Mel Gibson set for John Wick origin series, The Continental

Looks like one of the most iconic actors of all time is joining one of today’s most lucrative franchises. Lethal Weapon and Mad Max star Mel Gibson is set to headline the John Wick spin-off/prequel series The Continental. Mel Gibson will play a character named Cormac. What his involvement with the story remains a mystery at this time.

Here is the plot of the series:

The Continental will explore the origin behind the hotel-for-assassins, which increasingly has become the centerpiece of the John Wick universe. This will be accomplished through the eyes and actions of a young Winston Scott, who is dragged into the Hell-scape of a 1975 New York City to face a past he thought he’d left behind. Winston charts a deadly course through New York’s mysterious underworld in a harrowing attempt to seize the iconic hotel, which serves as the meeting point for the world’s most dangerous criminals.

Ian McShane plays Winston in the John Wick feature films but it is currently unknown who will portray his younger self. This is a significant grab for the Lionsgate series as Mel Gibson has only appeared on the small screen in any capacity other than guest starring or cameos once before. That was in his screen debut on The Sullivans, an Australian period drama that aired from 1976-1983.

“What we’re exploring in The Continental is the young Winston and how it came to be that he and his team of confederates found their way into this hotel which we have met for the first time in the movie franchise 40 years later,” said Lionsgate TV’s Kevin Beggs. “That’s the arena. I won’t give away more than that, but Starz leaned into this take also, and they have been great collaborators. And how we’ve approached this first season is as three essentially 90-minute events which you could construe as a limited series or a limited event series.”

Gibson’s personal life has led to something of a Hollywood blacklisting over the last twenty years. Over the last five years or so, Gibson’s career has begun to have a resurgence. Appearing as part of the John Wick franchise could be a substantial boost for the Academy Award winner. Oh, The Continental, Mel Gibson certainly is a wild card pick for you. Let’s keep the surprises going with some more intriguing casting announcements as the project comes together, shall we?