, and check out our 2023 Movie Release Calendar to learn about all of the big films set to be released in theaters and on streaming in the coming months.

It’s safe to say that Everything Everywhere All At Once’s Ke Huy Quan was one of the happiest people present at the 95th Academy Awards. After last night, he was among the growing ranks of 2023 Oscar winners for winning Best Supporting Actor. Overcome with so much joy after his lovely Oscars win, he had no problems offering sweet embraces to stars like Oscar nominee Ana de Armas.

Ke Huy Quan gave one of the most endearing speeches at the Oscars last night filled with tears of joy and clenching onto that trophy with pride. After accomplishing such an epic win, he shared a sweet embrace with Best Actress nominee Ana de Armas on the red carpet of Vanity Fair’s Oscars After Party. He literally jumped for joy as soon as she greeted him with open arms. Take a look at these two chums hugging it out in this Instagram video below.

Ana de Armas may have lost out to Michelle Yeoh for Best Actress, but it’s still really nice she was able to support winners during their big moment. It must have been a real honor for the Cuban-Spanish actress to represent her movie Blonde. With all of the backlash the historical fiction film endured ahead of the Oscars as well as the Razzie nominations and wins it got, I can imagine it being a real compliment that her talented performance in the film shone through. Not to mention, she already makes history by being the first Cuban actress to be nominated in the Best Actress category. The happiness she shared with Huy Quan during his big night proves she’s a winner at heart.

Ke Huy Quan was truly deserving of his Oscar win for Everything Everywhere All At Once. In his Best Supporting Actor speech, he tearfully made sure to thank his mother, brother, wife, and his “Goonies brother for life” Jeff Cohen who unexpectedly played into the Asian actor joining the A24 movie when as an entertainment lawyer, he negotiated the deal for his casting. The Goonies actor also made sure to recall there was a time he was ready to give up on his dreams. After all, he stepped away from acting for a couple of decades due to either not getting offered to play strong characters like he previously played, or only being presented with stereotypical roles. 

Thankfully, the Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom star made his return to acting after reading the script of the absurdist multiverse movie and feeling he could really identify with the three different versions of his character, Waymond Wang. The former child star ended his speech triumphantly by saying, “To all of you out there, please keep your dreams alive.” His story truly is inspiring to go from spending a year in a refugee camp as a child to standing on the Oscar stage clutching that award. This Vietnamese-American actor is surely going places.

Ke Huy Quan and Ana de Armas were two happy Oscar nominees honored well at the ceremony for their outstanding talents. Check out our 2023 movie releases to better follow the careers of the Oscar talent you saw at the star-studded event last night.

Since Chris Evans and Ana de Armas first teamed up on Rian Johnson's 2019 whodunnit Knives Out, they've been a team that feels like a natural fit. So bringing them back together for the 2023 new movie release Ghosted was going to be an event to watch out for from the moment it was announced. But after watching de Armas using those James Bond action skills she’s been honing yet again, while also allowing Evans to play towards broad comic farce, this definitely seems like a reunion worth celebrating. 

Oh, and this happens to be a romantic comedy, as well as a spy movie. That's one of 6 things we now know about Ghosted. We’ve seen those genres mix before, but with Apple’s first trailer for director Dexter Fletcher’s entry into the canon, it’s looking pretty fresh. Part of that is the fun concept that puts Chris Evans’ lovesick protagonist Cole in the middle of some intense-looking action, which only happens because of that traditional rom-com showstopper: a grand gesture of romance!

Unfortunately for Cole, following the lovely Sadie (Ana de Armas) all the way to London is a little more hazardous than he could have ever imagined. This leads to a lot more guns than roses in Ghosted’s romantic comedy. Lucky for the audience, this fast-paced mission looks like it’s easy to love, no matter which genre you appreciate more.

This marks the third time that Chris Evans and Ana de Armas have crossed professional paths, with the second project being Netflix’s own spy adventure, The Gray Man. Ghosted’s espionage playing field is way different from the Mark Greaney-inspired action rampage, as things are more lighthearted in this sandbox. Though there are still plenty of witty barbs flying in the air, Evans is especially different this time out. 

With plenty of romantic comedies under his belt from his early career, Evans is yet again playing the stereotypical lead who is so in love, they’d do anything. Meanwhile, de Armas’ Sadie is a no-nonsense action hero who doesn’t mind reminding her would-be suitor that he got himself into this mess. It's a mess that’s got a mess of talent thanks to Ghosted’s impressive all-star cast. 

An amazing array of actors pop up in this initial footage, with comedy all-star and The Mandolorian cast member Amy Sedaris and Rocketman’s Tate Donovan playing the encouraging parents to Chris Evans and his romantic intentions. Plus, another Rian Johnson alum who shows up is Adrien Brody, who most recently teamed up with the writer/director as part of the cast of Poker Face, Peacock’s recent streaming mystery hit. 

Casting is key when it comes to mixing tones like Ghosted does, and watching Chris Evans and Ana de Armas reunited yet again feels like a grand gesture of romance to the world of moviegoers. It’s almost enough to make us sad that they won’t be reteaming as planned for Project Artemis, though there is a bright side to keep in mind. 

After three movies and tons of buzzy social media moments together, the Evans/de Armas team looks like they’ve hit their stride. So this probably isn’t the last we’ve seen of these two perfectly paired performers on screens big, small and in-between. Of course, that'll depend on who chooses to accept the mission that is Ghosted, which will begin streaming to the world of those with an Apple TV+ subscription on April 21st.

It’s a strange concept to believe that a movie that got nominated for Worst Picture at the 43rd Golden Raspberry Awards is also listed in the 95th Academy Awards nominations for Best Actress. If you couldn’t guess, I’m referring to Andrew Dominik’s historical fiction drama Blonde. With the Oscars being ten days away, Blonde’s star Ana de Armas reflected on the backlash her movie has received.

When Blonde first screened at the Venice Film Festival last September, the critics loved Ana de Armas's performance in giving everything she’s got to bring Marilyn Monroe to life. The movie even received a 14-minute standing ovation. However, Blonde received middling reviews that felt the book-adapted film was “exploitative,” “sexist,” and “dehumanizing.” In her interview with The Hollywood Reporter, de Armas spoke about how she felt about the harsh criticism: 

Some films are made for entertainment purposes to make audiences feel good. Blonde falls into the category of a film that’s not focused on feel-good vibes, but instead sends a message out to the audience of the hard times the Blonde Bombshell went through in Hollywood. Blonde’s director Andrew Dominik’s deeper meaning behind the NC-17 movie is for audiences to see the overwhelming transition of Norma Jean Baker being an unwanted foster child to becoming Marilyn Monroe, the most wanted woman in the Golden Age of Hollywood. 

There was plenty in there "to offend everyone." Blonde was criticized for being anti-abortion, and it was even said one scene went too far showing Norma Jean being forced by John F. Kennedy to give him a blow job. This psychological drama clearly hit a nerve with people not used to seeing movies based on real people shown like this. 

If critics and audiences had trouble watching the Netflix drama, maybe there’s an underlying reason why they feel uneasy about it. Ana de Armas continued to speak about Blonde being more exploitative towards Hollywood than it is about Marilyn Monroe:

People knew watching Netflix’s Blonde trailer what they were getting into with witnessing the tragic story of Norma Jean Baker. As tragedy unfolds, the audience helplessly watches. This harsh fact could be what’s bothering them more than what Dominik was trying to present. The Australian director explained the Blonde backlash could also be coming from people wanting to see a strong woman instead of a woman who was a victim of being in the Hollywood spotlight. Maybe movies like this can teach audiences that fame is not everything it is cracked up to be as well as the importance of treating people well.

Blonde may have received backlash when it first came out on Netflix, but Ana de Armas will be celebrated for her performance at this year’s Oscars. Be prepared to see this Cuban actress give Blonde recognition at the ceremony when the camera shines a light on her name being called out as a Best Actress nominee. If you want to prep yourself before the ceremony, you can watch Blonde with your Netflix subscription.

What makes a "movie star"? That's a question that has a number of answers, and it really depends on who you ask. For some, it's simply an actor who becomes a household name. For others, it's a performer whose presence in a project alone inspires audiences to pack into theaters. There is no set definition – but for Ana de Armas (whom some consider to be a movie star herself), it's all about creating a level of on-screen mystique, and, for that reason, she doesn't think that there are any true movie stars in the modern era. 

In the last year, de Armas got what could be called a meta movie star experience playing Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe in Andrew Dominik's NC-17-rated Netflix biopic Blonde, and it was that role in particular that recently got the actor speaking on the subject. In an interview with Vanity Fair, she was asked specifically if she thinks the modern film industry "produces" movie stars, and she explained why she doesn't think that it does:

The Buggles famously told us back in 1980 that video killed the radio star; in 2023, Ana de Armas feels that social media has killed the movie star.

This is certainly an understandable perspective. Decades ago, actors were primarily recognized by the public via the work that they did on the big screen, and that was how audiences got to "know" them – but that idea has been deteriorating for quite a while now. Tabloid journalism and paparazzi have spent years and years "exposing" the personal lives of performers beyond their work for Hollywood, making their private existences public, and that has evolved in significant ways in the 21st century. 

Now, instead of just reporters and photographers providing people with the inside scoop about their favorite stars, the stars themselves provide all of that information to fans via their personal social media accounts. Their inner thoughts are posted on Twitter, and literal snapshots of their lives are uploaded to Instagram. We can still admire the work that they do in film and television, but there is no maintained mystery about who they are and what they do beyond the characters they play. 

Ana de Armas, who has a personal Instagram account with 9.5 million followers, doesn't exactly opt out of this aspect of modern Hollywood.

Combined with the significance of intellectual property in today's entertainment industry (where popular, well-established characters are arguably valued more than the actors playing them), it's understandable that one might consider that the concept of the "movie star" has become archaic. On the other hand, perhaps it's merely in need of redefinition.

In addition to being a popular actor and followed by millions on social media, Ana de Armas is now an Academy Award-nominated performer, having received a nod last month for her controversial turn as Marilyn Monroe in Blonde. The film is exclusively available to watch with a Netflix subscription, and if you're trying to catch up with all of the movies that are up for major prizes this year, check out our 2023 Oscars streaming guide.