The Continental

When we first got eyes on Keanu Reeves as John Wick back in 2014, few could have expected this character would help spur the larger world and massive franchise we have today.

The story all started so simply. It was just a widower who was avenging the death of his dog and the theft of his car, which led him to waging war on the Russian mafia. A John Wick series of movies was born.

The flick was a fun romp that ended up opening a huge and layered story that has seen two sequels with a couple more on the way. And along with those movies, there is also a John Wick series as well, one giving even more context to the set of films.

Let’s take a look at what we about The Continental: From the World of John Wick

Mel Gibson In The Continental

The biggest name in the John Wick The Continental series is Mel Gibson. Deadline originally announced the casting that Gibson was taking a starring role in the series. He plays Cormac, the dude currently running the titular hotel.

Because this is a changing of the guard story, we The Continental is meant to provide context for how the establishment runs when we first go there in the John Wick movies.

Mel Gibson was easily the biggest name associated with the show.

Colin Woodell Is A Young Winston

The other star of the John Wick series is Colin Woodell. He plays the younger version of Winston Scott, a dude coming on to the assassin scene.

When the first description of The Continental: From the World of John Wick came around, it said that Winston  “charts a deadly course through New York’s mysterious underworld in a harrowing attempt to seize the iconic hotel, which serves as the meeting point for the world’s most dangerous criminals.”

Much of the series centers on Winston’s strained relationship with his brother Frankie, played by Ben Robson, and how they come into conflict with Gibson’s Cormac.

Kate McGrath Plays The Adjudicator

John Wick fans will know how important this character is in the franchise. The Adjudicator is an agent of the High Table, the overarching organization that governs the assassin underworld in the John Wick universe.

Kate McGrath plays the character with a distinctive look, considering she wears a porcelain mask covering the bottom half of her face.

She’s fierce and violent, perfect for this franchise. McGrath’s Adjudicator is a predecessor to the Adjudicator character played by Asia Kate Dillon in John Wick: Chapter 3.

Keanu Reeves Did Not Appear In The John Wick Series

This operative question to start was if Keanu Reeves was going to make an appearance as John Wick in this John Wick series? Because of the timing of, the answer was a pretty easy, “no”.

It was a distinctive move to not include Keanu Reeves in the series, though it made sense considering the time period of The Continental.

The John Wick Series Details The History Of The Continental

The Continental is a reference to the hotel that many an assassin has made their home in the first few movies. It’s where contract killers can visit, an assassin’s Switzerland as it were, that has its own set of rules around the world. They can go there to take a respite, not kill anyone, and maybe feel a bit safer in confines that are a little less deadly.

There is more than one hotel location in this assassin world, though the first one we see is found in Lower Manhattan and run, in the movies by Winston. He’s played by the great Ian McShane. 

The new series is a prequel to the John Wick franchise, taking place in the 1970s with a younger version of Winston as one of the main characters. The show’s time period in New York meant it unfolding against a backdrop of the garbage strike while highlighting the underbelly of New York’s criminal landscape.

It follows Winston as he tries to (successfully) take over the hotel for good.

Chad Stahelski And Derek Kolstad Produced The Continential

The concept and vision around the original John Wick movie were from a script by Derek Kolstad. Kolstad has gone on to help pen the second and third movies as well.

He is taking a step back for the fourth and fifth movies though with other screenwriters brought in to finish off the story. 

And in terms of stylistic choices, a lot of that has been from director Chad Stahelski who’s helmed the first three movies in the franchise and is on board for John Wick 4 and 5 too.

Stahelski and Kolstad are both on as producers for The Continental and have been crucial in bringing it to series. 

As far as the series showrunner is concerned, this handled by two people, Greg Coolidge and Kirk Ward, who are also writers on the series. Joining them in the writer’s room were Kolstad, Chris Collins, Shawn Simmons, and Ken Kristensen.

Albert Hughes, one-half of the Hughes Brothers, handled the directing duties for The Continental. Of course, the Hughes Brothers are known for such hit movies as Menace II Society, Dead Presidents, From Hell, and The Book of Eli. Albert Hughes finally stepped out on his own with the 2018 film, Alpha.

The John Wick Series Was Slated For Starz But Aired On Peacock

When The Continental was first announced, Lionsgate had intended the series to premiere on the Starz network, which Lionsgate controls. But since that time, The Continental, which is intended to be shown as three 90-minute feature-length episodes, has since moved.

The series was on the Peacock streaming network. It is a deal that both Lionsgate and Peacock were very excited about. “The John Wick films have become a global phenomenon, are among the most watched titles on Peacock and we are thrilled and honored to partner with Lionsgate to extend this incredible franchise,” said Kelly Campbell, president of Peacock and direct-to-consumer at NBCU via The Hollywood Reporter.