'The Continental': First Trailer For 'John Wick' Spinoff Finally Arrives
By Jeffrey Harris on April 15, 2023 at 5:00 PM EDT
"The Continental" is the first long-awaited spinoff to the acclaimed box office smash action franchise, "John Wick." It finally debuts on NBCUniversal's Peacock app later this year, and Peacock has finally delivered the official teaser trailer for the upcoming series.
The new three-part limited series stars Academy Award winner Mel Gibson and is set 40 years before the film's events. You can check out the official trailer below:
https://youtu.be/S4GmiggFXRI
'The Continental' Explores The World Of 'John Wick'
The new prequel series notes it is from "The World of John Wick." It will focus on the hotel for world-class assassins in New York City.
Academy Award-winning filmmaker Gibson portrays the role of Cormac in the series. However, he does not appear in the teaser trailer. This will be Gibson's first foray into television since an appearance on the ABC sitcom, "Complete Savages," in 2004.
The event series on the hotel-for-assassins will be shown through the eyes of a young Winston Scott (Colin Woodell in the limited series; Ian McShane in the film series). Winston is dragged into the 1970s New York City hellscape to face a past he tried to leave behind. Now, Winston must chart a deadly course through the Continental's mysterious underworld to try and seize control and take his future throne.
Ayomide Adegun plays the younger version of Charon in the show. In the films, he was portrayed by the late Lance Reddick in the first four "John Wick" movies. Reddick tragically passed on the eve of the film's premiere. He was 60 years old.
While "John Wick: Chapter 4" appeared to act as a conclusion for the film series and the Keanu Reeves character, it looks like Lionsgate is moving full speed ahead with spinoffs around the franchise world and other surfaces.
As reported by The Blast, Ana de Armas will star in another "John Wick" spinoff, a theatrical feature called "Ballerina." Len Wiseman ("Underworld," "Live Free or Die Hard") directs the upcoming film from a script by Shay Hatten. The film will also see Reeves reprise his iconic role of John Wick. Anjelica Huston also reprises her role as "The Director" from "John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum." McShane will also appear in the film as Winston, with Reddick emerging as Charon as he worked on the film before his passing.
"The Continental" has had a long road to development from Lionsgate TV. The story began in 2018, but the long wait is nearly over. The show is written and executive produced by Greg Coolidge, Kirk Ward, and Shawn Simmons. Albert Hughes ("Menace II Society," "The Book of Eli") also serves as an executive producer and the director for episodes one and three. Charlotte Brandstrom ("The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power") directs the second episode.
Other cast members for the show include Mishel Prada, Ben Robson, Hubert Point-Du Jour, Nhung Kate, Jessica Allain, Jeremy Bobb, and Peter Greene. "The Continental: From The World of John Wick" will stream exclusively on Peacock. The three-part limited series debuts on the streamer later this September.
