In BALLERINA, a new story in the world of JOHN WICK begins. It’s a suspenseful action thriller movie that takes place between the violent events of Chapter 3: Parabellum and Chapter 4: Vengeance. In this spin-off—Ana de Armas plays the dangerous killer Eve Macarro. The story goes deep into the mythology of the Ruska Roma and includes a revenge plot with lots of blood and betrayal. But behind the bloody dance of bullets is an interesting story about the places that made this underworld come to life.
First, let’s look more closely at BALLERINA’s story. Then, let’s go even deeper into the beautiful places that made this world come to life.
BALLERINA :FROM THE WORLD OF JOHN WICK
Eve Macarro was born into the brutal world of assassins and wants to get revenge for the Cult, a mysterious and powerful group, killing her father. Her journey takes her through secret hiding places, dangerous missions, and battles in the dark. It takes her through cities that are full of secrets. Along the way, she meets well-known actors—such as Keanu Reeves as John Wick, Ian McShane as Winston Scott, Angela Huston as The Director—and Lance Reddick in his last role. Eve’s mission is filled with both dark beauty and brutal clarity—from training with the Ruska Roma to a dangerous confrontation in the haunted town of Hallstatt.
WHEN AND WHERE WAS BALLERINA (2025) FILMED?
The main filming started on November 7, 2022, in Prague, Czech Republic. It was supposed to start in the summer of 2022 but that didn’t happen. During the reshoots in 2024, the production grew to include Budapest, Hungary. These places were chosen because they have the right amount of architectural depth and atmosphere—as well as the freedom to create the stylized world that Wick fans love. Let’s break these places down:
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
Prague was the main place where BALLERINA was filmed, and the city transformed into the luxurious and mysterious Prague Continental. Scenes with Eve breaking into the Continental and her encounters with cult killers were filmed in real places like the Prague Castle, Old Town Square, and Národní Street. The city’s Gothic buildings and winding streets made for a great setting for high-speed action and criminal plots.
Many of the inside scenes were shot in Baroque palaces and historic halls, which added to the visual continuity of the rich and prestigious assassin culture in the John Wick universe. Scenes where Eve interacts with Daniel Pine (played by Gabriel Byrne) and his daughter Ella looked great in Prague because the city has a lot of different kinds of buildings.
Interesting Note: The city also hosted reshoots directed by Chad Stahelski in 2024 after concerns about Len Wiseman’s original cut. Prague’s infrastructure allowed for seamless continuation of production.
PRAGUE’S NATIONAL THEATRE
One of the film’s major action sequences was shot at the National Theatre, including the foyer of Laterna Magika at the New Scene (Nová scéna), the terrace, and nearby streets around Národní třída. These spots added a dramatic and stylish backdrop to the film. Other locations in Prague used for filming include Masarykovo train station, the Negrelli Viaduct on Křižíkova Street in Prague 8, the lively Dlouhá Street in the city center, and the scenic embankments along the Vltava River. These real city locations brought an authentic and gritty feel to the action scenes, enhancing the film’s dark and elegant atmosphere.
HALLSTATT, AUSTRIA (STAND-IN: CZECH REPUBLIC)
While the film references Hallstatt—a picturesque lakeside village in Austria—as the stronghold of the Cult, many scenes were actually shot in remote villages in the Czech Republic, such as Český Krumlov and Telč. These stand-ins offered a similar Alpine and medieval look that mirrors the secluded, eerie quality of Hallstatt without logistical constraints.
The fictionalized version of Hallstatt in BALLERINA features narrow alleyways and serene but sinister surroundings, setting the stage for intense hand-to-hand combat and gunfights. The final scenes, in which Eve confronts her sister Lena and then kills the Chancellor—were set against dramatic—mountain backdrops and foggy village paths.
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY—THE CITY OF RESHOOTS
In early 2024, Norman Reedus flew from Japan to Budapest to film new fight sequences for Chad Stahelski’s extensive reshoots. His role was not revealed at the time. Areas of Budapest that used to be factories and empty warehouses were dressed up to look like cult bases and criminal hideouts.
The Metro stations, alleyways and empty buildings in Budapest were also used to film extra scenes that brought Eve’s story closer to what happened in John Wick: Chapter 4. This is when the action choreography got better and more kinetic sequences were added.
STUDIO WORK AND INTERIORS
A lot of the film’s complex interior shots were taken at Barrandov Studios in Prague. These include shots inside the Continental, the Ruska Roma’s training facilities and the Cult’s sanctum. The soundstages there made it possible for the complex set designs and fight scenes that the franchise is known for.
TRIVIA: FACTS FROM BEHIND THE CAMERA
• Lance Reddick’s final performance as Charon adds emotional weight to the film, making scenes in the New York Continental all the more poignant.
• BALLERINA was originally set to release in June 2024, but delays in post-production and additional action sequences pushed the date to June 6, 2025.
• Rumors swirled that Stahelski reshot most of the movie due to dissatisfaction with director Len Wiseman’s original cut. Wiseman later denied the claims, calling the changes “additional photography.”
• During reshoots, David Castañeda and Sharon Duncan-Brewster were added to the cast, suggesting new subplots or antagonist layers.
• The fight scene between Ana de Armas and Ian McShane, originally filmed for the Continental’s interior, was reportedly cut during re-edits—leaving McShane “furious,” according to interviews.
• The music score was also redone. Initially composed by Marco Beltrami and Anna Drubich, it was replaced by longtime John Wick composers Tyler Bates and Joel J. Richard.
• Critics feared BALLERINA would be a “franchise killer” during early test screenings of the Wiseman cut, describing it as tonally inconsistent. However, after Stahelski’s involvement, test scores improved dramatically.
• Many of the snow-covered scenes were filmed on location during real winter months, rather than created with CGI, giving the visuals an authentic chill.
• The Hallstatt village in the film is entirely fictionalized, showcasing a blend of real-world locations and heavy set design to represent a town entirely controlled by assassins.
BALLERINA (2025) isn’t just another entry in the John Wick saga—it’s a visually rich tale of bloodlines, betrayal, and redemption told through elegant brutality. And at the heart of it are the haunting, beautiful locations that echo every gunshot, every pirouette, and every final breath.
BALLERINA (2025) TRAILER:
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