Albert Hughes To Direct ‘John Wick’ Prequel Event Series ‘The Continental’

According to THR, Albert Hughes (“The Book of Eli,” “From Hell,” “Menace II Society”) has been set as director for most of Starz’s “John Wick” prequel spin-off “The Continental”.

The prequel will revolve around The Continental, the chain of hotels located all around the world that function as a neutral territory for members of the criminal underworld. 

Continental is set 40 years before the events of the Wick series and focuses on a young man named Winston. He will one day grow up to be the character played by Ian McShane in the Wick movies but in the prequel’s story is a young man starting as a hitman hotelier who, along with others, create a haven for unsavory types, all set against a backdrop of 1970s New York.

The project, which was originally developed to be a series, has reportedly been reconceived as a three-part, three-night event limited series, with each episode coming in at both a movie-length (around 90 minutes) and at a movie budget (upwards of $20 million each).

Hughes, who most recently directed 2018’s “Alpha” and the pilot of Showtime’s “The Good Lord Bird,” will serve as director of the first and third episodes. Hughes and his brother Allen Hughes directed and wrote the urban dramas Menace II Society and Dead Presidents.

A director for the middle episode hasn’t been chosen as yet. Chad Stahelski has helmed all the films in the series to date.

Chris Collins, Derek Kolstad and Chad Stahelski have all worked on the scripts for the series. Kolstad, Stahelski, Basil Iwanyk and David Leitch are executive producing and Reeves is in talks to do so as well.

“The Continental” is expected to arrive after the currently filming “John Wick: Chapter 4” hits cinemas next year.