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The first spin-off of one of Lionsgate’s most acclaimed IPs hasn’t entirely cleared the bar its predecessor set up, asThe Continentalis currently sitting on an underwhelming 64% on the Tomatometer. While fans were engrossed in witnessing the history ofThe 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 forHacksaw Ridgeback 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.
Also read:“The crazy uncle we all know”: Mel Gibson’s Troubled Past Helped Him Get Role in Keanu Reeves’ ‘John Wick’ Spin-Off ‘The Continental’
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 inThe Continentalled 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 theBraveheartStar was perfect for the aging mobster Cormac. Per theNew 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.
Also read:Despite Facing Potential Career-Ending Controversies, Mel Gibson Has a Whopping Number of Movies With an Oscar Nod – How Many of Them Actually Won One?
Albert Hughes Wasn’t Initially Onboard WithThe Continental
While Albert Hughes had a great time crafting the prequel show, taking influences fromTaxi 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 theJohn Wickprojects were a form of escapism. He toldTV 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.”
Also read:“You found someone that is crazier than I am”: Tom Hardy Did Not Fail to Make a First Impression on Mel Gibson After Giving Him a Bracelet in a Cheesy Move
AlthoughThe Continentalhas 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 Continentalis available to stream on Peacock.
Source:New York Post,TV Insider
Santanu Roy
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2542
Santanu Roy is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on movies, with over 2,000 articles under his belt. He has been pursuing a degree in Animation and possesses a deep love for the medium of animation. Having spent the better part of the last two years pumping out articles for FW, Santanu excels at covering movie analysis and news surrounding Pixar, DCU, DreamWorks, and Batman’s cinematic legacy.With psychological thrillers and intimate slice-of-life dramas ranking among his favorite genres, Santanu is a big admirer of Luca Guadagnino, Shane Black, Park Chan-wook, and Brad Bird.
