Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Wiseman reflected on the uniqueness of the Wick series and what sets it apart from the broader action landscape
Director Len Wiseman believes the John Wick franchise has fundamentally raised the bar for action films, redefining the genre with its signature choreography, tone, and actor-driven stunts.
Wiseman, 52, who gained fame for helming blockbuster action features, most recently directed Ballerina, the upcoming spin-off in the John Wick universe. Starring Ana de Armas as Eve Macarro, a dancer-turned-assassin, the film is set between the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and Chapter 4. While Ballerina introduces a new protagonist, it retains the franchise’s high-octane DNA and gritty narrative continuity.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Wiseman reflected on the uniqueness of the Wick series and what sets it apart from the broader action landscape. “When you really can see that it’s your actor doing the action, there’s truly a different kind of feeling,” he said, highlighting how the franchise’s reliance on real stunt work enhances viewer immersion.
He went on to explain how long, unbroken action takes in John Wick serve a greater storytelling purpose. “A lot of people talk about the longer takes, and then there are longer takes that add stitches to make them even longer,” he said. “Personally, that feels more like the director showing off his long take, as opposed to the longer takes in Wick that I’m a fan of. You don’t give the audience a second to take a breath, and it becomes more of an investment, especially if it’s actor-driven action.”
Wiseman praised the franchise’s specific tone, which blends stylized violence with emotional weight. “You never want to laugh in the face of the character action that’s happening because then the stakes are gone,” he explained. “It could be a really fun sequence and tone, but if the action doesn’t have stakes and danger to it—and the characters are cracking jokes within the danger—as an audience member, you go, ‘If you’re not going to be afraid, then I’m not going to be afraid for you.’”
On directing Ballerina, Wiseman acknowledged the unique creative challenge of inserting a new storyline into the tightly woven Wick timeline. “It was definitely a challenge and an excitement,” he said. “I love a challenge. It gives me fuel to be creative.”
He pointed to one specific moment from Chapter 3—when John meets The Director (played by Anjelica Huston)—as a critical point of overlap in Ballerina. “We’re now looking at it from Eve’s point of view before he mentions, ‘It wasn’t just a puppy,’” he said. “It took a lot of time to recreate the sets exactly. I wanted to really recreate those moments from a different perspective so that we weren’t just using footage from the existing film.”
Ballerina is set to expand the John Wick universe while staying true to its heart-pounding intensity and emotional core.
