'The Continental' acts as an origins story to the Keanu Reeves action series

It's been announced via Deadline that Mel Gibson will be the star of 'John Wick' origin series 'The Continental'. To say there's been quite a reaction to the casting is putting it mildly...

In recent years, Mel Gibson's credits have included 'The Professor and the Madman', 'Dragged Across Concrete' and 'Daddy's Home 2'.

He has a number of projects currently in post-production, including 'Wake', in which he stars opposite Scott Eastwood, 'Waldo' with Morena Baccarin and Charlie Hunham, and 'Stu', which is led by Mark Wahlberg.

'The Continental' will constitute a three-night special-event TV series, produced for Starz by Lionsgate Television.

It will explore the origins of the hotel-for-assassins, which became a centerpiece in the 'John Wick' universe.

The story is told through the eyes of a young Winston Scott, who arrives in New York in 1975 to face a past he thought he’d left behind.

Winston charts a deadly course through New York’s mysterious underworld as he tries to seize the iconic hotel, which serves as the meeting point for the world’s deadliest criminals.

Mel Gibson's character is called Cormac, with no other details available yet.

In the 'John Wick' trilogy, Ian McShane plays Winston Scott, but he says he won't be in 'The Continental', other than perhaps providing voicework.

No word yet on who’ll play young Winston.

Safe to say, in the case of the Mel Gibson casting anyway, fans are not happy, and they took to Twitter to say so.

The release date for 'The Continental' is TBC but it's expected to arrive sometime in 2022.