Summary
- "The Continental: From The World of John Wick" is a spinoff mini-series that takes place in the late 1970s, 35-40 years before the events of the first John Wick movie. This time period will showcase a gritty and dangerous New York City, setting it apart from the rest of the franchise.
- The series will focus on the origin of The Continental hotel and feature beloved characters Winston and Charon, exploring their younger selves and the bonds they formed in the criminal underworld. Other familiar faces and new characters, including a major kingpin played by Mel Gibson, will also make appearances.
- With John Wick being an infant during the timeline of "The Continental," the series will address the question of whether John Wick is even alive or relevant at this point in the story. The mini-series aims to provide new information and deepen the world-building of the franchise while still delivering the stylish action and character-driven stories fans love.
With four films already in the John Wick franchise, fans are curious to know where The Continental: From The World of John Wick takes place in the franchise timeline. The Continental is a spinoff mini-series that's set within the fictional criminal world of the John Wick universe. Full of assassins, kingpins, and representatives of the High Table, the Peacock show follows the origin of the most prominent hotel for assassins in the franchise through the eyes of its leading character, Winston Scott (Colin Woodell), as well as his stalwart associate Charon (Ayomide Adegun).
The series is a three-night special event that plunge fans into the world of John Wick on the heels of John Wick: Chapter 4, its greatest installment so far. Based on everything known about The Continental, it's sure to deliver the world-building and character lore that have become staples of the franchise, with the added benefit of providing origin stories for two beloved fan favorites. Each episode will run for 90 minutes, and provide all the stylish action and moody aesthetic that have become visual hallmarks of the film series.
The Continental Is Set In The Late 1970s, Around 35-40 Years Before John Wick
The Continental will be set in the late '70s when Winston, the Continental's Manager, is in his prime. While it's difficult to know exactly when John Wick takes place, assuming it's set in the year it was made (2014), then what happens in The Continental will occur roughly 35–40 years prior to the events of that movie. Not much changes from one John Wick movie to the next as far as the hotel and its clientele are concerned, with the decor offering a timeless aesthetic, but New York City certainly changed around it from the '70s to the '10s.
In the '70s, New York City underwent a massive crime wave, and its grittiness and dangerousness were captured in a series of films that ushered in a new era of youthful cinema including King of New York, Taxi Driver, and The French Connection. The city itself was bankrupt and citizens were desperate to leave, and this volatile atmosphere will differentiate The Continental from the rest of the John Wick franchise if it's emphasized in the series. Perhaps the hotel and its special clientele will be part of the reason New York City cleaned up its act by the '80s.
Which John Wick Characters Are In The Continental
The Continental who will feature most prominently will be Winston and Charon, both in their current incarnations in the John Wick franchise and as their younger selves building up their reputations within the criminal underground. The John Wick prequel series will include their very first meeting, and possibly reveal why Charon has been so dedicated to Winston for decades. Indeed, it could include the ing of a blood marker and a life debt owed that blossomed into a truly committed friendship.
Other familiar faces from the John Wick franchise will include Uncle Charlie, originally played by David Patrick Kelly, and now played by Peter Greene in his younger incarnation. New characters will include Mel Gibson's Cormac, who's both a major kingpin in New York City and the manager of The Continental in the late '70s, as well as various other assassins under his protection. It's not known if any of the High Table besides The Adjudicator, played by Katie McGrath, will make an appearance, but if so, The Emissary, The Director, and any number of them in a certain age range could have cameos.
Is John Wick Even Alive In The Continental's Timeline
Since The Continental takes place in the mid-'70s, it's likely that John Wick would be an infant during the show's timeline. Keanu Reeves is in his '50s, but his character's age is supposed to be 35 in John Wick, which means he was likely a baby (or not even born). Given that Wick eventually is taken into the Ruska Roma as an orphan and trained from a young age to be an assassin, that's something that The Continental's sequel or another spin-off series like Ballerina will have to address.
Given that The Continental is a brisk three-episode mini-series, it will have to fit a lot of content into a short amount of time. Likely, it will plant the seeds that will grow and blossom over time as part of the unique world-building that has become such a hallmark of the franchise. It's tantalizing to think that The Continental: From The World of John Wick will both offer new and exciting kernels of information to the franchise, while still letting fans settle into stories about the beloved characters that they have seen John Wick in his fight for justice and absolution against the High Table for four films and counting.
