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I was intimidated by Mel Gibson on The Continental – but got the biggest shock when the cameras stopped rolling
THE world of John Wick is expanding with a new TV prequel series - The Continental.
The three-episode show - which drops on Prime Video on Friday - explores the origin story behind the iconic hotel-for-assassins made famous in the Keanu Reeves-led films.
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The Continental is set in 1970s New York City and follows a young Winston Scott as he charts a deadly course through the hotel's mysterious underworld in a harrowing attempt to seize it from its current boss, Cormac.
Cormac is played by legendary actor Mel Gibson and the menacing character will definitely appeal to fans of the John Wick Universe.
Speaking about working with the Oscar-winner, The Continental's Action Director Larnell Stovall admitted that despite his own successful career in the industry, he was nervous to work with him.
Larnell said: "What was interesting about Mel was...look, I grew up watching him, so the idea of being on set with him was pretty intimidating.
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"You have to present something as small as 'Hi Sir this is what we are planning on doing in this small action sequence', you're never really telling him what to do, you're suggesting.
"But after a few moments he's like 'Hey kid, you know what you're doing', then he opens up."
Larnell spoke at an immersive experience hosted at the Redchurch Townhouse in London, which had been turned into The Continental for the launch of the new series.
He recalled how he got to see the fun side of Mel, which is at odds with the serious and sinister character he plays in the show.
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He said: "One time we had a conversation about [film] The Three Stooges, and just seeing that lighter side and seeing him be a big kid when he's such a giant in the industry concerning talent, instinct and different things.
"It was cool watching him in action and then when we cut 'Hey Larn!' and he would just come back and start commenting and just start clowning and saying different things.
"You know that character Riggs you saw in Lethal Weapon? That really is him at times. Just really zany, off the cuff and also very intelligent. The few moments I had with him were really fun."
Alongside Mel, the cast includes Colin Woodell, Ben Robson, Mishel Prada, Peter Greene, Hubert Point-Du Jour and Jeremy Bobb.
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The Continental premieres on Prime Video on Friday, September 22.
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