Information key
– It is expected to be launched on Peacock in 2023
– Prequel to the John Wick film series
– The first season consists of three 90-minute episodes
– Focuses on the young version of Winston Ian McShane
– It is believed that the action takes place in the 1970s
– Chris Collins stars as showrunner
– Keanu Reeves among the show’s executive producers
The Continental Hotel will soon reopen its doors to fans of the fan-favorite John Wick film franchise. The series, starring beloved actor Keanu Reeves as a cult killer pushed out of retirement in search of revenge, was only supposed to be one movie. However, the John Wick universe now has three chapters, with two more on the way. Not only that, but we’re also getting a prequel to the John Wick TV series, tentatively titled The Continental, coming to Peacock, NBC Universal streaming platform.
Continental is the foundation of the franchise; a chain of hotels around the world that offer neutral territory for members of the criminal underworld, such as hit men like Wick, to do business or hide from the authorities. If you are staying at the Continental Hotel, you must follow the rules. While we know the man himself didn’t follow them in John Wick Chapter 2 – but let’s not get into that now.
We’ve gathered everything you need to know about The Continental below, including a possible release date, cast, plot details, and more. Major spoilers for the John Wick series are comingso turn back if you are not interested in three movies.
Continental release date
There is no official release date for The Continental yet. However, it has been confirmed that the long-awaited TV series will be released on Peacock in 2023. The series is also slated to launch on Prime Video in regions outside of the United States (a.k.a Deadline (opens in a new tab)) outside of Israel and the Middle East.
The show has been running since 2018 when Starz excited fans by announcing its existence. Now, however, The Continental has found a new home on Peacock – Lionsgate is selling the rights to this streamer after deciding that Starz was not a fit.
According Deadline (opens in a new tab), the show’s appearance follows the theatrical release of John Wick: Chapter Four. If true, The Continental will launch at Peacock in mid or late 2023. Also, The Continental will consist of three 90-minute episodes, so for now, consider it a limited series rather than a full TV show.
Continental cast
Here are the confirmed cast of The Continental so far:
- Colin Woodell as young Winston Scott
- Peter Greene as Young Uncle Charlie
- Mel Gibson as Cormac
- Nhung Kate as Jen
- Katie McGrath as the Arbiter
- Jessica Allainas Lou
- Jeremy Bob as Mayhew
- Adam Shapiro as Lemmy
- Ayomide Adegun as Charon
- Claire Cooper as Mrs. Davenport
- Ray McKinnon as Jenkins
- Ben Robson as Frankie
- Marina Mazepa as Małgosia
- Mark Mushashi as Hansel
- Michel Prada as KD
- Hubert Point-Du Jour as Miles
Given that The Continental is a prequel, Keanu Reeves will not appear in the series on the small screen. So those of you hoping for a John Wick cameo will be very disappointed.
The Continental is reportedly set in 1975, meaning that both current hotel owner Winston and his trusted concierge Charon will be played by younger actors, Colin Woodell and Ayomide Adegun, rather than Ian MacShane and Lance Reddick, will portray the this duo.
Another of the biggest announcements of the series is the involvement of Mel Gibson, who will play a character named Cormac. Gibson’s original persona is yet to be seen in the John Wick series, so his role is now a mystery.
As for the team behind this spin-off, the series was created by Greg Collidge (Wayne, Ride Along) and Kirk Ward (Wayne). The executive producers are Albert Hughes, Basil Iwaniek, Erica Lee, Chad Stahelski, Derek Kolstad, David Leitch, Shawn Simmons, Paul Wernick, Rhett Reese, and Marshall Persinger.
Hughes will also direct the first and third episodes, while Charlotte Brändström (Rings of Power) will helm the second.
Continental plot
While The Continental is a prequel series, it’s also a brand new spin-off of the usual story focusing instead on young Winston, the owner of a New York hotel mansion. The intricacies surrounding the plot itself, however, are kept under lock and key.
In an interview with Deadline (opens in a new tab)Lionsgate TV CEO Kevin Beggs went into some of the details of the story, saying: “What we’re exploring at The Continental is young Winston and how it happened that he and his team of allies found their way to this hotel that we met after first time in a series of films 40 years later.”
Continental is the focal point of the John Wick universe, providing a place of solace for those subject to the High Table’s orders. According to the show’s description, the series follows Winston as he “carves a deadly route through New York City’s mysterious underworld in a harrowing bid to take over an iconic hotel.” Sounds ominous.
Interestingly, The Continental will explore real-world events, including the Great Garbage Strike and the rise of the American Mafia. Despite being a work of fiction, it appears that the series will draw from or be inspired by real events.
speak to fandom (opens in a new tab) in 2020, Chad Stahelski, a stuntman turned director of the John Wick franchise, said, “The angles they’re working on on the Continental TV show right now are a different perspective on the whole world. It is approached from the point of view of different characters views and what is the breadth of the world. Whereas in John Wick, I follow one period, literally almost a week in one man’s life, where everything spins out of control.
It’s clear that the all-new cast will take the John Wick story in a whole new direction – we just don’t know the ins and outs of what it will be. Given its position in the timeline, as well as its alternate focus on one of John Wick’s most famous side characters, Winston, who deserves a storyline of his own, we’re sure it’ll be a thrilling ride nonetheless.
Continental Trailer
There is no official trailer for The Continental. However, with a 2023 release date, we don’t think the trailer is too far off. We will update this section when one of them is released.
Continental Timeline Explained: John Wick
As mentioned, The Continental is a prequel set 40 years before the John Wick movies we’ve come to know and love. speak to Deadline (opens in a new tab)Kevin Beggs of Lionsgate TV said, “Since we’ve gone back in time, way back in time before John Wick, and even before young John Wick, this character doesn’t find his way into the universe. We’re in the John Wick universe, but it’s gone back in time. Think of the Game of Thrones prequels because you know any of the players, but you know the world.”
Given that John Wick screenwriter Derek Kolstad previously revealed that Keanu’s character was originally intended to be a 75-year-old man (per Diversity (opens in a new tab)), we might as well have seen Wick appear in some disguise. However, with the character ultimately written as a 35-year-old, he would not have been born until the events of The Continental. So, as we said before, don’t expect it to show up.
Ultimately, when it comes to John Wick’s timeline, it’s the origin story of The Continental’s deep history. It’s also an opportunity for Winston and a few other characters from the series’ origin stories to explore and perhaps gain more detailed insight into how their characters came into the John Wick mythos.
It’s unclear if future seasons will be greenlit, if The Continental will remain a miniseries, or how the TV series will tie into John Wick Chapter 4. However, if it turns out to be even half as successful as the original John Wick movie, you can be sure Peacock will extend the prequel into more parts.
For more Peacock-based content, find out how much a Peacock subscription costs, or read our Peacock review. Alternatively, check out what we thought of Peacock’s Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reboot.