After John Wick: Chapter 4, The Continental will be the first spinoff in Keanu Reeves’ Baba Yaga universe.
The John Wick series has established itself as a cornerstone of the genre. Chapter 4, released last month, proved to be a festival of creativity in its fight scenes, taking the audience on a nearly 3-hour, exhausting but impressive journey. The end of the film had hinted that the end was near for Keanu Reeves’ invincible assassin character.
Still, with the franchise’s incredible popularity, Lionsgate has launched the creation of several spin-offs to expand the universe and capitalize on the success of its films. Ballerina, set for a theatrical release on June 5, 2024, will feature Ana de Armas as a Russian mafia assassin. But before that film, there will be the series The Continental, which recently revealed its plot. A prequel centered on the character of Winston, played by Ian McShane, the series has shown a bit more in a first trailer.
The first images of The Continental maintain the mystery around the plot, but show enough to pique our curiosity. They display the precision and sleek aesthetic of the John Wick movies, although the series seems to have its own visual flair, with fewer neon lights and more of a crime thriller vibe. This teaser reminds us that the show will take place in the 70s, complete with disco music and colourful costumes. The diversity of assassins presented in these images is reassuring for the project, even without Keanu Reeves’ Baba Yaga character in the cast.
No John Wick, but a team that knows the franchise well, as David Leitch, Keanu Reeves, and Chad Stahelski are producing. The cast includes Colin Woodell as a young Winston, who will face a formidable opponent played by Mel Gibson as a hitman. Peter Greene and Ayomide Adegun will portray younger versions of Uncle Charlie and Charon. Planned as a three-episode miniseries of 90 minutes each, The Continental will arrive on Peacock in the US in September 2023. It is expected to be released soon after on Amazon Prime Video in France.
