In a recent interview with ComingSoon, veteran actor Ian McShane sat down to reflect on his long-standing role as Winston Scott in the John Wick universe — and for the first time, he opened up about the character’s backstory as the prequel spin-off Ballerina prepares to hit theaters on June 6, 2025, McShane’s revelation adds a deeper layer to the lore of the shadowy assassin world fans have grown to love.
“I always thought he was like ex-CIA and I was MI6,” McShane shared, imagining a covert past where Winston and Charon (played by the late Lance Reddick) met during clandestine government operations before transitioning into the world of contract killing. “They met in some operation in Africa… then when they retired from government jobs, they naturally, as a lot of people do, go into the private business of assassination.”
This speculative backstory — never formally confirmed in the franchise — sheds light on the stoic yet refined demeanor of Winston, the manager of the Continental Hotel in New York. It also offers a poetic explanation of the longstanding bond between Winston and Charon, which McShane described as “seamless,” adding, “It was like we invented our backstory in a sense, like these people have known each other for 30, 40 years before this started.”
How Winston’s Backstory Ties into Ballerina
Taking place between the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and Chapter 4, Ballerina follows Ana de Armas as Eve Macarro, a ballerina-turned-assassin trained in the deadly traditions of the Ruska Roma. Driven by revenge for her father’s death, Eve becomes entangled in the broader web of the Wick universe — a world Winston has long helped maintain.
“Keanu appears, and it’s part of the John Wick show,” McShane noted, confirming that Ballerina doesn’t just branch off but fully intertwines with the mainline saga. “She’s the baby Yaga, John Wick’s the Baba Yaga… and she’s seamlessly fitted into this, I think.”
McShane also took a moment to reflect on his co-star Lance Reddick, who passed away in 2023. “Oh, Lance. He’d be here now. We’d be doing it together,” he said warmly. Their on-screen chemistry was built on mutual respect and shared imagination. “He just said, ‘I wanted to say hello, Ian. I know you’re here,’” McShane recalled from their first meeting. “And then we started doing our scene. It was seamless.”
A Franchise Built on Legacy and Loyalty
Ballerina looks to honor that same spirit — legacy, loyalty, and lethal precision — while expanding the mythos that made John Wick an action franchise like no other. With McShane’s newly revealed character insight, fans now have a richer lens through which to understand Winston’s motivations and moral code.
As the Wick universe continues to sprawl with spin-offs, prequels, and potentially John Wick 5, Ballerina stands poised to be a compelling chapter — especially with Ian McShane and Keanu Reeves both returning to guide the next deadly prodigy.
Ballerina opens in theaters on June 6, 2025, and promises more bullets, ballet, and backstories.
