I Wasn’t Sure What To Expect From Ballerina Until I Saw Ana De Armas Break Some Plates With Another Woman’s Face (And Talk About The Insane Stuntwork She Went Through)

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It seems that people who have a basic understanding of the upcoming release date for “Ballerina” on June 6, 2025 are likely fans of the “John Wick” series. Earlier, it was known that Keanu Reeves would play a role in the film’s plot, but I had doubts whether this movie would meet expectations set by the franchise. However, after witnessing Ana De Armas shattering multiple plates against another woman’s face at CinemaCon 2025 (which we covered live), I must admit that my earlier assumptions were off-base and offer my sincere apologies to Lionsgate.

The Ballerina Scene That Debuted At CinemaCon 2025 Was Wild (And Involved Plates)

In the movie Ballerina, Ana De Armas portrays Eve, a character seeking retribution. During the scenes we recently watched – and here comes a potential spoiler for what might be one of the most jaw-dropping action sequences in the film (if it’s not, we’re bracing ourselves for quite a show) – a man makes an appearance at a restaurant with murderous intentions towards Eve. They engage in a shootout within the restaurant, only to seemingly exhaust their ammunition. In a flash of creativity, Eve starts hurling glasses at the assailant aiming to kill her.

Subsequently, she leaps upon him, digging into his eyes (it’s gripping), only for him to dislodge her and hurl her onto a table. She entwines her legs around his neck, prompting him to lift her and repeatedly smash her against the table. The audio effects are powerfully intense, yet she succeeds in crushing his hand and eventually retrieves her gun to shoot him dead. The audience in the cinema were highly appreciative of this scene, reacting vocally, but it turned out that there was more still to come.

In an unexpected turn of events, Ana de Armas stumbles upon another woman in the kitchen who’s holding a big knife. Trying to reassure her that she means no harm, she finds out instead that this lady intends to harm her. In a split second, Ana grabs a meat pulverizer and hurls it at the woman, causing a tray of plates to tumble over. The two women then resort to using plates as weapons, repeatedly hitting each other before Ana snatches a gun and forces the kitchen staffer into a walk-in fridge, barricading herself inside with a frying pan. “What the hell,” she mutters in shock.

Director Len Wiseman explained that this unconventional scene perfectly encapsulates the world he envisioned for De Armas’ character Eve. He shared with the audience of exhibitors and journalists his aim to deliver moments that will surprise viewers, moments they won’t anticipate. He enjoys creating suspense by allowing the audience to relax, thinking everything is secure, only to then strike decisively, as exemplified in the plate scene. In simpler terms, he wants unexpected twists like the one we witnessed with the plate scene.

As soon as they extend their hands for the popcorn, it’s then I take advantage of that trust… oh boy, it’s quite a thrill!

Or, more casually:
When they go for the popcorn, I seize the opportunity to play with that trust… what a blast!

It’s a strategy that seems like it’s going to work, too.

But It Didn’t Come Without A Ton Of Intensity From Ana De Armas

At CinemaCon, I had the privilege of attending the clip premiere, where I shared my experiences delving into the character. During filming, it was winter in Prague, with ice covering the ground, causing us to strap spikes onto my shoes for some outdoor scenes to maintain balance. However, the treacherous weather wasn’t the primary obstacle; the demanding stunts were. In addressing the audience, I emphasized that these action sequences pushed me to my limits.

In my training for Bond, you might recall, it was only three weeks. But Ballerina demanded a whole new dimension of skill. Previous action movie work certainly came in handy to navigate this project. This film, I must say, presented the most grueling and demanding physical experience I’ve ever encountered; it was an exhaustive, multi-month process that included not only gym strength training but also 4-6 hours a day with the stunt team.

Apart from stating this during the panel, she revealed that she had been working tirelessly for months with the stunt team during those hectic hours. Once her work was completed, she would swiftly hop into a vehicle and head to the firing range to hone her shooting skills. Prior to this movie’s filming, Ana de Armas hinted at the discomfort she experienced, and now that I’ve watched the scene, it all makes sense. It seems she delved deep and employed a profound understanding of pain to embody the role of a ballerina more authentically.

Considering the graceful nature of it, the ballet truly stood out as something extraordinary. Ballet is undeniably one of the most challenging artistic forms to master – its elegance is captivating, yet the dancers appear to be enduring immense pain, continually persevering regardless.

She would recall her personal discomfort from handling firearms and undergoing training, referring to it as “remarkably beneficial” for helping her immerse herself into the character’s mindset within the movie. To sum up, the fresh footage had an impressive pull on me that the initial trailers had failed to achieve.

As a follower, I’m eagerly anticipating the release of “Ballerina,” but in the meantime, Lionsgate has been sharing exciting updates about the upcoming “Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping” movie and a new Stephen King film titled “The Long Walk.” These tidbits were interspersed with footage from the sequel to “Now You See Me” and information regarding the remake of “American Psycho.” More details on their upcoming projects are on the horizon.

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2025-04-02 00:37