John Wick is one of those films that surprised audiences with just how good it was. Before the release, actor Keanu Reeves’ career had been on somewhat of a downward trajectory after a myriad of his films bombed at the box office. Then John Wick saved it, bringing Keanu back into the spotlight, and back into our hearts along with it. It wasn’t just Keanu that made the film however, it was the fictional world dreamt-up by writer Derek Kolstad; a world populated by secret assassins who trade in gold coins and have their own dedicated chain of hotels – The Continental. As the films have been so popular, and with the forthcoming John Wick: Chapter Three being the final film, Lionsgate and Starz are now working together to bring a television show based on the hotel to small screens worldwide.
The series will be set within the John Wick universe and is currently being developed under the title of The Continental which will ‘focus on the inner workings of the exclusive Continental Hotel which serves as a refuge for assassins.’ The project has already managed to attract some interesting talent with writer/producer Chris Collins (Sons of Anarchy, The Wire and The Man in the High Castle) attached to write the series and serve as showrunner. Producers include all John Wick royalty, the franchise producer Basil Iwanyk, directors David Leitch and Chad Stahelski, franchise writer Derek Kolstad, and John Wick himself, Keanu Reeves. Stahelski will also go one step further and direct the premiere episode.
According to the news on the Starz website, Collins will ‘expand the universe by focusing on the Continental Hotel and those who find refuge under its roof. Set in a hyper-real version of Los Angeles, the series maintains the urgency of the action along with the dry humour from the John Wick movies.’ Being set in Los Angeles must sadly mean that everyone’s favourite concierge, Lance Reddick, and hotel manager Ian McShane, will not star in the show. It is rumoured however, that Keanu may make a cameo which would allude to the show being set in the past, but that is still to be confirmed.
Starz President and CEO Chris Albrecht described the new show as being ‘truly unlike anything else on TV‘, going on to say that ’The Continental promises to include the thunderous fight sequences and intensely staged shootouts between professional assassins and their targets that fans have come to expect in the John Wick movie franchise, as well as introducing some new, darkly compelling, characters who inhabit this underground world.’
Premiere dates have yet to be confirmed, though we imagine it could be as early as this autumn. We will of course, as always, keep you posted as we hear more.
