The fandom of John Wick is no stranger to the Continental Hotel. As it works like a hub for the assassins, a new prequel series has been released that shows the expansion of the universe, centering the legendary Continental Hotel as the main point. It follows a younger Winston Scott as he ascends to become the owner of New York’s hotel.
The three-part miniseries uses some of the filming locations featured in the John Wick quadrilogy. Even the Continental Hotel in the John Wick franchise is a real building. However, for the spinoff series, the makers had to rebuild the set as they could not get legal permission to shoot.
Does the Continental Hotel Really Exist?
As shown in the John Wick movies, the hotel is an assassin’s haven, which has its own rules and currency and is full of secrets and rooms. The chain of hotels located all around the globe functions as a neutral territory for members of the criminal underworld set in the universe of John Wick.
However, the hotel in the John Wick franchise is indeed a real-life establishment and is not just a product of Hollywood magic. It is located in New York City and can be found at 1 Beekman Street, situated in the downtown Financial District of Manhattan. It is a hotel in real life in a prime location that gives guests access to numerous attractions, dining options, and a glimpse of the bustling city life.
Why The Makers Have to Rebuilt The Continental Hotel For The Series?
Continental Hotel series production designer Drew Boughton shares that he and his team had a problem in recreating the hotel for the miniseries. Director Albert Hughes wanted to recreate the “all-is-lost” vibe of the 1970s sanitation strike in New York City as the iconic Continental building was unavailable for filming.
It was a challenge for the makers, but they turned it into an opportunity. The director and his team built a huge 40-foot-tall set from the ground up to recreate the Continental Hotel’s exterior. For some reason, the building used in the John Wick movies was not just unavailable, and the makers had no option as they resorted to recreating the iconic building.
The owners did not want to grant legal rights to the makers. It might create a visual distinction between the set’s facade and the actual building in New York, but the makers took advantage of the obstacle, according to NBC Insider.
“The Wick films are so sophisticated, visually slick with beautiful contemporary aspects. Our opportunity was to literally move all of that and do this in the ’70s in that beautiful genre of those times.”
Drew Boughton via NBC Insider.
What Is The Continental Hotel Series About?
Directed by Albert Hughes, the miniseries features Colin Woodell as Winston Scott. While the audiences have seen his older version, it was not possible to have the same actor in the prequel series. It is set in the ’70s when a young Winston takes ownership of the assassin-friendly inn and shows how he’s dragged into the hellscape.
The John Wick prequel series is just an expansion of the universe, as the franchise plans to explore more of its characters apart from the titular Keanu Reeves’ character. Continental Hotel is the first project from the universe, and the next would-be Ballerina, starring Ana de Armas as the main lead.
Apart from The Continental Hotel, which other character should be explored in a spin-off series? Let us know in the comments.
The Continental: From the World of John Wick Episode 1 premiere on Peacock on 22 September 2023, and the second and third installments will debut on September 29 and October 6, respectively.
Source: NBC Insider
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