rewrite this content and keep HTML tags Breadcrumb Trail Links Television ‘He’s so fun and goddamn smart because he’s been around forever,’ series director Albert Hughes says Get the latest from Mark Daniell straight to your inbox Sign Up Published Sep 22, 2023 • Last updated 23 minutes ago • 4 minute read Mel Gibson in a scene from the John Wick prequel series The Continental, now streaming on Prime Video. Photo by Prime Video Article content Keanu Reeves’ vengeful assassin might be dead and gone, but that doesn’t mean the murderous underworld John Wick shot and stabbed his way through isn’t going to continue. Advertisement 2 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. 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Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. Article content A new prequel miniseries set in the 1970s centres on a younger version of Winston Scott (Colin Woodell taking over from Ian McShane) and explores the origins of the hotel-for-killers that sits at the centre of Reeves’ four-film franchise. Article content The Continental: From the World of John Wick, which is now streaming on Prime Video, sets Winston on a collision course with the hotel’s menacing manager, Cormac (played by Mel Gibson), after his brother Frankie (Ben Robson) becomes a target for stealing a valuable coin press. The bullet-riddled series serves as an introduction into the world of Wick that was first popularized by franchise director Chad Stahelski. But for moviemaker Albert Hughes (Menace II Society, From Hell, The Book of Eli), it was also an opportunity to broaden and add layers to the film’s vast mythology, the inner workings of the High Table and the titular assassin’s charming chief ally. Your noon-hour look at what’s happening in Toronto and beyond. By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails or any newsletter. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300 Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don’t see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Your Midday Sun will soon be in your inbox. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again Article content Advertisement 3 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content “The thing that’s interesting about the John Wick world is it’s enigmatic and mysterious,” Hughes says over Zoom. “They don’t tell you everything. You have to fill a lot of it in yourself. So it’s a big question mark. Of course they’ve got a lot of wild action, but what’s up with all those coins?” With Stahelski producing, The Continental digs into that question and introduces new characters to the Wick canon as Winston assembles a gang, including his eventual right-hand man Charon (Ayomide Adegun, stepping in for the late Lance Reddick), in a quest to take down Cormac. Colin Woodell as a young Winston Scott in The Continental. Photo by Prime Video But Hughes says it was Gibson, who found global fame playing Martin Riggs in the Lethal Weapon quadrilogy, who seemed most at home in this extension of the Wick universe. Advertisement 4 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content “He’s so fun and goddamn smart because he’s been around forever, but he hasn’t had an opportunity to play a lot of bad guys until recently,” Hughes says. “The little-known thing that casual fans don’t know is his one-liners and zingers that he originated in the Lethal Weapon movies, that’s all him.” But not only was Gibson coming up with some of his own dialogue, he was a constant presence on set. “He’s egalitarian in his work. He treats everyone — production assistants, extras — the same. He never goes to his trailer. He’s just out on the set with everyone, and it’s a good example for the younger actors to see that.” Mel Gibson as Cormac in The Continental. Photo by Prime Video Like other TV series based on existing movies, Hughes says he wanted The Continental to tap into the films’ penchant for action while going in a new direction. Advertisement 5 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content “I had these wonderful examples — Noah Hawley doing Fargo, Jon Favreau doing Mandalorian, Tony Gilroy doing Andor — where I could say, ‘OK, those are universes that are well established. But these are creative people who came in and honoured the original while doing their own thing.’” With Reeves’ films known for their balletic action, Hughes didn’t try to copy Stahelski’s one-shot takes, gun-fu and bar-raising stunts note for note. “I think the stylistic tie-ins were natural. We both were coming from watching early aughts movies that had a lot of shaky cam and too much hand-held and fast edits. We both went for the same things where we wanted to see the actors (performing action) in a wide shot,” Hughes says. “I did it with Book of Eli and Chad did it in his stunt coordinating days and carried that through to the John Wick movies. I love Chad’s style, but I don’t want to emulate another man or woman’s style. People have Chad for that and he does a fantastic job.” Advertisement 6 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Like the movies, The Continental introduces viewers to a new assembly of eccentric killers, including silent siblings Hansel (Mark Musashi) and Gretal (Marina Mazepa), and the mask-wearing Adjudicator (Katie McGrath), an enforcer for the High Table. A police detective named KD (Mishel Prada) adds another layer of intrigue when she takes an interest in the machinations of the hotel and Winston. The ’70s setting and classic needle drops that populate the soundtrack add a different flavour to the mix, but don’t be mistaken — this is still part of the world of Wick. There are bruising fistfights, epic gun battles and plenty of spilled blood. The Continental is just the first in the ever-widening world of Wick. Next year, Ana de Armas will play a new assassin in the spinoff movie Ballerina, which will no doubt be unique as well. “We can be inspired by certain choices Chad has made in the universe,” Hughes says. “But if I’m going to do my job as a filmmaker, you want to introduce the audience to something from the same world but quite different.” The Continental: From the World of John Wick is now streaming on Prime Video mdaniell@postmedia.com X: @markhdaniell Keanu Reeves returns to full-tilt action with ‘John Wick’ ‘John Wick’ directors praise ‘supportive’ Keanu Reeves Article content Share this article in your social network Comments Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. 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‘John Wick’ spinoff director hails Mel Gibson’s ‘Continental’ villain
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