On May 29, 2025, the set of the upcoming John Wick spin-off film Ballerina in Prague, Czech Republic, witnessed a rare and heartwarming moment that broke through the intensity of the action-packed production. Keanu Reeves, the beloved 60-year-old actor known for his iconic role as the stoic assassin John Wick, brought his 3-year-old daughter, Ava Archer Reeves, to the set for the first time. What unfolded was a delightful surprise that left the entire film crew buzzing with laughter and admiration—Ava’s unfiltered expressions and fearless curiosity stole the show, revealing a tender side of Keanu that fans rarely see.

A Father’s Day Out Amidst High-Octane Action

Keanu Reeves has been a staple in the John Wick franchise since its inception in 2014, a series that has grown into a global phenomenon with four films, a TV prequel, and now the highly anticipated Ballerina, set to release on June 6, 2025. The franchise, known for its gritty action sequences and intricate world-building, is not exactly a typical playground for a toddler. Yet, on this particular day, Keanu decided to blend his professional and personal worlds by bringing Ava, his daughter with partner Alexandra Grant, to the set during a break in his filming schedule for a cameo appearance.

The decision was spontaneous, according to a crew member who spoke on condition of anonymity. “Keanu had a light day—just a few dialogue scenes with Ana de Armas—and he mentioned that Alexandra was busy with an art exhibition in Berlin. He didn’t want to leave Ava with a sitter for too long, so he thought, ‘Why not bring her along?’ We were all a bit surprised because Keanu is so private about his family, but he seemed really excited to show her where ‘Daddy works.’”

Ava’s Arrival: A Burst of Sunshine on a Gritty Set

The Ballerina set, located in a converted warehouse on the outskirts of Prague, was buzzing with the usual controlled chaos of a high-budget action film. Stunt coordinators were fine-tuning a fight sequence involving Ana de Armas’ character, Eve Macarro, while prop teams handled an array of weapons and set pieces designed to reflect the John Wick universe’s signature aesthetic—dark, sleek, and dangerous. Amidst this intensity, Keanu arrived at around 10 a.m., holding Ava’s tiny hand as she toddled beside him, her wide brown eyes taking in the unfamiliar surroundings.

Ava, dressed in a bright yellow raincoat and matching boots despite the clear weather, immediately became the center of attention. Her resemblance to Keanu was striking—those same soulful eyes and a hint of his quiet intensity—but her energy was pure toddler exuberance. “She was so curious,” said stunt coordinator Jeremy Marinas, who has worked with Keanu since the first John Wick film. “She kept pointing at everything—the fake guns, the stunt mats, even the craft services table—and asking, ‘What dat, Daddy?’ in this tiny, serious voice. It was adorable.”

Keanu, dressed in his John Wick attire—a tailored black suit with a few artfully applied smudges of fake blood—patiently answered her questions, his deep voice softening as he explained the world around her in simple terms. “That’s a camera, sweetie—it takes pictures of Daddy when he’s working,” he said, lifting her up to peer through the lens of a stationary camera. Ava’s face lit up with a giggle, and she clapped her hands, exclaiming, “Daddy’s on TV!”

The Moment That Stole the Show

The real magic happened during a break when director Len Wiseman invited Keanu to run through a short scene for rehearsal. In the sequence, John Wick shares a tense moment with Eve Macarro at the Continental Hotel, a recurring location in the franchise known for its opulent yet dangerous atmosphere. Keanu sat Ava down on a chair near the monitor, handing her a juice box and asking her to “watch Daddy for a minute.” The crew, sensing a rare glimpse into Keanu’s personal life, watched with bated breath as the cameras rolled.

As Keanu delivered his lines with his signature gravitas—“You’re breaking the rules, Eve. The High Table won’t forgive this”—Ava’s reaction was nothing short of priceless. Her eyes widened to the size of saucers, and her mouth dropped open in a perfect “O” of shock. She clutched her juice box so tightly that a small stream of apple juice squirted onto her raincoat, but she didn’t seem to notice. When Keanu’s character raised his voice slightly, Ava gasped audibly and shouted, “Daddy, no yelling! Be nice!” Her tiny voice echoed through the silent set, and the entire crew erupted into laughter.

Ana de Armas, who was mid-line, broke character and doubled over, trying to stifle her giggles. Len Wiseman called “cut” and shook his head, grinning from ear to ear. “I’ve never seen a set go from dead serious to pure chaos so fast,” Wiseman later shared in an interview with IGN. “Ava’s reaction was so genuine—it reminded us all that, yeah, this is a dark, violent world we’re creating, but to her, Keanu is just her dad. It was a beautiful moment.”

Ava’s Fearless Exploration and the Crew’s Reaction

After the rehearsal mishap, Keanu scooped Ava up in his arms, his face breaking into a rare, wide smile as he kissed her forehead. “Sorry, baby, Daddy’s just pretending,” he murmured, smoothing her hair. Ava, seemingly satisfied with the explanation, wriggled out of his arms and began exploring the set with newfound confidence. She toddled over to the stunt area, where a group of stunt performers were practicing a choreographed fight. Without hesitation, she picked up a foam prop knife and waved it in the air, mimicking the movements she’d just seen. “I fight too, Daddy!” she declared, her face scrunched in determination.

The stunt team, led by Jeremy Marinas, was floored by her boldness. “Most kids would be scared of all the noise and action, but not Ava,” Marinas recalled. “She was fearless. At one point, she tried to ‘fight’ one of our guys—gently, of course—and he played along, pretending to fall over dramatically. She laughed so hard she almost fell over herself. Keanu was just standing there, watching her with this look of pure pride. I think it was the happiest I’ve ever seen him on set.”

Even the typically stoic prop master, who had worked on all four John Wick films, couldn’t resist Ava’s charm. He crafted a tiny, fake “gold coin” like the ones used as currency in the John Wick universe and presented it to her as a keepsake. Ava clutched it in her hand for the rest of the day, proudly showing it to everyone she met and declaring, “I’m a Wick too!”

Keanu’s Reflections: Balancing Fatherhood and Stardom

For Keanu, the day was a poignant reminder of the delicate balance between his high-profile career and his deeply private family life. The actor has always been fiercely protective of his personal life, especially after the tragic losses of his stillborn daughter with Jennifer Syme in 1999 and Syme’s death in a car accident in 2001. His relationship with Alexandra Grant, an artist and collaborator on projects like the BRZRKR comic series, has brought a quiet stability to his life, and Ava’s birth in 2022 marked a new chapter of joy for the actor.

In a rare moment of openness, Keanu spoke briefly to the crew after Ava’s visit, his voice tinged with emotion. “She’s my little light,” he said, glancing at Ava as she played with a prop gun under the watchful eye of a stunt performer. “I’ve spent so much of my life in this world of action and darkness, but she reminds me what’s real. I want her to know who I am, but more importantly, I want to be the dad she deserves.”

A Lasting Impact on the John Wick Legacy

Ava’s visit left an indelible mark on the Ballerina set, reminding everyone of the humanity behind the franchise’s relentless action. As Keanu prepares to return for John Wick 5, announced by Lionsgate in April 2025, and with an animated prequel and a Donnie Yen-led spin-off in development, the John Wick universe continues to expand. But for one day, the focus wasn’t on gun-fu or the High Table—it was on a little girl whose innocent surprise brought laughter and warmth to a world of assassins.

As the crew wrapped for the day, Ana de Armas gifted Ava a small ballerina figurine, a nod to her character in the film. Ava hugged it close, whispering, “Thank you, pretty lady,” before turning to Keanu and saying, “Daddy, I like your work!” Keanu’s quiet chuckle and the tender way he lifted her into his arms spoke volumes about the man behind the myth—a father whose greatest role might just be the one he plays off-screen. 💖