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John Wick director Chad Stahelski opens up about his less-than-stellar experience on The Continental.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Stahelski was asked about why he was less involved in The Continental, the John Wick spinoff series, than he had been with the films. "Keanu [Reeves] and I were — I wouldn’t say sidelined, but our opinion was heard and not really noted," Stahelski replied. "[The studio] tried to convince me they knew what they were doing. A group of individuals thought they had the magic sauce."

"But if you take out Basil Iwanyk’s producing intuitiveness, if you take out Keanu’s way of delivering quirky dialogueand if you take out all the visuals I have in my head… then it’s not the same thing," Stahelski continued. "They thought this was as easy as using anamorphic lenses, do a kooky hotel, put in weird dialogue, and insert crime drama. If you saw our process,...

Keira Knightley's new series Black Doves made a splash immediately upon its release on the streaming service Netflix with its unique take on the spy thriller genre. The series follows Helen, a spy who learns that her lover Jason has been killed, as she attempts to uncover the plot that led to his death while simultaneously trying to protect her family and maintain her secret identity. Along with Keira Knightley, Black Doves features an impressive cast whose performances have already been lauded by critics.

Black Doves has quickly become one of Netflix's most successful releases of the 2024 holiday season and currently holds a 97% critics approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Reviews have praised the plot and the twists that Black Doves has added to the typical spy series. Black Doves does have some common thriller elements, such as Helen's secret identity and suspense, but the series is able to expand...

Keanu Reeves' John Wick always puts two in the head, but it's one and done for the prequel series, The Continental. Released in 2023 on Peacock and Prime Video. The Continental was the first attempt at a John Wick spin-off, telling the story of Winston's rise to power as the manager of the New York branch of the titular hotel. The show was originally billed as a Limited Series, and ran for three episodes. But, some fans were hoping for more. Unfortunately, the series has now been whacked. Speaking to The Direct, producer Basil Iwanyk confirmed The Continental will not return for a second season. He first expressed the team's pride over the first season, and that they got to tell a complete story.

"I think we were happy with season one," he began. "I think that we talked a little bit about season two. But I think the feeling is,...

The John Wick franchise is known for its memorable dialogue and numerous quotes, which add depth to the characters and the world they inhabit. The script and dialogue in the John Wick movies should not be overlooked, as they feature sharp writing with bone-chilling threats, darkly comedic one-liners, and well-placed monologues. John Wick quotes highlight the character's legendary status as an unstoppable killing machine, as well as the consequences of crossing him and the lengths he will go to seek revenge.

What sets the John Wick movies apart from most action movie franchises besides its top-notch action choreography is memorable dialogue and a near-endless supply of John Wick quotes. From 2014's John Wick through to the 2023 spinoff prequel series The Continental, John Wick and his fellow characters have fired off just as many quips as they have bullets with equally devastating precision in some cases. The memorable quotes from Keanu Reeves...

Ian McShane brutally slams The Continental, calling it a cash grab and stating he has no intentions of watching it. The Continental received mixed reviews, with critics praising its action style but criticizing its pace and underdeveloped story. The series didn't add much to the overall John Wick universe, and failed to bring something new to the table.

John Wick star Ian McShane brutally slams the existence of the franchise's prequel television series, The Continental: From the World of John Wick. McShane portrays Winston Scott in the main John Wick franchise. Colin Woodell plays a younger version of the character in the Peacock spinoff show, chronicling how Winston became proprietor of the New York Continental Hotel.

In an interview with MovieWeb during the promotional tour of his latest film, American Star, McShane didn't have anything positive to say about The Continental prequel show. Revealing that he hadn't watched it, McShane...

The following contains spoilers from Night 3 aka the finale of The Continental: From the World of John Wick, now streaming on Peacock.

The Continental itself barely survived the finale of its eponymous Peacock miniseries.

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As the 3-“Night” John Wick prequel series came to a close, Winston (played by Colin Woodell) & Co. launched their attack...

There are many ways to approach The Continental: From the World of John Wick. On the one hand, it's a perfectly valid story in its own right that provides a story with a beginning, middle, and end. No prior knowledge is necessary, and to have any would only serve to tickle the part of the brain that finds comfort in familiarity. On the other hand, The Continental's efficacy is entirely contingent upon how much the viewer cares about the John Wick universe, and whether the films have done enough to warrant further narrative pursuit.

If you're one of the former viewers, then you'll want compelling characters. Here, we ride shotgun with Winston Scott, the younger brother of Frankie (Ben Robson), and a conman who makes his money with elaborate development deals that obscure his ulterior motives. It's safe to say that, operating out of London, Winston is used...

The John Wick spinoff series The Continental explores the heartbreaking origin of fan-favorite character Charon. Charon's loyalty, altruism, and value for family are highlighted in the show, but his role as a hotel employee working for an oppressive leader challenges his principles. Charon's innocence and good nature ultimately lead to his downfall, as he becomes a victim of Cormac's manipulations.

The following contains spoilers for The Continental "Night 2: Loyalty to the Master," now streaming on Peacock.

In the John Wick Universe, it's hard to deny Charon's a fan-favorite character. He's the endearing concierge who helped Winston run the New York chapter of the Continental. This is why folks were excited to see The Continental: From the World of John Wick bring the younger Charon into play. With Winston waging war against the hotel decades prior, the interest was high in how they'd eventually partner up after being enemies.

This article contains spoilers for The Continental: From The World Of John Wick.

Fresh off this year’s John Wick: Chapter 4 comes the spinoff prequel television series The Continental: From the World of John Wick, developed for television by Greg Coolidge, Kirk Ward, and Shawn Simmons. Running for three feature-length episodes on Peacock, the series follows the adventures of Winston Scott (Colin Woodell), the future head of the eponymous New York hotel that serves as a safe haven to a shadowy order of global assassins. Set decades before the John Wick films, Winston finds himself on his vendetta as he is drawn deeper into the lethal world of assassins, taking on the Continental’s ‘70s proprietor Cormac O’Connor (Mel Gibson).

Filled with explosive gunfights and a quiet expansion of the John Wick shared cinematic universe, The Continental depicts a rise to power for Winston while proving him every inch as deadly as John Wick himself.

Warning: Major spoilers for The Continental episode 2 "Loyalty to the Master" below!

The Continental episode 2 reveals that Cormac is the first character to break the hotel's no killing rule. Cormac's killing of the cellist puts him at risk of being excommunicado and vulnerable to reprisals from past enemies. The fact that Cormac isn't immediately punished for his killing changes the dynamics of John Wick 2's dark ending.

John Wick: Chapter 2's ending twist is completely changed by a key scene from The Continental episode 2. Peacock's prequel series is a different beast from the usual John Wick fare - as the titular, Keanu Reeves-shaped assassin is nowhere to be found in The Continental's three episodes. Following Wick's "death" in Chapter 4, the franchise is at an interesting crossroads. The Continental and upcoming movie spinoff Ballerina represent attempts to gauge interest in the franchise beyond Wick, though Reeves will...

Warning: Major spoilers for The Continental Episode 2's "Loyalty to the Master" below!

The Continental episode 2 explores the hotel and its connection to the High Table, offering a deeper look into the John Wick franchise. The episode showcases the breaking of the inviolable rule of no killing on Continental grounds, indicating Cormac's disregard for the rules. The episode includes references to the original John Wick film, such as Cormac's church scene and the introduction of a sniper reminiscent of Marcus from the first movie.

Just like the first episode, The Continental episode 2 "Loyalty to the Master" contains plenty of nods to the John Wick franchise. The Continental cast Colin Woodell as young Winston Scott, who plans to mount a hostile takeover of the titular hotel during the late '70s after he and his brother are targeted by manager Cormac (Mel Gibson). The show is a big step for the franchise,...

Aren’t the John Wick movies great? Just wonderful. A killer we side with because, for five seconds, we saw his dog die. Because of that, we give him the grace to traverse the criminal underworld and murder 439 (we looked it up) people over the course of four films. The Continental: From the World of John Wick was given to us as a way of saying, “Hey Wick-lovers! A little lore for you.” and we all thought it was a lovely bit of fan service and applauded. What would we learn about the history of a place like the Continental?

It turns out that what they thought we wanted was aged-down versions of secondary characters a few years earlier. Unfortunately, it also turns out that it really wasn’t.

What We Got

Like any throwback series, we’re taking you all the way back to the swinging ‘70s. The world is a bit different.

The Continental: From the World of John Wick is a prequel series that explores the origins of Winston and Charon, shedding light on their relationship in the John Wick movies. Charon originally worked for the show's villain, Cormac, in the 1970s, but his loyalty seems to shift when he witnesses Winston standing up to Cormac. Before becoming the manager of The Continental, Winston was a conman in London, using his cunning and manipulation to scam the wealthy elite. He returned to New York to protect his brother and avenge his death.

The Continental: From the World of John Wick is a prequel to the John Wick movies, and the series reveals Winston and Charon's origins. The new series, which consists of three 90-minute episodes, is set 40 years before the first John Wick film, as The Continental takes place in the 1970s and follows Winston as he becomes the iconic hotel's manager.

The Continental director Albert Hughes shared the reason why he felt pressured by Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two while filming Lionsgate’s John Wick spinoff series.

Before making its series debut last Sept. 22, Lionsgate Television unveiled the opening action sequence from the first episode, which introduced fans to Winston’s older brother Frankie Scott, portrayed by Ben Robson. Speaking with EW, Hughes revealed behind-the-scenes details regarding the production of the spinoff’s elaborate opening heist sequence, which took stunt coordinator Larnell Stovall 10 hours to film. Afterward, Stovall returned the directing hat to Hughes, who was the one that oversaw the filming of Frankie’s daring escape from The Continental hotel.

Related: John Wick 4 Producer Says Keanu Reeves Wanted His Character 'Definitively' Killed Off

However, The Book of Eli filmmaker wasn’t able to immediately wrap up the scene, as he encountered a slight delay with the exterior set.

Warning! Spoilers ahead for The Continental episode 1.

The stairwell fight scene in The Continental's first episode was carefully planned and executed, with the team designing the action and creating tension and drama. Despite the limited time available for shooting, the crew had to be smart in how they designed the action sequence, knowing they may not have the chance to reshoot or revisit the location. The brutal action and intense fights in The Continental mirror the high quality seen in the John Wick franchise, and viewers can expect more of this in the remaining episodes.

Frankie's brutal stairwell fight in The Continental is broken down by stunt coordinator Larnell Stovall. The series, a prequel to John Wick, is set in the 1970s and explores how Winston Scott became involved in New York City's criminal underworld. Here, his younger counterpart is played by Colin Woodell, and the rest of...

Director Albert Hughes was not informed about Charon's fate in John Wick: Chapter 4 before filming, noting that his knowledge may have impacted Ayomide Adegun, who portrays young Charon in the prequel series. The onscreen death of Charon adds weight to Ayomide Adegun's performance as young Charon and adds more depth to his character in The Continental. Charon's death in John Wick: Chapter 4 may have a significant impact on audiences, especially since Charon did not have a major role in The Continental's debut. Viewers will likely see a larger focus on Charon's character development in future episodes of the series.

The Continental director Albert Hughes reveals that he was not informed about Charon's fate in John Wick: Chapter 4 prior to filming. Set in the 1970s, the prequel series follows a young Winston Scott as he gets involved in New York City's dangerous underground world. Fans of the John Wick franchise are familiar with Charon,...

Warning: Major spoilers for The Continental episode 1 "Brothers In Arms - Night 1" below!

Winston Scott is approximately 30 years old in The Continental, based on his age in the original John Wick film and the events of the show's timeline in the late '70s. Charon is approximately 18 years old in The Continental, as indicated by his manager Cormac who refers to him as a teenager. He would be nearing his 50s during the events of the film series. Uncle Charlie is approximately 45 years old in The Continental, based on the fact that actor Peter Greene, who portrays him, played the role in his late 50s. He would be in his late 70s to early 80s during his appearances in the John Wick films.

Key figures from the John Wick movies play major roles in Peacock's The Continental, but how old are they in the 1970s-set prequel? Poor Mr. Wick certainly...

Warning: Major spoilers for The Continental episode 1 "Brothers In Arms - Night 1" below!

The Continental introduces deadly assassin twins Hansel and Gretel, adding new characters to the criminal underworld of the John Wick franchise. Hansel and Gretel are sparing speakers, with long dark hair and leather coats. They are skilled fighters and Gretel is a sniper. After Gretel kills Frankie, this sets his brother Winston on a path to become the next manager of The Continental.

John Wick spinoff The Continental introduces some deadly assassins to the franchise, including the assassin twins Hansel and Gretel. While the original John Wick was very much focused on the trail of revenge being waged by Keanu Reeves titular killer, it hinted at a much bigger world. The Continental was a key location in the story and later sequels would visit the hotel's international branches, introduce rival assassins - who often targeted John -...

The Continental spinoff show delves into the relationship between Winston and Charon, expanding upon their friendship established in the John Wick movies. Audiences can now see how Winston and Charon met and formed their close bond, which was not explored in detail in the movies. The spinoff also explores the New York Continental Hotel under the operation of Cormac, providing a different perspective from Winston's tenure.

The Continental: From the World of John Wick director Albert Hughes explains how the show expands upon the relationship between Winston Scott (Colin Woodell) and Charon (Ayomide Adegun). Respectively portrayed by Ian McShane and the late Lance Reddick in the John Wick movies, the television spinoff set in the same world sees the beginnings of Winston's rise to become the proprietor of the New York Continental Hotel. With his rise, the show discusses how he became friends with Charon, who eventually becomes the hotel's concierge.

Warning: Major spoilers for The Continental episode 1 "Brothers In Arms - Night 1" below!

The first episode of the John Wick prequel series, The Continental, is filled with easter eggs and references for fans of the movies. The episode introduces new characters and explores the use of the gold coin currency within the assassin world. The action-packed episode features intense fight scenes, guns, and martial arts, staying true to the signature John Wick style.

John Wick prequel The Continental has plenty of easter eggs and nods to the movies for viewers to spot during episode 1. The supposed death of John Wick in the finale of Chapter 4 has ended - for now, at least - the main series, so it's a good time to see if the franchise has legs beyond Keanu Reeves' titular assassin. In addition to the upcoming movie spinoff Ballerina starring Ana de Armas, the first real test of...

For fans looking to see a comprehensive list of the cast and characters of the upcoming John Wick Peacock series, The Continental, then this is the right place to be.

For years, the intricate and subtle assassin underground of the John Wick franchise has been relegated to cinema. Now, fans can finally see some of that same highly acclaimed action and world-building on TV.

The Continental follows a young Winston Scott, played by Colin Woodell, as he mounts an assault on the infamous hotel to initiate a change in ownership. The property is currently under the control of the show’s antagonist, Mel Gibson’s Cormac, and his assistant, a young Charon portrayed by Ayomide Adegun.

Read full article on The Direct.

Warning: This article contains spoilers for the premiere episode of "The Continental."

Almost 10 years after the original "John Wick" came out of nowhere and blew the minds of action aficionados everywhere, we're now getting our most expansive addition to the franchise yet. The story of Keanu Reeves' gun-slinging assassin with a love of dogs has been told to completion on the big screen, so where else can the franchise go? 

The answer, for better or worse, comes in the form of the streaming series "The Continental," which yours truly reviewed for /Film here. Set predominantly in 1970s New York City and following the exploits of young Winston Scott, the series attempts to split the difference between telling a brand-new story with a whole new cast of characters and packing in all sorts of overt winks and nods to the movies everyone loves.

How well the show's creative team pulled this...

Producers Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee have been with John Wick since the beginning. They saw this property, which started in 2014 with a single film starring Keanu Reeves, blossom into a full-fledged franchise of which the most recent film, John Wick: Chapter 4, became one of the biggest movies of 2023, and the highest-grossing John Wick movie. This R-rated action film performed better at the box office than blockbuster projects like The Flash, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, and Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One.

Yet now, the franchise is in a drastically different place. John Wick: Chapter 4 supposedly marked the end of the story for Keanu Reeves's character, which meant if the series wanted to expand, they would need to find a new avenue and, most importantly, get audiences to invest in a new corner of the franchise without the titular character. "The whole show is kind...

The extremely successful John Wick universe is expanding! Brand-new TV prequel series The Continental lands on Peacock in the US and Prime Video in the UK this September with a mission to take the world of John Wick beyond the ultra-violent adventures of Mr. Wick himself, but they’ll still need guns – lots of guns.

Unfortunately, John Wick star Keanu Reeves does not appear in The Continental, but there are lots of new and familiar characters checking into both the notorious New York hotel and the intricate lore of the franchise in this big budget streaming TV series. If you need to know more about those characters and the actors behind the roles, we’re here to help.

Colin Woodell is Winston Scott

Winston Scott should be familiar to fans of the John Wick franchise, but even if you’ve only seen one of those movies before, you’ll have...

We are hours away from checking in into the 1970s version of The Continental. The John Wick prequel series will take fans back in time to see the rise of Winston (Colin Woodell) and Charon (Ayomide Adegun) among the criminal underbelly of New York. The initial reactions to the series are good, and it's deemed to be able to stand on its own. To tease fans further, Peacock has released the opening credits of the series.

Experience the story of The Hunger Games — 64 years before Katniss Everdeen volunteered as tribute, and decades before Coriolanus Snow became the tyrannical President of Panem. The new trailer for the latest edition to the “Hunger Games” Saga, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes has just been released and you can check it out right here!

The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes follows a young Coriolanus (Tom Blyth) who is the last hope for his failing lineage, the once-proud Snow family that has fallen from grace in a post- war Capitol. With his livelihood threatened, Snow is reluctantly assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler), a tribute from the impoverished District 12. But after Lucy Gray’s charm captivates the audience of Panem, Snow sees an opportunity to shift their fates. With everything he has worked for hanging in the balance, Snow unites with Lucy Gray to turn the odds in their favor.

CinemaBlind’s Review – 90%

What started from a stolen car, a dead dog, and numerous headshots has now become a full-blown assassin universe. The Continental: From the World of John Wick is a prequel series to the global hit John Wick film franchise and it tells the origin story of Winston Scott from the main films. Set in the 1970s New York the Peacock mini-series shows us how Winston became the manager of the titular hotel which is a haven for assassins around the world.

While it doesn’t compare to the main John Wick film in any way The Continental has its own charms and action sequences that will surely be loved by the fans. The Continental is fully able to pull off a self-contained story with massive stakes and a brilliant character who will now be a part of the cannon forever.

Credit – Peacock

The Continental does deal with...

The Continental: From the World of John Wick director Albert Hughes first crossed paths with John Wick masterminds Chad Stahelski and David Leitch in 2008. At the time, Stahelski and Leitch had only recently decided to make the jump from stunt work to the director’s chair, beginning with second unit. So they interviewed for the second-unit gig on The Book of Eli, which Hughes co-directed alongside his twin brother, Allen. Stahelski and Leitch didn’t end up with the job, but it didn’t stop them from achieving their directorial dream a handful of years later when they co-directed the Keanu Reeves actioner John Wick.

Nearly a decade later, John Wick is one of the preeminent action franchises, boasting four films, each of which has outgrossed its predecessors at the box office, with a fifth on the way. Stahelski reminded Hughes of their encounter 15 years earlier during a Zoom meeting...

New Delhi, Sep 21 (Ians) As the country is immersed in Ganeshotsav, Ott platforms brings an exciting array of titles for the viewers to binge-watch this week.

From crime drama whodunit series ‘Charlie Chopra’ to slice of life show ‘Hostel Daze 4’ and Nithya Menen starrer comedy drama ‘Kumari Srimathi’, this week’s offerings will delight you, and promise to entertain with a diverse range of captivating content.

Here’s a list of six titles on various Ott platforms that have caught the attention of Ians this week.

‘Kumari Srimathi’

Nithya Menen-starrer upcoming comedy drama series ‘Kumari Srimathi’ is set in a village in East Godavari. It hilariously encapsulates the tribulations in the life of a 30-year-old woman (played by Menen), who challenges stereotypes in a small town riddled with antiquity. It also features Nirupam, Gautami, Thiruveer, Talluri Rameshwari, Naresh, and Murali Mohan in pivotal roles.

Produced by Early Monsoon Tales, a web division of Vyjanyanthi Entertainments,...

New Delhi, Sep 21 (Ians) As the country is immersed in Ganeshotsav, Ott platforms brings an exciting array of titles for the viewers to binge-watch this week.

From crime drama whodunit series ‘Charlie Chopra’ to slice of life show ‘Hostel Daze 4’ and Nithya Menen starrer comedy drama ‘Kumari Srimathi’, this week’s offerings will delight you, and promise to entertain with a diverse range of captivating content.

Here’s a list of six titles on various Ott platforms that have caught the attention of Ians this week.

‘Kumari Srimathi’

Nithya Menen-starrer upcoming comedy drama series ‘Kumari Srimathi’ is set in a village in East Godavari. It hilariously encapsulates the tribulations in the life of a 30-year-old woman (played by Menen), who challenges stereotypes in a small town riddled with antiquity. It also features Nirupam, Gautami, Thiruveer, Talluri Rameshwari, Naresh, and Murali Mohan in pivotal roles.

Produced by Early Monsoon Tales, a web division of Vyjanyanthi Entertainments,...

The Continental is a prequel series to John Wick set in 1975, exploring the origins of the iconic hotel. Familiar characters will appear as younger versions of themselves. Ayomide Adegun, a drama school student from Wales, was cast as a younger Charon in The Continental. His talent and Nigerian background added depth to the character. Colin Woodell was championed by producer Basil Iwanyk for the role of a younger Winston. He possesses old Hollywood star looks and is deeply talented, impressing the director.

As reported by ComicBook.com, during a recent event to promote the upcoming premiere of Peacock's The Continental, series director Albert Hughes discussed recasting roles from the John Wick franchise into younger versions of the characters.

The Continental is a prequel series that takes place in 1975 and explores the origins of the iconic hotel previously seen in the John Wick movies. Being set in 1975 also means that well-recognized characters...

John Wick’s name might be the one in all the titles, and his face the one on all the posters. But as any John Wick fan could tell you, the appeal of John Wick has never been solely about its leading man. Just as essential to its enduring popularity has been the universe it’s built over four features: one populated by elite assassins and guided by arcane rules, cast in perpetually moody lighting just beneath the surface of our mundane reality.

Whether that setting in itself is enough to mint new (anti)heroes and sustain new leads is the meta question at the heart of Peacock’s The Continental: From the World of John Wick, a John Wick-less sequel set decades before Keanu Reeves ever snarled, “I’m thinking I’m back.” And though it seems more a test of concept than a complete saga, it’s a...

Keanu Reeves’ master assassin may have been left for almost dead at the end of the fourth John Wick film, but things are alive and kicking in the franchise, at least retroactively.

Or, to quote Mel Gibson, who plays the manager of the “precious” hotel for killers at the center of the ’70s and New York-set The Continental: From the World of John Wick: “Son of a bitch, where’s my f*ckin’ shotgun?”

With more than its fair share of Me Decade revolutionaries, rats (literal and figurative) and “fun fumes,” as Gibson’s feral Cormac exclaims, The Continental primarily is a throwback to the heroic bloodshed genre perfected by Ringo Lam and John Woo in the 1980s. With more than a nod or two to 2011’s The Raid, the limited series partially directed by Albert Hughes kicks bellbottomed butt in true John Wick style over its September 22-debuting three-part run on Peacock.

“The Continental” boasts that it’s “From the World of John Wick.” But the Peacock spin-off is thankfully uninterested in providing a microwaved version of the same story. Instead, the miniseries takes its cues from stylized crime auteurs, folks like Joe Carnahan or Guy Ritchie who have as much fun, if not more, with their eccentric character archetypes, rat-a-tat banter and bold needledrops as they do with any blood shed on screen.

But “The Continental” merely aspires to these authors of cinematic cool. And in its Icarus-esque reach, what it faintly grasps only reminds us how hard it is to make something look easy.

Over three sprawling, 90-minute episodes, “The Continental” is centered on a simple story, one that has roots as recent as “The Raid” and as far back as “Rio Bravo” – or more accurately, John Carpenter’s riffs on “Rio Bravo” like “Assault on Precinct 13” or “Escape From New York.

Plot: Explore the origin behind the iconic hotel-for-assassins centerpiece of the John Wick universe through the eyes and actions of a young Winston Scott, as he’s dragged into the Hell-scape of 1970’s New York City to face a past he thought he’d left behind. Winston charts a deadly course through the hotel’s mysterious underworld in a harrowing attempt to seize the hotel where he will eventually take his future throne.

Review: The 2014 debut of John Wick kicked off the most unexpected of movie franchises. Over the following ten years, the Keanu Reeves-led sequels to Derek Kolstad’s original screenplay expanded on the mythology surrounding the global guild of assassins overseen by The High Table. With coins, credos, formal roles, and more, the entire structure of the fictional world fell within and without the confines of hotels known as The Continental. Each locale housed a manager and...

Peacock's The Continental struggles to replicate the appeal of the John Wick movies, despite offering a deeper look at the assassin's world. The three-episode season explores the dirty, gritty world of '70s New York City and introduces new characters, but the sheer number of plots and characters feels unnecessary and bloated. While The Continental is Winston's story, the series frequently sidelines his arc and lacks the style and grace that make the John Wick films stand out, making it feel like a missed opportunity.

Editor's note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn't exist.

With how successful the John Wick film franchise has become, it's no surprise it has started to expand with spinoffs. This year's John Wick: Chapter 4 seemed primed to produce an offshoot or two,...

I’ll give “The Continental” this: of all the reasons the “John Wick” prequel frustrates, underwhelms and disappoints, the involvement of Mel Gibson barely manages to rank. That, at least, is a major accomplishment.

The three-part series, subtitled “From the World of John Wick,” was anticipated by a steady stream of red flags: a gap of more than half a decade between the official greenlight and Wednesday’s premiere; the move from Starz, a network owned by franchise studio Lionsgate, to Peacock; the news that Chad Stahelski, the stunt performer turned action auteur, would not direct any episodes, though he retains an executive producer credit. In its final form, “The Continental” bears these misgivings out. The show lacks the star power and visual panache of “John Wick,” and what it adds is directly at odds with the movies’ source of appeal.

Developed by Greg Coolidge, Kirk Ward and Shawn Simmons,...

Why do people love the John Wick movies? Is it because of the charisma and soulfulness of star Keanu Reeves? Is it because of the jaw-dropping action sequences? Or is it because we’re all just fascinated by the gold coins, the High Table, and all the other rules and lore of the assassin world in which John and his friends and enemies operate?

The prequel miniseries The Continental: From the World of John Wick is sure hoping it’s the latter. It has some witty and creative fight scenes,...

This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being reviewed here wouldn't exist.

They should've left him alone. In 2014's "John Wick," unsuspecting audiences watched in slack-jawed delight as Keanu Reeves announced that he was back and better than ever as the eponymous assassin with a well-founded grudge and an ungodly talent for headshots. What followed has to be considered one of the last decade's greatest success stories: an original action franchise that organically built up its fanbase on the strength of a bona fide movie star. This initially straightforward revenge story, kicked off when Alfie Allen and his goons picked the wrong car to steal and the wrong dog to kill, gradually revealed itself as a downright mythological fable that came to a fitting and (mostly) definitive end with this year's "John Wick: Chapter 4."

So,...

The first entry in the John Wick extended universe begins with a long-haired man in a black suit blasting his way through the hallways of a New York City hotel. At first, it’s comforting to return to such familiar territory, but it soon becomes clear that while the name above the door might still say “The Continental,” this isn’t the luxuriously styled, endlessly idiosyncratic world we’ve come to know from the four John Wick films. Rather, The Continental is the equivalent of a budget hotel: cheap, charmless, and generic.

In the Peacock series, the man in the suit isn’t Keanu Reeves’s John Wick, but a new character named Frankie Scott (Ben Robson). He concludes his one-man assault on the Continental by disappearing into the night with an invaluable piece of hotel property, much to the chagrin of manager Cormac (Mel Gibson), a keyed-up psychopath with...

The Continental is a TV series set in the 1970s and follows a younger version of Winston as he manages the hotel, showcasing the same grimy but stylish aesthetic as the John Wick movies. Despite being linked to John Wick, it's highly unlikely that Keanu Reeves will appear in The Continental due to the show's time period and the expanding world of John Wick spinoffs. While it's impossible for Reeves to return, a different actor could potentially play a young version of John Wick, or the character could be referred to, leaving room for a possible appearance in future seasons with a time jump. Given the subject material, it's worth wondering if Keanu Reeves' John Wick will make an appearance in The Continental. The Continental follows a younger version of Winston (Colin Woodell) in the 1970s as he comes into management at the titular hotel. The show will interpolate real-life events,...

‘The Continental: From the World of John Wick’, Prime Video’s highly anticipated series, is set to premiere on September 22. The series offers a deeper exploration into the intriguing world of spies and assassins who all come together under the infamous hotel, ‘The Continental’. Focusing on the early life of Winston Scott, a key character in the John Wick saga, the series takes us into the compelling setting of New York in the 1970s.

An ambiguous character in the series is Cormac, a villainous criminal kingpin who manages The Continental Hotel in New York City, played by Mel Gibson, a versatile actor known for his direction, production, and action hero roles. Mel Gibson’s portrayal of Cormac adds to the excitement and anticipation surrounding the series, promising a compelling antagonist keeping the audiences at the edge of their seats. Gibson gives a sneak peek into his character, the style, and the setting of the series.

‘The Continental: From the World of John Wick’, Prime Video’s highly anticipated series, is set to premiere on September 22. The series offers a deeper exploration into the intriguing world of spies and assassins who all come together under the infamous hotel, ‘The Continental’. Focusing on the early life of Winston Scott, a key character in the John Wick saga, the series takes us into the compelling setting of New York in the 1970s.

An ambiguous character in the series is Cormac, a villainous criminal kingpin who manages The Continental Hotel in New York City, played by Mel Gibson, a versatile actor known for his direction, production, and action hero roles. Mel Gibson’s portrayal of Cormac adds to the excitement and anticipation surrounding the series, promising a compelling antagonist keeping the audiences at the edge of their seats. Gibson gives a sneak peek into his character, the style, and the setting of the series.

The Continental is set to spin off the John Wick franchise in big ways. The franchise has come a long way since it debuted in 2014. John Wick reinvigorated the career of star Keanu Reeves. The film's plot involved Reeves’ hit man, the titular John Wick, being unceremoniously forced out of retirement by the reckless act of a gangster’s son. The film was a modest hit financially, grossing $43 million at the domestic box office, along with another 43 million dollars worldwide. A return to the basic plot conventions of a lean and mean revenge thriller combined with excellent camera work and stunt coordination struck a nerve with audiences. Word of mouth propelled John Wick to many must-see lists in 2014.

The rest is history as the action film has spawned three sequels, the most recent of which was John Wick: Chapter 4, which came out on March 24, 2023, and is one of the biggest movies of the year,...

The countdown to check into The Continental has begun, the prequel to the John Wick franchise will chronicle Winston (Collin Woodell) and Charon’s (Ayomide Adegun) rise to power, taking over the reins of the hotel in the 1970s. The three-part miniseries is set during a time when the American mafia was on the rise and the Winter of discontent was setting in. While taking over The Continental is no small feat, Winston and Charon have got some help, in a new featurette the cast and team behind the series highlight the crew that’ll be aiding the two in their deadly mission.

"The Continental: From The World of John Wick" is a spinoff mini-series that takes place in the late 1970s, 35-40 years before the events of the first John Wick movie. This time period will showcase a gritty and dangerous New York City, setting it apart from the rest of the franchise. The series will focus on the origin of The Continental hotel and feature beloved characters Winston and Charon, exploring their younger selves and the bonds they formed in the criminal underworld. Other familiar faces and new characters, including a major kingpin played by Mel Gibson, will also make appearances. With John Wick being an infant during the timeline of "The Continental," the series will address the question of whether John Wick is even alive or relevant at this point in the story. The mini-series aims to provide new information and deepen the world-building of the franchise while still delivering...

The secret to spinning a tale in the world born of the John Wick action movies can be boiled down to four words.

Don’t bore the audience.

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That’s the No. 1 rule shared by executive producer Albert Hughes, who also directed the first and last episodes of Peacock’s The Continental: From the World of John Wick, a “three-part event” to be released Friday,...

Check into The Continental, the explosive prequel to the John Wick action film franchise. Named for the Wickaverse’s global hotel chain for assassins, this stylish three-part series (dropping weekly in roughly 90-minute installments) drills into the brutal 1970s-era fight to control the New York City location. Being on set “was an adrenaline rush,” says director Albert Hughes. He’s right—every minute is blood-pumping. Young wheeler-dealer Winston Scott’s (Colin Woodell) brother Frankie (Ben Robson) steals an ancient coin press used to mint assassin-world currency so he and Vietnamese-rebel wife Yen (Nhung Kate) can start a peaceful life. The machine’s keeper, and the brothers’ former criminal mentor, power-drunk Continental manager Cormac (Mel Gibson) and his studious Nigerian assistant Charon (Ayomide Adegun) pull out all the stops to get it back. Franchise fans know Winston and Charon as the hotel’s crime lord manager and concierge, respectively (Ian McShane...

When Lionsgate executive Jocelyn Sabo began thinking about how to bring the “John Wick” film franchise to TV through “The Continental,” she knew the show would have to balance keeping familiar elements while adding new dimensions to the universe to make the expansion a success.

“It’s a massive IP for us and we’re very lucky to have something like this in our library,” Sabo, the studio’s senior vice president for scripted television development, told TheWrap for this week’s Office With a View.

She continued, “When we first started talking about [‘The Continental’], the biggest question was how can we do this in a way that is going to maintain, while also growing, the franchise? How do we give fans what they might want and expect — especially when it comes to the action — but also bring new fans and also make our world feel really distinctive and really different?...

The clip from The Continental gives viewers a taste of the show's John Wick-style action, showcasing well-choreographed close-quarters combat in an intense fight scene. The upcoming prequel miniseries delves into the history of the Continental hotel, following a young Winston Scott as he establishes it as a safe haven for assassins in the 1970s. The Continental cast features actors such as Colin Woodell, Mel Gibson, and Mishel Prada, and the show promises to deliver the same thrilling action that audiences love from the John Wick movies.

A clip from The Continental showcases the prequel show's John Wick-style action. A prequel to the popular film franchise starring Keanu Reeves, the upcoming miniseries chronicles the history of how a young Winston Scott (the character played by Ian McShane in the John Wick movies) established the Continental hotel as a safe haven for assassins. The Continental cast includes Colin Woodell as Winston,...