Explosive Action Unveiled: Exclusive Insights on Frankie's Intense Stairwell Battle in the John Wick Prequel
The Continental's stairwell fight scene in the John Wick prequel gets a detailed breakdown by the stunt coordinator, shedding light on the unprecedented level of brutality and intensity displayed Prepare to be blown away!
Warning! SPOILERS ahead for The Continental episode 1.
Summary
The stairwell fight scene in the first episode of The Continental was meticulously planned and flawlessly executed. The team put in considerable effort to design the action, ensuring the perfect balance of tension and drama.
Given the limited shooting time, the crew demonstrated their intelligence by strategizing the action sequence. They understood that they might not get another opportunity to reshoot or return to the location.
In The Continental, viewers can expect more of the high-quality, intense fights and brutal action that is characteristic of the John Wick franchise. Stunt coordinator Larnell Stovall breaks down Frankie's fierce stairwell fight in the series, which serves as a prequel to John Wick and is set in the 1970s. The show delves into the backstory of Winston Scott's involvement in New York City's criminal underworld, with Colin Woodell portraying his younger counterpart. Alongside Woodell, the talented cast of The Continental includes Mel Gibson, Mishel Prada, Ayomide Adegun, Peter Greene, and Ben Robson. The first episode, titled "Brothers in Arms," premiered on September 22 and showcased Frankie's hotel robbery, followed by a thrilling pursuit up a flight of stairs where he fights his way to survival.
In a recent Variety interview, Stovall discussed the intricate process behind crafting the intense stairwell fight scene in The Continental. He revealed that due to time constraints, the crew had to be strategic in their planning. Stovall's insights into Frankie's brutal fight scene are outlined below:
After exploring various stairwells, we finally found the perfect one. Both the Budapest and U.S. teams joined forces at the gym to create our own version of it. We meticulously designed every aspect, including the number of levels, the duration of the sequence, and worked tirelessly to ensure authenticity. Our main goal was to generate tension and drama by having opponents approach Frankie from both up and down the stairs. It was as if countless ants were converging on him, leaving the audience in suspense about his escape plan.
Our level of quality rivals that of a feature film, even though our shooting schedule is more in line with that of a TV show. In certain fight scenes from 'John Wick', it would take us anywhere from three to five days to capture the entire sequence. In contrast, for TV productions, we only have a single day to do the same. This requires us to be incredibly resourceful in how we design and execute the action sequences, considering the uncertainty of future filming opportunities or locations. However, we managed to accomplish it successfully. This particular project served as our inaugural showcase, revealing to our audience both our identity and the caliber of action they can anticipate from us.
How Brutal Is The Continental's Action?
At The Continental, Frankie perpetrated a break-in during Cormac's (Gibson) New Year's Eve celebration. His target was a valuable and enigmatic coin press. However, he was ambushed and chaos ensued, with gunshots ringing out among the party guests. In the midst of his escape, Frankie resorted to killing several men, astoundingly transforming the stolen object into a formidable weapon. This entire sequence portrayed intense and brutal action, with copious amounts of bloodshed and even a person plunging from a great height. The scene concluded with Frankie leaping from a window, only to be retrieved by someone below.
Albert Hughes, the director of the inaugural episode, had previously elucidated that The Continental's action was deliberately condensed to leave viewers yearning for more. Undoubtedly, the standout moment of the premiere was Frankie's intense battle in the stairwell. Equally striking was when The High Table ruthlessly attacked his accomplice. As the final minutes unraveled, a greater display of ruthless action occurred. Frankie, preparing to escape, found himself pitted against lethal assassins alongside Winston, Yen (Nhung Kate), apparently leading to his demise.
The John Wick franchise is renowned for its outstanding fight sequences and stunt performances, and it appears that The Continental will uphold this reputation. With only two episodes remaining, the level of intensity that awaits is intriguing, and Stovall's remarks imply that there are further surprises in store.
