Highlights
- Director Albert Hughes defends casting Mel Gibson in The Continental prequel series, praising his positive influence and professionalism on set.
- Despite Gibson's controversial past and backlash, Hughes believes his portrayal of antagonist Cormac O'Connor is fitting.
- While acknowledging Gibson's problematic behavior, Hughes separates his personal life from his professional abilities and emphasizes his essential contribution to the show.
TheContinental helmer Albert Hughes clarified that he stands by the decision to cast Mel Gibson as the antagonist in the JohnWick prequel series. Despite the controversy surrounding Gibson, the director has repeatedly come forward to let the world know about the positive influence Gibson had on the newly released show.
In The Continental, Gibson plays the role of Cormac O'Connor, a person who was responsible for running the Continental of New York during the 1970s. The recently released series serves as a prequel spin-off to the JohnWick franchise and tells the story of how Winston Scott, a character played by Ian McShane in the John Wick films, became the proprietor of the New York branch of The Continental chain of hotels. Cormac O'Connor is one of the most important characters on the show, and Hughes wanted a renowned star to play the role. Without any guesses, he chose Gibson for the position, and even though there has been a lot of backlash regarding his casting, the director defended his choice by hailing the actor for his positive presence on the set.
The Continental: From the World of John Wick Episode 1 Review
Winston Scott's prequel attempts the ill-advised effort of diving deeper into the past of John Wick's world.
While speaking in an interview with TV Insider, Hughes defended the decision to cast Gibson as Cormac in the John Wick prequel series and discussed why Hughes believes that Gibson's portrayal of the antagonist is fitting. He also commends his professionalism and dedication to the role. During the conversation, Hughes did acknowledge the star's controversial past but praised his performance and positive influence on set. Hughes said, "There’s a separation of what I know about his career behind the camera, what I know about his career in front of the camera, and what we needed for the role. What I’ve heard for the last 40 years about how he is on set, whatever you may think or say about him, he is a pro who is very egalitarian on the set. He treats people with respect. He talks to PAs, he talks to extras." He emphasized that Gibson's personal life should be separated from his professional abilities, emphasizing his essential contribution to the show.
There is no doubt that LethalWeapon star's controversial behavior has marred his reputation in the entertainment industry. He has been involved in numerous incidents, including making anti-Semitic remarks during a 2006 DUI arrest and using racist and sexist language in recorded conversations. These incidents have understandably generated public backlash and criticism. Many people find it difficult to separate Gibson's actions from his professional work, as his behavior has overshadowed his talent and contributions to film. That's why there was such an uproar when it was announced in 2021 that the veteran star was cast in the John Wick prequel series.
TheContinental premiered on September 22 and garnered a lackluster 50% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Hughes took a different approach to the John Wick spinoff series and reduced the length of action scenes by prioritizing the show's comprehensive story.
TheContinental is available for streaming on Peacock, with new episodes airing every Friday.
Source: TV Insider