If you’re a fan of the John Wick franchise, then get ready! — its spin-off series, The Continental, will be heading to the small screen at the end of 2021 in a joint production from Starz network and Lionsgate Films.
According to Deadline, Starz head honcho Jeffrey Hirsch announced during the TCA winter tour that the network is currently in the middle of the series’ development. However, the plan is to wait for the release of John Wick: Chapter 4 to hit theaters before getting on the series so as to avoid some type of self competition.
“I had a meeting on a season pitch for this yesterday. We like the group of writers, and we’re trying to get it in the right place so it doesn’t interfere with the motion picture. It will air sometime after the fourth movie.”, Hirsh said in the interview.
John Wick: Chapter 4 is slated for release in May 21, 2021. This would mean that The Continental will be arriving to Starz by the end of next year.
While The Continental ties directly into the world of John Wick, there is still no word on plot details. It was being perceived that the series would have film actor Keanu Reeves star or introduce a new protagonist. Hirsch only confirmed that Reeves will serve as a producer of the series. Moreover, that the series may also be in the form of a prequel of sorts, serving as an anthology series with a rotating cast centering on different branches of the hotel chain on a global scale.
“The Continental will be way earlier in the history of the series. It will be a fresh look at The Continental as the hotel and how that came into the being of John Wick.”, Hirsch stated.
There is still no word on whether actors Ian McShane and Lance Reddick would reprise their roles as hotel owner/manager Winston and concierge Charon, respectively — seeing as their characters has primarily managed and overseen the New York branch of the hotel for quite some now.
Talks of developing a series based on the film and its characters date back to June 2017 when Lionsgate Films was interested in expanding the saga. Flashforward to January 2018, Starz ordered it to series.
Chris Collins from The Sopranos will be writing the script and serve as showrunner. The series will be produced by Chad Stahelski, Derek Kolstad, David Leitch, Keanu Reeves and Basil Iwanyk. Stahelski will spearhead the production as the pilot series director ▪
source: Deadline