Skip to main content

‘The Continental’ TV series set in the John Wick universe is coming to Starz

World-class assassins all need a place to hang out, and in the world of John Wick, that place is a glitzy but clandestine hotel in a hyper-realistic version of Los Angeles. The Continental is a new television drama in the works for Starz, focusing on the inner workings of the criminal hideout and its inhabitants with an emphasis on the action and dry humor of the films.

Not only that, the Keanu Reeves character may even drop by from time to time, but he won’t star in the series, according to Deadline. “It’s unclear what Keanu’s role will be but certainly this show is not designed to have him in the lead,” said Starz CEO Chris Albrecht.

Recommended Videos

“I think you can expect to see him at some point on the series,” said Carmi Zlotnik of Starz. “That is part of the ongoing conversation.”

Reeves will also be an executive producer on the series, along with the production team from the two films. Chad Stahelski, who co-directed John Wick and directed John Wick: Chapter 2, will direct the premiere episode. Chris Collins (Sons of Anarchy, The Wire) be the showrunner and write the series.

The news was announced at the Television Critics Associations winter event, according to the Hollywood Reporter. “This series is truly unlike anything else on TV,” Albrecht said. “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 introduce some new, darkly compelling characters who inhabit this underground world.”

A third John Wick film is due sometime in 2019. Rumors of a John Wick series have floated around for several years, but the acquisition of Lionsgate by Starz in 2016 certainly helped cement the deal.

Starz continues to ramp up its scripted television offerings, with The Continental joining series such as The Missing, Ash vs. Evil Dead, and Outlander. Ian McShane (Deadwood), who plays the proprietor of the Continental in the films, is currently appearing in another Starz series, American Gods. There’s no word yet on whether he’ll reprise his role in the new television series.

Mark Austin
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Mark’s first encounter with high-tech was a TRS-80. He spent 20 years working for Nintendo and Xbox as a writer and…
Ballerina: Chad Stahelski had to reshoot most of John Wick spinoff. Will the risk pay off?
Ana de Armas walks in a brightly lit room in "From the World of John Wick: Ballerina."

The John Wick universe will expand in 2025 with From the World of John Wick: Ballerina. Directed by Len Wiseman, Ballerina stars Ana de Armas as Eve Macarro, the titular ballerina who trains to be an assassin with the Ruska Roma criminal syndicate.

The film was originally scheduled to be released in June, but Lionsgate delayed the film a full year to 2025. The studio ordered reshoots and hired John Wick director Chad Stahelski to work on new action sequences with Wiseman. Reshoots are fairly normal for blockbusters. What started as reshooting a few scenes, however, has turned Ballerina into an entirely different movie.

Read more
Everything you need to know about the John Wick spinoff Ballerina
Ana de Armas sits and stares in Ballerina.

In 2014, Keanu Reeves starred as a retired hitman thrust back into the criminal underworld in John Wick. The film exceeded box office and critical expectations, with many fans and pundits praising Reeves' performance and the elaborate action sequences. John Wick spawned three sequels, with the latest entry – John Wick: Chapter 4 – premiering in March 2023.

The billion-dollar franchise is now expanding with spinoffs, which began with The Continental, Peacock's limited series about a young Winston Scott's rise to power in New York City. The next project will be Ballerina, the first spinoff feature film in the franchise. Officially titled From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, here is everything you need to know about the spinoff, including the release date, cast, synopsis, and trailer.
When does Ballerina come out?

Read more
John Wick returns to theaters for 10th anniversary, will feature Ballerina sneak peek
Keanu Reeves points and shoots a gun.

Yeah, we're thinking he's back. Ten years ago, Keanu Reeves uttered that iconic phrase in John Wick. This November, fans can experience that famous line in all of its glory on the big screen when John Wick returns to theaters for its 10th anniversary.

On November 3 and 6, Lionsgate and Fathom Events are teaming up to re-release John Wick in select theaters. The 10th-anniversary screenings will feature an exclusive sneak peek of Ballerina, the upcoming spinoff in the John Wick universe. Set during the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum, Ana de Armas stars as Eve Macarro, a young dancer who studies to become an assassin with the Ruska Roma criminal organization.

Read more