Cash Grab? John Wick Star Shades The Continental Spin-Off

Summary:

• The John Wick spin-off The Continental expanded the lore of the New York hotel, taking the action back to the 1970s.
• The Continental series featured the younger version of Ian McShane’s Winston Scott, the hotel’s owner.
• Ian McShane slammed the show as a cash grab, claiming its creators never reached out to him, Reeves, or even director Stahelski.

Chad Stahelski's John Wick franchise appeared seemingly out of thin air in 2014 and immediately became a worldwide phenomenon. With four movies in total, the brutal and captivating world of modern-day assassins keeps expanding even beyond its titular character's death... But not everyone is happy with its current direction.

The Continental Expanded the John Wick Lore

In the John Wick universe, The Continental is an essential hotel chain: its establishments serve as a neutral ground for the various underworld folks, including gangsters, assassins, and whatnot. The Continental hotels are crucial for the underworld’s functionality and are the staple of the John Wick movies.

And, consequently, the spin-off TV shows.

Peacock ’s TV series The Continental expanded upon the John Wick lore, taking its viewers back to the 1970s. In this show, we see how the iconic hotel chain worked back in the day and learn some of its past secrets… But admittedly, The Continental’s lore can’t be fully considered part of the John Wick lore. At least, according to the original movie star.

John Wick Star Calls The Continental Cash Grab

In the original John Wick movies, Ian McShane portrayed Winston Scott, Wick’s friend and the owner of The Continental in New York. McShane is an essential part of all four movies, so when his character was taken into the 1970s without his — or Keanu Reeves ’s, or Chad Stahelski’s — permission, he became reasonably upset.

“I wouldn’t watch [The Continental]. I don’t think Keanu watched it; neither has Chad. It had nothing to do with our movies. It’s just a question of a TV company cashing in on the series <...> They never asked us about anything, so why would I be interested in seeing it? I’m afraid their arrogance in getting the show out is beyond me so I wish them well,” the actor told MovieWeb.

According to McShane, The Continental series wasn’t appreciated by the original John Wick stars and creator in the slightest. Well, as the actor himself pointed out, the show’s “come and gone”: unlike the 95%-and-higher-scored movies, the TV show ended its run with 63% Critic Score on Rotten Tomatoes and didn’t become a worldwide sensation on par with Chad Stahelski’s movies.

Source: MovieWeb