John Wick Prequel, The Continental, Gets A Director

The John Wick prequel, The Continental is now one step closer to being completed. Filmmaker Albert Hughes has been officially hired to direct two episodes of the three-part series for Lionsgate and Starz.

The three-part series will be a three-night event consisting of three 90-minute episodes, each rumored to have a budget of about $20 million.

The series will not feature John Wick in any way but will take place four decades before John Wick's dog got killed. It will follow a younger version of Ian McShane's character during his early days of setting up the hotelier with the intent of providing a sanctuary for hitmen in 1970s New York.

Back in April, Lionsgate chairman Kevin Beggs discussed what the spin-off will be about with Deadline saying: " ...a crumbling New York in the 1970s with a garbage strike that has piled up bags of garbage to the third floor of most brownstones, the mafia muscling in on that business which is why in The Sopranos he's in the sanitation business, and other things that are really real as an interesting backdrop to explore the origins of The Continental..."

This is definitely an intriguing backstory as the hotel played a very big role in the John Wick series.

The first three John Wick movies managed to capture the love and adoration of millions of people worldwide, grossing a mega $600 million in total. The fourth film in the franchise is scheduled to be released in May 2022, with a fifth film already in the pipeline.

Albert Hughes co-directed Menace II Society and Dead Presidents with his brother Allen Hughes. They were a duo who achieved high acclaim for many successful dramas in the 90s.

Now, working independently, Albert Hughes is known for helming The Good Lord Bird, and Alpha.

At the moment there isn't any official word on when The Continental will be released but we will keep an eye out for any information.