After years of battling the undead in The Walking Dead, Norman Reedus trades zombies for assassins and secret societies in the much-anticipated film Ballerina, a dark new chapter from the world of John Wick.
In the film, Ana de Armas plays Eve, a young woman seeking revenge for her father's death. Along the way, she encounters the mysterious Daniel, portrayed by Reedus, a man fiercely determined to protect his daughter at any cost. As the story unfolds, we learn that Daniel is not just a passerby, but someone with a haunting past—and a dangerous secret.
Speaking to GamesRadar, Reedus describes his character as someone shaped by a life of guilt and violence. “Daniel grew up surrounded by crime and secrets. Now, as his daughter is about to step into that world, he’s ready to fight everything and everyone to save her,” Reedus says. “There’s a similarity between Daniel and Eve—she fights for revenge, he fights to protect. That’s where their paths meet.”
While Ballerina hints at Daniel’s backstory, it leaves many questions unanswered, sparking hope for a sequel. Would Reedus return to the role? “I would love that,” he says. “It’d be fascinating to explore how he got here. Being part of the John Wick universe is insanely cool.”
Comparing the action scenes in Ballerina to those in The Walking Dead, Reedus notes the difference: “The Walking Dead had rough, scrappy fights. But here, everything is precisely choreographed. You’ve got stunt teams counting on your timing while walls explode around you. It’s a whole different level of action math.”
Ballerina hits theaters on June 6, promising a gritty yet emotional ride—and introducing Norman Reedus as a powerful new figure in the John Wick saga.