TWD’s Norman Reedus Joins John Wick Franchise In Ballerina Spinoff

Best known for his role as Daryl in The Walking Dead, Norman Reedus has officially been added to the cast of the John Wick spinoff film Ballerina.

The Walking Dead star Norman Reedus has joined the John Wick franchise for the upcoming film Ballerina. The franchise is a neo-noir action thriller series that began with the first film, John Wick, in 2014. It stars Keanu Reeves in the title role as a retired legendary hitman who is pulled back into the criminal underworld. The fourth installation in the series, John Wick: Chapter 4, is expected to premiere on March 24, 2023. In April, Lionsgate announced that there would be a spinoff film in the John Wick universe entitled Ballerina. The film will star Ana de Armas as Rooney, a ballerina and assassin first introduced in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, when the role was played by Unity Phelan.

On Tuesday, Lionsgate announced that Reedus has officially joined the cast of Ballerina. His role has not yet been disclosed, but he will star in the film alongside confirmed actors Ian McShane, Lance Reddick, and Anjelica Huston. Ballerina producer Erica Lee says that “We’re huge fans of Norman, and we’re confident that the fans will be just as excited as we are that he’s joining the Wick universe. He’ll make an incredible addition to Ballerina.“

Related: Keanu Reeves In Ballerina Can Perfectly Flip 1 John Wick Story

Why Norman Reedus Is A Good Fit For John Wick

Known best for his long-running role as Daryl Dixon on The Walking Dead, Reedus has a long list of credits that includes American Gangster, The Boondock Saints, and providing the voice and motioncap for Sam Porter in the video game Death Stranding. He is also currently filming Daryl Dixon, a six-episode Walking Dead spinoff series that follows Daryl after the events of the show’s finale. While Reedus is known for his particularly gritty roles, he rose to fame in the 1990s as a model for major brands like Prada, demonstrating his wide range.

Given that Reedus has been starring in a gritty, action-heavy series like The Walking Dead since 2010, moving into an action-heavy film franchise like John Wick is a good fit. Though the extent of his role has yet to be revealed, Reedus has proven that he’s capable of playing both rough and refined roles, which is something the John Wick franchise relies on. Though Reedus continues to star in the Walking Dead franchise, joining Ballerina could mean that Reedus may appear in other John Wick films, adding another major franchise to Reedus’ slowly-expanding list.

What To Expect From Ballerina

In addition to those included among the star-studded cast for Ballerina, Reeves will make a cameo appearance as John Wick. His role in the film will help connect the spinoff to the broader universe. While some fans of the action franchise worried that the Ballerina spinoff might end up replacing a potential John Wick 5, de Armas’ film can create a future of its own by expanding the world and introducing compelling new characters. It seems likely that the movie will feature the stylized action fans of John Wick have come to expect, albeit with a different character at its center. Many are eager to see Ballerina pick up where storylines like Marvel’s Black Widow failed, with the concept of a ballerina-assassin still ripe for exploration. With Reedus joining the cast, excitement for Ballerina continues to grow among longtime John Wick fans and those new viewers interested in seeing a female-led assassin film.

Next: Keanu Reeves’ Ballerina Appearance Is A Risk (But Could Work)

Source: Lionsgate