Disregarded the Same Affection Towards 'The Continental' by Director of 'John Wick'
On the horizon this week, a new movie from the coveted John Wick saga hits theaters - Ballerina. You've probably heard the chatter about it, but two years ago, there was another John Wick streaming series on Peacock that slipped under the radar - The Continental: From the World of John Wick. The show debuted in 2023 to lackluster reviews and a tepid response. A return hasn't been announced yet.
Part of the reason might be because powerhouses behind the John Wick franchise, namely star Keanu Reeves and co-creator/director/current overseer Chad Stahelski, didn't play a significant role. In a recent interview discussing both Ballerina and a new docu Wick is Pain, Stahelski sounded less than thrilled about the previous series.
"Keanu and I didn’t exactly take a back seat, but our opinion wasn't exactly considered," Stahelski divulged to The Hollywood Reporter. "The studio tried to convince me they knew what they were doing. A few individuals thought they had the secret sauce, but if you remove Basil Iwanyk's intuitive production, Keanu's zany dialogue delivery, and all the visuals I keep in my head from Wong Kar-wai, anime, Leone, Bernardo Bertucci or Andrei Tchaikovsky... it's not the same thing. They thought this was as easy as using anamorphic lenses, making a peculiar hotel, inserting crime drama."
Stahelski then admitted that his approach doesn't necessarily align with the norm. “If you saw our process, you’d be like, 'You’re telling me this billion-dollar franchise does it this way?'" he said. "I scout my next film in London and we found a cool location yesterday that completely changed the second act. We rewrote the whole thing. I find great cast members and rewrite their parts constantly. That's what makes [the movies] so good and organic-we're constantly upgrading. But the studio likes to know what they're getting for their buck and want to lock a script for budget reasons. While we're saying, 'Just write the check, we'll see you at the finish line.'"
This was not the case with The Continental, but it was with Ballerina, in which both Stahelski and Reeves participated. And chances are, the situation will be different with John Wick 5, if it moves forward.
"I'm not lying to you, it's a bit of a puzzle," Stahelski admitted about bringing Wick back, considering Wick died in the last film. "Mike Finch- the writer on 4 who's also writing 5-and I have a pretty good story that I think is cool. Once we have a 50-page outline, and if we're feeling it, we'll sit with Keanu and shape this thing. Look, everyone seems to want it. It's a matter of whether we crack it. We're actively working on it. It's just... will it be satisfying?"
As for John Wick 5, the wait continues. But if you want to read more from Stahelski, check out his interview on The Hollywood Reporter.
In related news, expect the latest releases for Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek, future plans for the DC Universe on film and TV, and updates on the future of Doctor Who.
- Chad Stahelski, co-creator of the John Wick franchise, seemed less than enthusiastic about the streaming series The Continental: From the World of John Wick, which debuted in 2023, stating that the studio's approach didn't align with his creative process.
- Unlike The Continental, the upcoming movie John Wick 5 promises a more active role for Stahelski and star Keanu Reeves, with the creators openly discussing their ongoing efforts to craft a satisfying storyline.
- In the realm of entertainment, streaming platforms like 'movies-and-tv' are continually expanding their offerings, with upcoming releases including Disney's AI-powered, live-action Star Wars series and new installments in popular franchises such as Marvel, Star Trek, DC Universe, and Doctor Who.
