Starz President & CEO Chris Albrecht announced today at the Television Critics Association (TCA) Winter 2018 Press Tour that Starz and Lionsgate are developing a television series adaptation of the highly successful Lionsgate film franchise John Wick.The Continentalseries will be set in theJohn 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, andThe 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 (theJohn Wickfilm franchise,The Town,Sicario), Chad Stahelski (John Wickco-director andJohn Wick: Chapter 2director),John Wickfranchise 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 Continentalcontinues 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. Here’s what Starz' Chris Albrecht had to say in a statement.
“This series is truly unlike anything else on TV.The Continentalpromises to include the thunderous fight sequences and intensely staged shootouts between professional assassins and their targets that fans have come to expect in theJohn Wickmovie 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.” Starz retains all domestic multiplatform pay TV and SVOD rights to the series. Lionsgate retains all international and domestic distribution and home entertainment rights. We reported in July that Lionsgate was moving forward with thisaction TV series, with Chad Stahelski revealing that the show will feature Continental Hotels from all over the world that cater to these assassins, while hinting that Keanu Reeves might actually make an appearance asJohn Wick, although the show doesn’t revolve around him at all. An earlier report also indicated this may be aprequel seriesbut that has yet to be confirmed.
