Abhiroop Das
Len Wiseman’s ‘Ballerina’ furthers the world of ‘John Wick‘ by shedding light on the life of Eve Macarro, a fellow Ruska Roma alumna. Having witnessed the death of her father at the hands of a mysterious organization called the Cult, Eve vows to grow into a fierce fighter and take revenge herself. Her life as a ballerina and assassin takes her to many places in life, be it as part of her mission or for her investigations. However, when the truth is revealed, she finds herself surrounded by foes on all sides, with the most legendary assassin standing in her way. Undeterred, the protagonist claws through and makes it to the final showdown. The treacherous path takes her through a variety of settings, be it urban landscapes or harsh winter terrains, all explored through the lens of many iconic locations.
Ballerina Filming Locations
Reportedly, ‘Bellarina’ was filmed almost entirely on-site across various countries in Europe, specifically in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Croatia, and Austria. The crew then returned to New York to maintain continuity with the plot of the larger ‘John Wick’ universe. Principal photography commenced in Prague on November 7, 2022, with the production seemingly ending in February 2023. However, a year later, in February 2024, producer Chad Stahelski began additional shoots for the action scenes from the script that had previously been shelved. Reportedly, he fell ill, and Chad helmed significant portions of the additional sequences on his own, although the rumors since have greatly exaggerated the event. The film saw contributions from the Prague Foundation Audiovisual Fund and the Czech Film Fund, with the aim of encouraging tourism.
Central Bohemian Region, Czech Republic
The city of Prague served as the primary filming location for ‘Ballerina,’ with the narrative making good use of its Romanesque architectural tapestry and culture. The art of performance is a major tenet of the protagonist’s education as a ballerina and an assassin; as such, the National Theatre, located in Prague, stood out as the backdrop for a significant action setpiece. The filming reportedly took place in the foyers of Laterna Magica, the world’s oldest multimedia theatre at the Theatre’s Nová scéna, or New Scene. Its brutalist architecture and towering presence added to the gravitas of the protagonist’s trials and tribulations. Additionally, the building’s terrace, along with the neighboring streets of Národní třída, also made it into the movie.
The Prague Continental made an iconic entry to the pantheon of the prestigious hotel chain in the ‘John Wick’ world with its sleek modern design. This is exemplified by its unique revolving entrance, which is actually the real-life entrance way to the iconic (A)void café located at Náplavka č.11, New Town in Prague, a short walk from the iconic Charles Bridge.
The crew also lensed various other iconic locations of the Czech capital city, such as the Masarykovo nádraží railway station, the bustling surroundings of Dlouhá street in the city center, and the picturesque embankments alongside the Vltava river. In addition to the city and its urban aesthetics, several historical sites were also introduced into the narrative, including the Renaissance-era castle of Dolní Beřkovice, the imperial Kačina Castle, and the ruins of the Belvedere Summer Castle outside Kutná Hora. Filming extended to Central Bohemian towns including Semily, Kouřim, Toušeň, Kladno, and Kolín.
Moravia, Czech Republic
In January 2023, the team reportedly moved further east to the region of Moraiva, which roughly encompasses the entirety of the Danube River basin. Known for its characteristic rolling hills and wide massifs, it became the perfect setting to film some of the film’s snowy sequences. The crew set up shop at the historic town of Štramberk, which is situated just outside of Ostrava, the third largest city in the country. Reportedly, the team ran into trouble when they found no snow in the region, which led them to bring in fake snow and meticulously craft scenes from scratch. In an interview with The Location Guide, producer Kevan Van Thompson expressed, “It took an inordinate amount of manpower. We’re incredibly grateful to the townsfolk for their patience.”
Budapest, Hungary
Reshoots for the film began in February 2024, with the crew moving away from the Czech Republic and continuing their work in the capital city of Hungary. In an interview with Slash Film, director Len Wiseman explained that the new action setpieces were already a part of the original script but had been trimmed down due to scheduling conflicts. However, the film elicited a positive response in the studio, allowing them to continue shooting in Budapest. The city’s blend of old and new architecture provided the perfect platform for the movie to execute smooth, unhindered action sequences while also retaining the historical feeling, maintaining continuity between the various moments interspersed throughout the narrative.
Hallstatt, Austria
The popular tourist destination of Hallstatt, situated at the western shore of Lake Hallstatt in Austria, served as the antagonist’s base in the narrative, with seemingly all townsfolk partaking in his cult. While the version of the town in ‘Ballerina’ is entirely fictional, the place itself is real, surrounded by the Salzkammergut mountain ranges on all sides. To attain the perfect winter look, the crew likely had to augment parts of their shoot, but that does not undercut the sheer natural beauty of the region, known for its 16th-century fixtures, which now serve as hotels and cafés. Locals on Reddit claimed that the train station sequence, which centers around the arrival of a major character into the town, was likely shot at the Bad Gossau Train Station near Hallstatt.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
The city of Dubrovnik, also called the Pearl of the Adriatic Sea, became another key filming location, particularly for the opening sequence, which features the city’s characteristic hilltop mansions, sea stacks, and warm beaches. Notably, there is a scene where a number of assassins rise from the waters. In an interview with The Credits, Stunt Coordinator Stephen Dunlevy described how shooting that particular moment had its fair share of challenges owing to the tides of ebb and flow of tidewater. Nonetheless, he described it as one of his favorite scenes as it is formative to the protagonist’s psychology. Embassy Films, a production facility based in Zagreb, Croatia, played a part in assisting the team to film in the city, adding to the expanse of the narrative.
New York City
Significant portions of the film were also lensed in New York City to maintain cohesion with the timeline of ‘John Wick,’ as the New York Continental is at the heart of various elements of the story. The iconic 1 Wall Street Court, also known as the Beaver Building, makes up for all the exterior shots of the fictional hotel. In contrast, its interiors are a composite of various restaurants and other lavish establishments, most notably Delmonico’s, a fine dining restaurant located at 56 Beaver Street. The protagonist makes her way to The Big Apple on two separate occasions, tying herself to the larger lore and plot of the story. As such, it is evident that the cast and crew of ‘Ballerina’ put their all into bringing the story to life as organically as possible.
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