Editorial Staff
Starz President & CEO Chris Albrecht announced today at the Television Critics Association (TCA) Winter 2018 Press Tour that Starz and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B) are developing a television series adaptation of the highly successful Lionsgate film franchise ”John Wick”. “The Continental” series will be set in the ”John Wick” universe, focusing on the inner workings of the exclusive Continental Hotel which serves as a refuge for assassins.
Acclaimed writer/producer Chris Collins (“Sons of Anarchy,” “The Wire,” and “The Man in the High Castle”) will write the series and serve as showrunner. The show will be executive produced by a world-class creative team led by Thunder Road Pictures’ Basil Iwanyk (the ”John Wick” film franchise, ”The Town”, ”Sicario”), Chad Stahelski (”John Wick” co-director and ”John Wick: Chapter 2” director), ”John Wick” franchise screenwriter Derek Kolstad, along with Collins, David Leitch (”John Wick” co-director, Deadpool 2) and Keanu Reeves. Stahelski will direct the premiere episode.
Collins expands the universe in the series by focusing on the Continental Hotel and those who find refuge under its roof. Set in a hyper-real version of Los Angeles, the series maintains the urgency of the action along with the dry humor from the ”John Wick” movies. Drawing upon the collaborative efforts of Lionsgate’s film, television and Starz platforms, “The Continental” continues the growth of a franchise that has already generated two hit films that have grossed nearly $300 million at the worldwide box office and a successful virtual reality mobile game.
“This series is truly unlike anything else on TV,” said Albrecht. “‘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 introducing some new, darkly compelling characters who inhabit this underground world.”
Senior Vice President of Original Programming Karen Bailey is the Starz executive in charge of “The Continental.”
Update! “John Wick” star Keanu Reeves is expected to appear, eventually, on the show. “You can expect to see him at some point,” Starz President of original programming Carmi Zlotnik told reporters at the TCA Press Tour. (The Wrap)
