Summary
- Len Wiseman directed Ballerina, the next John Wick film, with a checkered track record in filmmaking.
- Initial reshoots were reportedly necessary, with Stahelski stepping in to help save the project.
- Stahelski’s involvement in the film will likely determine its success. Lionsgate must learn about consequences.
Lionsgate released the official trailer for the next entry in the John Wick franchise, delighting audiences with the uncertain return of Keanu Reeves as the titular assassin as well as the late beloved actor Lance Reddick. The action in From the World of John Wick: Ballerina seems to be as high-octane and meticulously choreographed as ever. Since this is the case, fans should be assured the film will be another stalwart entry into the series, right? Well, not so fast.
The success of John Wick belongs in large part to its original director, Chad Stahelski, a stuntman-turned-filmmaker who built his brand in the action space by prioritizing sharp, practical fight scenes over quick cuts and CGI. This approach resulted in the visceral action made famous by John Wick films, carried out with the technical detail of a ballet. Why, then, did Lionsgate hire a new director for their first extension of the John Wick franchise? Why would they also choose a director who lists more failures than successes on his resume? Is the future of John Wick still in trustworthy hands? The answer to that question is a bit complicated.
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Who Is Directing Ballerina?
Len Wiseman helms From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, and his journey directing the film has been about as long and convoluted as its title is. Wiseman was a curious choice to direct an entry in the coveted John Wick series, especially given his relative obscurity as a filmmaker. To be fair, Stahelski hadn’t directed a single film before being granted the first John Wick film, but he’d already made a name for himself as a premier coordinator in the industry. He even famously doubled for Keanu Reeves in The Matrix.
Conversely, Wiseman has directed four previous films, including 2007’s critically successful Live Free or Die Hard starring Bruce Willis. While his experience is vital, a closer look at his filmography paints a more worrisome picture of his latest film’s prospects. Wiseman’s three other prior direction credits, which include 2012’s blundering Total Recall remake, failed to hit 35% with critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Even his screenwriting and production credits max out at 30% on the rating aggregation site.
Wiseman was heavily involved in the Underworld film franchise. His films there were notably lauded by fans despite critical failings, observed by radically higher audience scores on Rotten Tomatoes. Audience scores shot as high as 79% for his first Underworld (2003) movie, which earned a mere 31% from critics. Clearly, Wiseman isn’t a complete dud, and has shown the necessary chops to produce crowd-pleasing action. Where, then, did his selection go so wrong for Ballerina?
Ballerina’s Director May Not Be The Wisest Choice
Last year, GameRant reported on Ballerina‘s reported reshoots. The article originally suggested the film was forced into retooling by Stahelski after Wiseman’s disastrous initial screenings. It cited a supposed overhaul by the original series director which lasted a reported two-to-three months after its first cut apparently bombed with Lionsgate.
Shortly after, Lionsgate issued a response to the original reports, denying the reshoots were taken over by Stahelksi. Lionsgate claims Wiseman actually led the shoots, and Stahelski was present in more of a consulting role. This meant Wiseman would maintain his directing credit while Stahelski was simply there to help design bigger set pieces, giving the film more scope and gravitas. For audiences, this is a bittersweet development.
While it’s great news that Stahelski was somewhat involved in direction, it’s concerning that his renovation was necessary in the first place. To fans, it was always clear Stahelski was vital to the series and his involvement likely should have been mandated from the start.
An Unfortunate Silver Lining
In an unfortunate turn of events, Lionsgate added that Wiseman “suffered a serious health issue and was briefly hospitalized” during the process. Thankfully, Wiseman is okay, as Lionsgate reports the director returned to the set to finish directing “alongside producer Chad Stahelski, Thunder Road, and the full filmmaking team.”
While Wiseman was away, Stahelski took over photography, which is comforting knowing Ballerina will maintain some of the John Wick visual touches fans have grown accustomed to.
Rules And Consequences
From the World of John Wick: Ballerina now has more hope for success after its awesome trailer than it did last year when reports circled about reshoots amidst studio disapproval. Ultimately, Stahelski was in fact directly involved in making the film, news that came to the great relief of fans, though his extent of involvement is, for whatever reason, unclear.
If the film is a success, considering the reshoots after Wiseman’s first cut, it will be because Chad Stahelski rescued it. This should serve as a clear message to Lionsgate and to Stahelski himself, that if Lionsgate wants to keep John Wick alive, they need to make sure Stahelski is never forced to be excommunicado again. If Ballerina sucks, we’re thankful the man’s better now, but we will know who is to blame.
