The Secrets Unveiled: Inside John Wick's Legendary Continental Hotel

Summary

The Continental hotels serve as safe havens for hitmen in John Wick's criminal empire, providing neutral territory and amenities.

The Continental hotels enforce strict regulations, such as prohibiting any business activities within their premises, and demanding payment for sanctuary.

The Continental hotels enjoy immunity from police and authority intervention, thanks to the formidable influence wielded by the leaders of the criminal empire.

The Continental series serves as a prequel to the popular John Wick films, focusing on the significance of the hotel within the franchise. The project was initiated in 2017 by Derek Kolstad, the writer of John Wick, and Chad Stahelski, who has directed all four movies. They aimed to expand upon the rich mythology hinted at in the films by creating a TV miniseries.

Given the depth of lore present in each John Wick film, it was a natural decision to explore this intricate mythology through The Continental series. The show introduces a fresh ensemble of characters and takes advantage of the storytelling opportunities that television offers. Delving into the extensive history of the eponymous hotel, many intriguing aspects of the Continental are explored, including its role within the John Wick universe, its previous managers, and the specific rules that assassins must adhere to while on the premises.

The Continental Hotel's Role In John Wick's Criminal Underworld Explained

When it comes to the role of the Continental in the John Wick timeline and universe, it can be explained quite simply. The Continental branches worldwide function as safe havens for hitmen who are part of the extensive criminal empire that John Wick himself was once associated with. These hotels act as neutral territories for assassins, providing them with secure accommodations while visiting different cities and also offering various amenities and services. Therefore, the Continental hotels play a crucial role in maintaining a relative degree of peace, law, and order within the realm of John Wick's criminal underworld.

The Continental Hotel's Rules Explained

The Continental hotel branch is of utmost importance to the entire infrastructure of the criminal underworld depicted in John Wick and The Continental. To maintain order, each hotel imposes a strict set of rules that all guests must abide by. The most significant and non-negotiable rule is the prohibition of any business dealings on the hotel premises. These hotels serve as sanctuaries for assassins, where fighting, killing, or carrying out contracts is strictly forbidden. Violating this rule leads to excommunication from the organization and, in severe cases, execution.

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One of the rules at Continental hotels is that sanctuary must be earned. Guests must use the currency of the John Wick universe, either by booking a room or buying a drink at the hotel bar, in order to ensure their safety on the premises. If guests spend currency within the Continental, they are granted sanctuary for as long as they choose to stay. Another rule pertains to excommunicado members of the Continental. Anyone involved in the criminal empire of the John Wick universe who aids excommunicated members can be subject to the punishment of death.

Lastly, there are rules at the Continental that are tied to the High Table, the leaders of the underworld in this universe. Even members of the High Table must adhere to the rules of the various Continental establishments. This means that the High Table holds the authority to deconsecrate a branch of the Continental if necessary, as was the case with the New York branch when Winston assisted John Wick, and the same fate befell the Osaka branch for a similar reason.

Why The Continental Hotel Is Protected From Police & Authority Interference

The John Wick films and The Continental prequel series emphasize that the hotels are shielded from intervention by real-world authorities such as the police. In the world of John Wick, the highest-ranking authoritative figures, including the police and governing bodies, are aware of the global criminal empire. Consequently, these authoritative institutions refrain from meddling in the realm of assassins, hitmen, and criminals due to the immense power of the High Table, their affiliates, and the empire they have established.

This is exemplified in John Wick when a police officer arrives at John's doorstep and discovers the dead bodies strewn throughout his house. Upon learning that John is back on the job, the police officer bids him goodnight, acknowledging his return to work. In the debut episode of The Continental, it is also evident that the police are not to intrude in the criminal underworld. Rookie detective KD remains oblivious to this rule and attempts to enter the New York branch, prompting her superiors to caution her against approaching the building under any circumstance.

The Continental Still Serves Assassins & Non-Assassin Guests Alike

The Continental's Gold Coin Currency Explained

Despite the aura of secrecy that engulfs the organization and the strict protocols to be upheld at the Continental, this establishment graciously accommodates both assassins and regular guests alike. Such inclusivity was exemplified in the first episode of The Continental, as KD, a non-assassin, ventured into the New York branch and effortlessly purchased a beverage using conventional currency. While her lack of ties to the criminal underworld within the John Wick universe society became evident to fellow patrons, it was irrefutably proven that the Continental extends its services even to those outside the realm of assassins.

The Continental hotels of the John Wick universe have established their own unique currency to cater to the underworld empire. This exclusive form of currency, known as gold coins, acts as a distinguishing factor between regular guests and those involved in the criminal realm such as assassins, mobsters, and gangsters. Additionally, the Continental hotels serve as a crucial banking institution, responsible for the circulation of new coins within the criminal empire of the John Wick world.

When New York City's Continental Hotel Was Founded & How It Became An Assassin Sanctuary

How Many Continental Hotels There Are Around The World & Where They Are

The New York branch of The Continental is the most frequently visited Continental in the John Wick movies and serves as the primary setting for the film series. While the exact origins of the assassin sanctuary in New York have never been confirmed, the John Wick universe has established that it was established in April 1904. This means that the New York Continental has been in operation for more than a century, making it a long-standing establishment when John Wick returned to the branch in 2014's John Wick.

Although there may be hundreds of Continental hotels worldwide, only four have been confirmed in the John Wick film series. One of these establishments is the aforementioned New York branch, managed by Winston and his concierge Charon in the four John Wick movies, and by Cormac in the 1970s during The Continental's earlier years. The Rome branch of the Continental takes center stage in John Wick: Chapter 2, while the Casablanca branch is showcased in John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum. Additionally, the first act of John Wick: Chapter 4 introduces the Osaka branch in Japan.

The Continental Hotel's Managers Explained & How They Serve The High Table

The Continental hotels in the John Wick franchise feature fascinating characters known as hotel managers. These managers, such as Winston, Cormac, Julius, Sofia Al-Azwar, and Koji Shimazu, are responsible for overseeing and controlling the operations of their respective establishments. What makes their role even more intriguing is that they possess significant authority, sometimes even exerting influence over the powerful High Table. Whenever a member of the High Table visits one of the Continentals, they are obligated to abide by the managers' rules.

While these managers have considerable control over their individual branches, their primary purpose is to serve the High Table. A portion of the profits generated by each Continental is allocated to the High Table. In addition, the managers play a crucial role in upholding the organization's regulations. They ensure that the Continental grounds remain safe havens, excommunicate individuals who violate the rules, and assist with investigations involving the High Table. These actions serve to maintain order within the world of the Continental and its relationship with the High Table.

The Continental Hotels' Services Explained

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Exploring the services offered by the various Continental hotels is worthwhile. In addition to providing sanctuary and accommodation, the Continental employs a range of professionals who can offer a variety of benefits to guests. From seamstresses and tailors who provide body armor to sommeliers who offer gun-related services, assassins can conveniently prepare their weapons and gear for future missions on the premises. Other services include cartographers who provide clients with maps or blueprints, as well as an on-site doctor available for any necessary medical treatment.

In terms of connecting clients with these professionals, the concierge is the primary point of contact at each Continental hotel. Charon, prominently featured in the John Wick movies, as well as the concierges at the Osaka, Casablanca, and Rome branches, are known for their exceptional assistance to guests of the Continental. These services further highlight the extensive reach of the criminal underworld in the John Wick franchise, particularly in relation to the chain of hotels on which The Continental show is based.