Keanu Reeves has entered negotiations to reprise his role as the hitman John Wick in Ballerina, a new spin-off to his hit action franchise for Lionsgate.

Lionsgate, the studio behind the series, declined to comment on Reeves' casting, but the company confirmed that Ian McShane has closed a deal to reprise his role as Winston, the manager of the Continental Hotel in the upcoming movie.

"Ballerina" stars Ana de Armas as a young female assassin who seeks revenge against those who killed her family. Any additional plot details remain a mystery, but producer Basil Iwanyk described McShane’s role as "pivotal". It's not clear how Reeves, should his deal close, will fit into the story.

"We’re thrilled to have Ian McShane joining us for a pivotal role in Ballerina", says producer Basil Iwanyk. "He’s been such an integral part of the franchise since the original John Wick. It’s been fun to have him on this journey as the Wick universe expands."

It is hard to deny the popularity of the John Wick franchise, having come from relatively low expectations to be one of Keanu Reeves’ most successful franchises to date. Whether that success will travel across into its spin-offs is yet to be seen, but with an appearance by regulars Reeves and McShane, and the growing profile of de Armas, there is plenty to suggest that if Ballerina performs well, it could well become its own franchise within the Wick saga.

Source: Press Release