Legendary K-pop idol makes Hollywood debut in John Wick spin-off Ballerina with Keanu Reeves and Ana de Armas

The World Voice 02-May-2025

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Second-generation female group idol Choi Sooyoung is reportedly making her big Hollywood debut in the iconic John Wick spin-off, Ballerina. The upcoming film will see Ana de Armas take on the central role. Scheduled for release on June 6, Ballerina takes place between John Wick: Chapter 3, titled Parabellum and Chapter 4. The movie explores a world of underground assassins and global crime networks, with Sooyoung playing a key role. The film also features Keanu Reeves and Anjelica Huston. Meanwhile, John Wick 5 has officially begun production. The franchise is also expanding with its first-ever animated prequel and a Caine spin-off.

Ballerina follows the story of Eve Macarro, a ballerina-turned-assassin played by Ana de Armas. As her path crosses with John Wick’s, Eve’s thirst to avenge her father’s death only intensifies. Raised by the ruthless Ruska Roma syndicate, Eve is determined to track down every person responsible for the biggest tragedy of her life. As reported by The Korea Times, Sooyoung takes on the role of Katla Park. In the movie, fans will watch Armas’ character as she faces her first mission: protecting Katla at the dangerous Minus Eleven club. Katla, the daughter of Il Seong, a major player in the Ruska Roma organisation, sets the stage for a chain of intense and thrilling events.

While it’s her first in Hollywood, Sooyoung is not new to acting. The K-pop idol long ago turned to on-screen roles and has played key parts in various K-dramas and movies, including Not Others, Fanletter, Please, If You Wish Upon Me, Move to Heaven, So I Married an Anti-Fan, Run On, and so on. The lead dancer and rapper of Girls’ Generation made her debut in 2000 with SM Entertainment. For fans waiting for her new K-drama, she will first lead the soon-to-air tvN K-drama Second Shot at Love alongside Gong Myung, Jo Yoon Hee, Kang Hyung Suk, Kim Sung Ryung, and Kim Sang Ho. The K-drama is scheduled to premiere on May 12.

Len Wiseman's directorial Ballerina promises a blend of professional choreography and intense action that fans expect from the John Wick series. Other stars like Lance Reddick, Norman Reedus, and Ian McShane are also part of the cast. The character posters of the movie were released a while ago. The movie will also star Gabriel Byrne, who will step into the shoes of Chancellor, the spinoff's main antagonist, facing off with Ana de Armas’ Eve. "The opportunity to have my movie and actually just go for it, go crazy, it was a no-brainer," Armas said, speaking to USA Today about her role in the movie. "I knew I wanted to be a part of that world, and that specific tone of 'John Wick' was really cool."

The Oscar-nominated star has time and again wowed her fans with actioners like Ghosted, The Gray Man, and the James Bond film No Time to Die. Keanu Reeves, Ana de Armas are teaming up for the third time after Exposed in 2016 and Knock Knock in 2015. During CinemaCon, Armas revealed how she first met Reeves, “I met him when I barely spoke English when I moved to L.A. 10 years ago.” She recalled meeting the actor for the very first time in Santiago de Chile during a lunch with the filmmakers of Knock Knock. Armas was sitting across the table from him and was nervous. “I couldn’t talk to him much because I was so self-conscious about my English,” Ana recalled, adding, “I was really struggling and really trying hard to follow the conversation,” she told The Hollywood Reporter.