The first spin-off of one of Lionsgate’s most acclaimed IPs hasn’t entirely cleared the bar its predecessor set up, as The Continental is currently sitting on an underwhelming 64% on the Tomatometer. While fans were engrossed in witnessing the history of The Continental, one major controversy that plagued the project since its announcement was Mel Gibson’s inclusion.
Gibson’s controversial past has resulted in him being blacklisted from Hollywood for years before he eventually found his footing back and even took an Oscar home for Hacksaw Ridge back in 2017. But his inclusion in the prequel to one of the most acclaimed action IPs of recent times wasn’t met with utmost applaud, and the show’s director did come forward to address the issues.
Mel Gibson Is the Perfect Fit for the Role Said Director
Mel Gibson‘s infamous anti-Semitic comments and domestic abuse allegations back in the mid-2000s resulted in his career taking a major toll. And even though the actor-director is once again witnessing a gradual ascend, the news of him playing one of the most prominent figures in The Continental led to a massive outrage from fans. Reflecting on the fan outrage, director Albert Hughes said Gibson’s “personal stuff is not my business to talk about”, expressing that the Braveheart Star was perfect for the aging mobster Cormac. Per the New York Post, Hughes said,
“I cast [Mel Gibson] based on his past work that I grew up on. And I think he fit the role perfectly. I think once fans see it, they’ll understand why. The personal stuff is not my business to talk about.”
He further revealed that Gibson was extremely professional and treated everyone involved in the project with utmost respect during the filming process.
Albert Hughes Wasn’t Initially Onboard With The Continental
While Albert Hughes had a great time crafting the prequel show, taking influences from Taxi Driver, Midnight Cowboy, and Hong Kong Cinema, he wasn’t initially onboard with the project. Hughes explained that he didn’t “want to play in another man or woman’s sandbox”, but things changed after Covid, as for him the John Wick projects were a form of escapism. He told TV Insider:
“After Covid and everything everybody’s been through, I just wanted to have fun and escape. John Wick films are escapism. I was able to, for the first time, not be servicing generational trauma or social issues. John Wick kind of kicks that out. You see it when we reference Vietnam, and characters who have been affected by it, but we’re not going heavy handed.”
Although The Continental has its charm and acts as a serviceable spin-off, the Mel Gibson-led show falls short of the standard set by its predecessors, especially Keanu Reeves’ John Wick 4.
The Continental is available to stream on Peacock.
Source: New York Post, TV Insider
