It’s not often that you hear about filmmakers being given more time and money to improve their movie. However, this is exactly what happened with Ballerina, the latest installment in the John Wick franchise. The film, officially titled From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, was initially set to be released last year but was delayed after the success of John Wick: Chapter 4 demonstrated the potential for a full-fledged franchise.

The team took advantage of the extra time to add more action sequences to the film, ensuring it aligns with the rest of the series. This meant that audiences had to wait an additional year to see Ana de Armas as the latest killer assassin, but hopefully, the wait will be worth it. The film’s director, Len Wiseman, is known for his work on over-the-top genre action films, including the Underworld series.

In an interview with io9, Wiseman discussed the process of going back to the film with more money and time, the role of franchise co-creator Chad Stahelski, and what it takes to craft a unique Wick-style action scene. Wiseman also addressed whether the reshoots added Keanu Reeves to the film or if he was part of the project from the beginning.

Germain Lussier, io9: You were given more time and money to add more action to the film. Can you walk us through that process?

Len Wiseman: It’s great to have the support of the studio to add more to the film. We were able to go back and add more action sequences, which was exciting for me as a director. I love developing these sequences and making them unique and entertaining. The additional photography was a gift, allowing us to make the film even better.

io9: What was Chad Stahelski’s role in the process, and how did he help shape the film?

Wiseman: Chad and I had many conversations about the Wick world and the tone of the film. He’s a very creative action director, and I share his attention to detail and search for cleverness in action sequences. We discussed how to make the action scenes unique and entertaining, and he was instrumental in helping me achieve that.

io9: Can you tell us about the process of creating a Wick-style action scene, and what inspires your ideas?

Wiseman: I develop action sequences by building and testing ideas. For example, I built a proof of concept for the ice skate fight scene, which involved purchasing ice skates, adding blood, and filming it in slow motion. I also experiment with different props and ideas to create unique and entertaining action scenes.

io9: The flamethrower fight scene is particularly impressive. Can you tell us about the process of creating that scene, and how much of it was practical versus CGI?

Wiseman: The flamethrower fight scene was largely practical, with some CGI enhancements. We took extensive safety measures to ensure the scene was executed safely and effectively. I aimed to create a unique and entertaining action sequence that would stand out in the film.

io9: Was Keanu Reeves’ role in the film always part of the plan, or was it added later?

Wiseman: Keanu’s role was not part of the original plan, but we


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