Yeah, I’m thinking he’s back.
Just a few weeks ago, the Hollywood Reporter published a story about an “immersive and interactive experience” opening soon in Las Vegas’s Area 15. We’ve reported on some of the immersive experiences at Area 15 and are well aware of the care and craftsmanship that goes into each of their attractions. The John Wick Experience is no exception to their attention to detail- the entire project is fully licensed and created in collaboration with Chad Stahelski, the director of the John Wick movies and his stunt team at 87Eleven Entertainment. Locally, the attraction was produced by Egan Productions, an entertainment group responsible for licensed fan experiences like the “Saw”, “IT”, and “The Blair Witch Project” escape rooms in Las Vegas. Rounding out the all-star production team is Las Vegas local director, creator, and overall theatrical badass Troy Heard. He’s the powerhouse writer and director of the cult favorite, SCREAM’D: The Unauthorized Musical Parody of 1996’s “Scream”. It’s appropriate to have such incredible talent focused on this project, because as we know, John Wick is a man of focus, commitment, sheer will, something this team knows very much about.
The John Wick Experience is described by Area 15 as “no ordinary visit—it’s your initiation into the dangerous and captivating world of John Wick, where loyalties are tested, alliances forged, and danger is just a breath away.” The initiation itself begins at the Continental Hotel- Las Vegas. The Continental is on the Area 15 campus and has its own standalone structure that exclusively houses the hotel experience. Upon checking into The Continental, the staff present guests with a gold coin- the Continental coin.
The hotel lobby opens up to The Continental bar, which is open to all guests regardless if they have tickets to the experience or not. The Continental bartenders shake up signature cocktails and mocktails under the watchful eye of the bar’s in-house skull. The bar is dark and decorated with vintage Las Vegas art of the rat pack and showgirls. The adventure begins with a live action actor welcoming the guest to The Continental. A social but stern bellhop runs through the rules of the hotel, including no ‘work’ on company grounds.
The experience opens up in the accountant room with an accountant actor. They match the aesthetic of the accountants working at The Continental, with their eyes on an ever-changing board of open contracts, including the contract for John Wick. Canonically, John Wick has a $14M bounty on his head, which implies that these events happen sometime between the end of John Wick: Chapter Two and the beginning of John Wick: Chapter 4. A sudden phone call stops your interview to be the newest entry-level Continental accountant, and you’re called in to speak to the hotel manager.
The Continental- Las Vegas is not run by Winston, but by a true wild west Las Vegas local. The hotel manager explains that, unfortunately, a contract has been placed, and you have one hour to escape Las Vegas. Thankfully, because of the manager’s empathy for the recent John Wick situation in New York, he offers to assist in the escape.
The story unfolds for each group of guests, so out of respect to the experience, the plot will be omitted. I can assure you that the stories you have heard about this experience, if nothing else, have been watered down.
The actors in The Continental are more improv experts than scare actors, adjusting their scenes to accommodate for the energy of the group in the experience. Casting was excellent, with performers fully committed to their place in the world and the severity of the situation. There were mainline stories that relied on key characters with counterparts in the Continental – New York. Outside the golden path were a handful of characters with optional dialogue or world-building. Some can be encouraged with Continental coins to provide exclusive experiences.
Performers aside, the experience also had great use of atmospheric immersion. There are elevated escape room elements that offer multiple steps towards the final solution. There is one extremely earnest secret agent wish fulfilment moment via a mildly physical puzzle at nearly the mid-way point of the experience. From wall to wall, room to room, the decor is divine. Each room echoed the lore from the movies, legendary artifacts, and a paper trail of how much trouble John Wick has gotten into. There are moments from the movies that are essentially rebuilt to be experienced live and several moments that were unique to Las Vegas.
The experience unravelled seamlessly with excellent pacing that matches the energy of the movies. John Wick super fans will undoubtedly find the more obscure easter eggs and will absolutely be helpful with the puzzles. Fairweather fans or guests too embarrassed to admit they’ve missed out on this excellent franchise won’t be left behind though. The environmental storytelling and curated cast explain the world cohesively and clearly.
The John Wick Experience opens to the public in March 2025. Tickets start at $49.99 per guest with private or VIP options available. The experience took around 45 minutes to an hour and is recommended for guests over the age of eighteen. I attended this event as a guest of The Vox Agency and Neon PR, receiving complimentary tickets.
Is this on your hit list for Las Vegas? Do you think you could survive a night at the Continental Hotel? Let us know in the comments! And if you’re looking to fill out your Las Vegas itinerary, check out more on some geek-filled fun also found in Las Vegas.
