Once again, ‘John Wick fans are in for a treat! The teaser for ‘The Continental,’ the first spin-off series of the popular action film, has recently been unveiled. Discover everything you need to know about it.
In 2014, with a modest budget of $20 million, the first installment of “John Wick” was released and became a worldwide success, grossing a handsome sum of $86 million. This made director Chad Stahelski proud, and he decided to continue the adventures of the famous mercenary in three other projects. Who would have thought?
As fans queue up to see “John Wick: Chapter 4,” the spin-off series “The Continental” unveiled its first action-packed teaser. The fourth chapter of the franchise has been in theaters since March 24, 2023, and is currently wreaking havoc at the box office. It has grossed over $250 million in less than two weeks of release and has now crossed the $300 million mark in profits. This is sure to make many people happy.
A spin-off without Keanu Reeves
Although the plot of “John Wick” is not innovative (in case you need a reminder, the guy decides to embark on a bloody vendetta after his car is stolen and his dog Daisy, which was a gift from his deceased wife, is killed), the film is nonetheless excellent entertainment.
Its success is based on its well-executed action scenes and the hero’s charisma, brilliantly portrayed on screen by one of Hollywood’s “good guys,” Keanu Reeves. And for fans of the actor, it may be disappointing to learn that he is not in the cast of “The Continental: From The World Of John Wick.” Why? Well, it’s a matter of timeline.
Indeed, the spin-off series takes place several years before the events of the first “John Wick.” But fans can rest assured that despite the absence of the star and his character, “The Continental” promises to respect one of the ingredients of the success of “John Wick,” namely spectacular fights. This is evident in the teaser.
“The Continental”: Synopsis
For fans of “John Wick,” the Continental Hotel has become a cult location in the franchise. Built as the headquarters for mercenaries worldwide, including our beloved Baba Yaga, the place holds many mysteries that will undoubtedly be revealed in the series “The Continental: From The World Of John Wick.”
In this spin-off, the story takes us back to the youth of Winston Scott, brilliantly portrayed on the big screen by Ian McShane, who played Blackbeard alongside Johnny Depp in “Pirates of the Caribbean.” It traces his rise in the 1970s and discovery of the unusual Big Apple, New York hotel. Years later, he became the director of the hotel.
He must confront a past he thought he had left behind in his journey. “Winston embarks on a deadly race through this criminal and mysterious world in an exhausting attempt to take over the hotel where he will claim his future throne,” according to the synopsis.
“The Continental” gets a megastar.
As for the casting, thanks to the teaser unveiled on April 12, 2023, by the American streaming platform Peacock, we got a glimpse of the actors who will play in “The Continental.” The production chose American actor Colin Woodell to play the young Winston Scott.
In the United States, the 31-year-old is a regular in TV series. His resume includes “Criminal Minds,” “The Originals,” “Devious Maids,” “The Flight Attendant,” and more. As for movies, Colin Woodell has appeared in “The Purge,” “The First Purge,” and Michael Bay’s latest film, “Ambulance,” where he stars alongside Jake Gyllenhaal.
As for the rest of the cast, Nigerian-born actor Ayomide Adegun will play the young concierge, Sharon, played on screen by the late Lance Reddick. Also starring are Peter Greene, Ben Robson, Nhung Kate, and Katie McGrath. To our surprise, the famous actor/director Mel Gibson will also be part of the cast, but we still need to find out what role he will play.
An expanding universe
For information, across the Atlantic, the series “The Continental: From The World Of John Wick” will be available on Peacock’s catalog in September 2023. In any case, one thing is sure, fans are very impatient to see it since one day after its publication, the teaser has already totaled more than 1 million views on YouTube. This inevitably announces considerable success for the streaming platform.
Thus, the world of “John Wick,” which in recent years has established itself as one of the masterclasses of action franchises, is expanding increasingly. In addition to the series “The Continental,” which will be cut into 3 episodes, a spin-off film is also in preparation. This is “Ballerina,” starring the lovely Ana De Armas, who made an impression for her fabulous interpretation of the icon Marilyn Monroe in “Blonde.”
