Kevin Tsujihara was not kidding! Warner Bros. is moving right along developing some of its DC characters. First it was the Jim Gordon/Gotham TV show the other day—already sent to series. Now it’s a TV show abut John Constantine in development at NBC. And that Mentalist production team is yet again involved, as is David S. Goyer, well known as the co-writer on Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy.
Constantine, a drama based on the characters in DC Comics’ John Constantine stories, has sold to NBC with penalty. It is written/executive produced by The Mentalist executive producer Daniel Cerone and David S. Goyer, the go-to writer for Warner Bros.’ feature DC adaptations. Constantine centers on John Constantine, an enigmatic and irreverent con man-turned-reluctant supernatural detective who is thrust into the role of defending us against dark forces from beyond.
While many of us know Constantine as Hellblazer, the long running Vertigo comic, that name is probably not so great for series TV. Constantine was previously the star of a movie starring Keanu Reeves—a textbook example of the kind of mistrust of the source material that has haunted WB’s comic book movies—and is rumored to be in development as part of the “Dark DCU” Universe that is being tinkered with by Guillermo del Toro.
While this is just “in development” if it goes any further…WB/NBC PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE keep Constantine a sarcastic Cockney sorcerer and not Keanu Reeves. Marvel has succeeded with its movies by emphasizing the elements that made its character popular in the first place, and WB’s comic book media success stories do the same thing. Besides, Americans love British actors. IT’S A FACT. Just ask anyone on Tumblr.
Daniel Cerone was the show runner for the second season of Dexter, one of my favorite seasons for that show and probably the season where it started to hit it’s stride. They also have a penalty to the deal where NBC has to pay out to WB if the pilot doesn’t air, which, while not the commitment Fox has made to Gotham, still weighs more towards this being serious than not.
Constantine on the channel that airs Hannibal and an EP from Dexter on board actually makes me more excited for this then the Gotham show. My vote is for Richard Madden from Game Of Thrones to play Constantine and Idris Elba to play Papa Midnight.
Whoa
Could be interesting. BTW, he’s not a Cockney, he’s a Scouser.
The Constantine film was actually better than it had any business being, but I also hope they’ll go the British route in the casting. (Although I’d want it set in America. We’ll see how that turns out.)
It might be good.
When the word of the film casting came out there was a debate around the office about who make a good Constantine. One of my coworkers suggested Vinnie Jones but, I told her I thought he’d make a solid Chas. I was pulling for Tim Roth and his sharky grin. I suppose he would be too long in the tooth for current branding though.
It was easy for all to agree that Keanu was a big misfire. The only time I saw the film I was contorted around in a dark hotel room reading the closed captions on mute while swaddling my son and trying to get him to sleep . I think not having to hear Keanu’s acting helped me like it more than I would have otherwise. That and watching for bits lifted directly from the comics.
At least vaguely blondish, a Brit or fake Brit of some description, and an apparent IQ higher than cabbage for a portrayal of a lives-by-his-wits trickster protagonist. Is this really so much to ask? Please, TV, deliver what Hollywood couldn’t. (Also, a Chas old enough to drink, who doesn’t ascend to Heaven would be a nice plus.)
Personally, i’ve always been wanting to see Paddy Considine take a stab at the character…..
I’m excited for this show!! I loved the movie; even though it wasn’t “quite” like the comic book…..but a tv show would have time to develop the character of Constantine.
Gotta stop nominating Idris Elba to play every black comic book character under the sun.
I wonder what nationality they will be going for? Not American I hope, for several reasons. If Goyer is involved he’ll probably renounce his citizenship in the pilot.
I hope they do a funny version, that’s very tongue-in-cheek; sort of like Austin Powers, but John’s sensibilities and points of reference are stuck in the 80s. His daughter rolls her eyes a lot at his grim pronouncements.
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