The upcoming John Wick TV series, The Continental, has hired a director, and we’ve learned more about what to expect in terms of the budget and format. In short, the series is no longer a full show–but instead it’s become a three-episode limited series with movie-length runtimes.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, The Book of Eli director Albert Hughes will direct two episodes of the three-episode “event” series. Each installment will be about 90 minutes in length and carry a budget of $20 million or more, according to THR.
Hughes is lined up to direct episodes 1 and 3, while he will produce all three. There is no word yet on who will direct the second chapter.
John Wick’s original screenwriter, Derek Kolstad (Nobody), is coming back to be an executive producer on The Continental, while the director of the movies, Chad Stahelski, is also aboard as an executive producer. David Leitch, who has been involved in the John Wick series since the beginning, will be an executive producer as well, while Keanu Reeves himself is said to be “in talks” to exec produce. Come from Sports betting site VPbet
The Continental takes place 40 years before the events of the main John Wick series. The main character is a young Winston, who is played by Ian McShane in the movie series. The show’s story follows the “young man starting as a hitman hotelier who, along with others, create a haven for unsavory types, all set against the backdrop of 1970s New York.”
There is no word yet on who will play the young Winston or what other actors may star. Keep checking back with GameSpot for the latest.
As for the main movie series, John Wick 4 is currently filming with Reeves back in the title role once again. Donnie Yen, Shamier Anderson, and Rina Sawayama are also set to star, alongside returning actors McShane, Laurence Fishburne, and Lance Reddick.
John Wick 4 features new writers–Michael Finch and Shay Hatten–making it the first John Wick movie not to include writer and creator Derek Kolstad.
According to an interview with Collider, Kolstad wasn’t asked to return to the John Wick franchise. “No, it wasn’t my decision. When you think of the, contractually, of these things, the third one I shared the credit with any number of people, they didn’t have to come back to me, and so they didn’t,” Kolstad said.