The first trailer for the mini-series The Continental, a spin-off set in the John Wick universe, has debuted on Peacock. The sneak peek signals a bold expansion of the world that fans have come to know for its high-stakes intrigue and stylish action.
The Continental is a deep dive into a different era of the Wick mythology. Set in the 1970s, roughly four decades before the events of the original John Wick films, the narrative follows a young Winston as he navigates a dangerous, tightly knit underworld. Colin Woodell embodies this younger version of Winston, a character who must build bridges with a brutal guild and prove he can run a formidable hotel that serves as a sanctuary and a power base for killers. The program spans three episodes with a total runtime of about ninety minutes, framing Winston’s ascent in a world where loyalty is negotiable and survival hinges on wit and nerve. The series is positioned to make its debut in September 2023, offering fans a prequel lens on how the Continental Hotel became a sanctuary and a command center for the franchise’s infamous clientele.
Industry stakeholders have teased additional momentum for John Wick’s expanding universe. Lionsgate’s leadership has signaled another spin-off featuring Ana de Armas, with potential air windows slated for the spring or summer of 2024. The executive emphasis on ongoing collaboration with Keanu Reeves underscores a deliberate strategy to sustain momentum without diluting the core tone and iconography fans expect from the Wick brand. Early conversations hint that The Continental might continue to surface in prime time as the production team closes in on final cuts, suggesting the episodes are nearing completion and prepared for a strategic rollout across platforms.
Ballerina, another high-profile entry in the Wick ecosystem, is directed by Len Wiseman, whose signature style has shaped action-driven fantasy through projects like the Underworld series and Die Hard 4.0. In this installment, Ana de Armas pairs with Keanu Reeves to reprise their franchise connections, while Ian McShane returns to portray Winston, the hotel proprietor who anchors the Wick world in New York. McShane’s recurring presence provides a strong through-line that threads the new stories back to the established lore, offering continuity for longtime fans and a familiar face for new viewers discovering the franchise through related titles. The ensemble cast and the cross-film continuity reinforce the sense that the Wick universe is expanding thoughtfully rather than fragmenting its mythos.
Taken together, these developments illustrate a deliberate strategy to broaden the John Wick universe beyond the action of a single feature. The Continental and Ballerina promise to deepen the franchise’s cultural footprint by exploring character origins, hotel politics, and the moral ambiguities that define professional killers turned almost cordial conspirators. For audiences in Canada and the United States, the staggered release plan across Peacock and anticipated broadcast windows creates a pathway to experience multiple facets of the Wick universe, from the intimate politics of a hotel’s inner circle to the broader, stylized battles that have become a hallmark of the franchise. These projects also invite speculation about how the new material will align with the tonal signature of the films while inviting fresh talent to reinterpret iconic roles and relationships. The evolving slate underscores a broader trend in contemporary franchise storytelling: expanding a popular cinematic universe through interconnected, episodic explorations that preserve core themes while inviting new perspectives and storytelling techniques. In this light, the Wick universe continues to evolve as a living, expanding world with room for both familiar faces and new protagonists to drive the narrative forward.