Even though the last film in the John Wick franchise, John Wick: Chapter 4, included a brief teaser at the very end that set up the future of the assassin Caine (Donnie Yen), the newest film in the series, Ballerina doesn’t include any mid or post-credit stingers. Although the original John Wick was a modest, low-budget action film that was originally intended to be released directly to home video, its success has spawned a franchise that now includes spinoffs. Peacock may have released the prequel miniseries The Continental, but Ballerina is the first cinematic spinoff, and takes place between the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and John Wick: Chapter 4. While Ballerina could very well be setting up its own series of movies, there’s nothing at the end of the credits to tease any upcoming projects.

Does ‘Ballerina’ Set up a Sequel?

Based on how well it performs at the box office, Ballerina could very well end up being the first in its own franchise, as it concludes with an obvious indication of where the character of Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas) could go in her next adventure. There has yet to be a story in this universe that is set after the events of John Wick: Chapter 4, so it remains to be seen how the hierarchy of the High Table will change based on its climactic ending.

The lack of a post-credit scene may be indicative of the uncertain future of other John Wick spinoffs, as Lionsgate has announced several projects that are in development. In addition to a fifth installment in the core franchise that will reunite Reeves with director Chad Stahelski, there is also set to be an animated prequel film, as well as another live-action spinoff about Caine that Yen will both star in and direct. Given that Ballerina was pushed back nearly an entire calendar year with extensive reshoots, it makes sense that Lionsgate would want to have a firm idea in place before committing to a production. The enigmatic nature of the universe’s next chapter may be related to the questions surrounding the fifth film, as it is unclear how John is still alive. The fourth film killed off John in a dramatic fashion, so it will be up to Stahelski to find a very good reason to bring him back to life without diminishing the stakes.

‘Ballerina’ Didn’t Need a Post-Credit Scene

The culture surrounding post-credit scenes has changed dramatically in the past few years, as audiences have become sick of teasers that don’t end up amounting to anything. Films such as Black Adam, Eternals, and Thor: Love and Thunder teased major casting reveals that were never followed up on, as the critical and commercial backlash prompted the studios to change direction. The Wick-verse has maintained a consistency of quality, and any misleading credit scenes could tarnish the reputation of one of the rare franchises that has yet to produce a truly disappointing film. It’s also indicative of the appeal Ballerina may have to those who have not already seen John Wick and its sequels; while there are several crossover characters, such as Winston (Ian McShane) and Charon (Lance Reddick), it is possible to enjoy Ballerina without having seen the other films.

It is important for Ballerina to succeed on its own merits, and establish that Eve is a character worth investing in, regardless of her connections to the core series. One of the notable themes of the film is how Eve is taught to “fight like a girl,” which deviates from the established formula of the main franchise. Nonetheless, the film’s success is not guaranteed; this summer is packed with genre film releases, and Ballerina will face stiff competition in the upcoming weeks from How To Train Your Dragon, 28 Weeks Later, and F1. Should Ballerina become a box office smash, a sequel should be allowed to develop a story naturally that fits the next chapter in Eve’s journey. Although post-credit scenes often provide a means of teasing subsequent story beats, it’s best for the creative team behind Ballerina to not commit to something until they have a clear idea of what the next story will look like.

Ballerina comes to theaters on June 6.