A new John Wick TV show has been confirmed, and it needs to avoid a major Keanu Reeves mistake in order to see more success than The Continental.
A new John Wick TV show is confirmed and on the horizon, but the project can’t make the same Keanu Reeves mistake as The Continental. Although John Wick: Chapter 4 seemed to end the titular assassin’s journey, more John Wick movies and TV shows are planned for the franchise. Lionsgate even announced a new John Wick TV series in March 2024, a surprising development after The Continental‘s lukewarm reception. In general, The Continental‘s reviews were worse than those of the John Wick movies. And there are several ways the spinoff could have been more successful.
While The Continental contains Easter eggs and references to the movies, a recurring complaint about the series is that it simply doesn’t feel like John Wick. This criticism encompasses everything from the style and coloring of the shots to the story. And there’s one huge thing missing from The Continental — something the new TV series can’t afford to exclude.
The Continental season 1 is streaming on Peacock.
The Next John Wick Show Can’t Repeat The Continental’s Keanu Reeves Mistake
The Upcoming Project Must Include The Franchise’s Lead
Keanu Reeves is clearly the selling point of the John Wick franchise, and that’s a major reason The Continental doesn’t hold up nearly as well as the movies. The next John Wick TV show must avoid making the same mistake as the prequel series by including Reeves’ lead. While the prequel couldn’t possibly feature Baba Yaga — it takes place too far ahead of the films and his time as an assassin — whatever Lionsgate is planning next must attempt to incorporate him into its story. That will help the show draw interest and cement its connection to the larger cinematic universe.
To underscore the interest in John Wick appearing in other franchise projects, there were rumors ahead of The Continental‘s release that Reeves’ character would appear in some capacity. This didn’t happen, and it proved an additional disappointment, compounding on the show’s other flaws. While an increase in quality is also needed for the next series to succeed, it is a return to the franchise’s roots. That means including what makes the John Wick movies great.
The Continental Spinoff Was Missing What Makes John Wick So Great
It Didn’t Connect Enough To The Original Story
It’s not only Reeves’ absence that hurt The Continental; it’s also the general lack of connection to his films and the story they tell. During an interview with MovieWeb, John Wick star Ian McShane expressed that the series “had nothing to do with” the movies, suggesting Peacock was “cashing in” on a connection that wasn’t truly there. McShane revealed that the talent from the films wasn’t consulted or asked to be involved in any way, which speaks to a greater issue with The Continental: it forgets what’s great about John Wick.
John Wick stands out among other releases in the action genre because of its cast and crew, all of whom bring obvious passion to the project. Reeves is at the center of this, but stars like McShane and Laurence Fishburne also give iconic performances that are difficult to top. The fact that The Continental is meant to follow a younger version of McShane’s character and doesn’t bother trying to replicate what the movies do right is a problem. It seems like The Continental tries too hard to be its own thing rather than a true addition to the John Wick franchise. Hopefully, the next TV show doesn’t take this approach.
How Keanu Reeves Can Be Involved In Future John Wick Shows, Even If He Doesn’t Star
The Actor Can Cameo Or Help Out Behind The Scenes
Not much is known about the upcoming John Wick TV show, but it won’t be difficult to include Reeves in some capacity, assuming the series takes place during or near the events of the movies. A series chronicling the assassin’s life before the first John Wick would be difficult to pull off, but it could answer some major questions about Baba Yaga. Given that there are plans for more John Wick sequels, the franchise could also bring Reeves back in a starring role. However, it would need a good reason to make this return happen in a series rather than a film.
Of course, the new project could also have Reeves appear in a cameo appearance. It would need to find a compelling main character to follow in order to move beyond the movies and see more success than The Continental. But even bringing Reeves in briefly will establish the connection between the new TV series and the John Wick movies. Having the actor serve in a behind-the-scenes advisory role could also ensure that the new John Wick TV show feels like the franchise it’s a part of. Really, that’s the most important feat upcoming spinoffs and sequels must accomplish.
