NBC's "Constantine" Discussion (2014-2015)

[Walts Ghost]

Adaptation Of DC Comics’ Constantine From Daniel Cerone & David Goyer Lands At NBC

EXCLUSIVE: Warner Bros. TV and DC Comics are on a roll this development season with a third high-profile project. 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.

John Constantine, who first appeared in 1985 as a recurring character in the horror series The Saga Of The Swamp Thing, was created by Alan Moore, Steve Bissette and Jamie Delano. He was portrayed by Keanu Reeves in the 2005 feature Constantine and is rumored to be featured in the Justice League Dark feature Warner Bros. has in the works with Guillermo del Toro.

Constantine joins Warner Bros. TV/DC’s The Flash at the CW, a spinoff from hit Arrow, and a Gotham City/Commissioner Gordon drama at Fox, which has a series commitment. WME-repped Goyer has co-written The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises, Batman Begins, Man Of Steel and the upcoming Batman vs. Superman. On TV, he is the creator/executive producer of Starz’s Da Vinci’s Demons. WME-repped Cerone is the creator/executive producer of Canadian drama Motive, which aired on ABC this summer and is awaiting a second-season renewal.

Source

[Walts Ghost]

Hmmm...Not sure how I feel. Constantine is one of my favorite characters, but I'm way more interested in seeing him in del Toro's film, less in a TV show on NBC...This is character made for something like FX or HBO. But then again, I felt the same way about Hannibal, and that show has turned out great...Cautiously optimistic. I just really, really hope that Goyer doesn't try to "ground" the character. Constantine lives in a supernatural world, and making it as realistic as possible will ruin the character.

[spanky87]

Warner Bros really need to start looking into other writers not named David Goyer.

[Walts Ghost]

Originally Posted by spanky87

Warner Bros really need to start looking into other writers not named David Goyer.

Agreed...He's getting handed far too many DC characters...

[norse_sage]

While the 2005 has it's merits as a standalone guilty pleasure, it was in no way a proper John Constantine movie (if anything, it was a more decent Harry D'Amour movie!) so I'm a ll for a new take, provided of course it stays grounded is more faithful to the comic.

That then, is my hope for the series: ignore the Reeves movie, base it 100 % of the Hellblazer comic.

I am very concerned about David Goyers ability to write proper Constantine scripts, but at the very least Akiva Goldsman's name hasn't come up yet. That alone is reason enough to have at least some level of hope they won't muck this up too badly.

[theusher]

While the 2005 has it's merits as a standalone guilty pleasure, it was in no way a proper John Constantine movie (if anything, it was a more decent Harry D'Amour movie!) so I'm a ll for a new take, provided of course it stays grounded is more faithful to the comic.

I doubt it this will be the proper adaptation, though. We're talking about network TV here after all. Sure NBC has Hannibal but that's an European co-production if I'm not mistaken and the ratings were pretty bad so I wouldn't count on another edgy, cable type show on NBC anytime soon. It will be pretty pathetic if this turns into another run-of-the-mill network show a la Sleepy Hollow or Grimm but I'm afraid that's where this is heading.

[Moefiz]

Not sure if this would do well on NBC, we are likely to get a water down version of Constantine...now if this were going to be on FX or one of the cable channels I would be interested in it.

[stvn1974]

I enjoy the Mentalist but hate, despise and loathe just about everything Goyer is involved with but if NBC goes the Hannibal route it might have a chance.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by stvn1974

I enjoy the Mentalist but hate, despise and loathe just about everything Goyer is involved with but if NBC goes the Hannibal route it might have a chance.

Goyer is the only reason I'm even remotely interested in this since I despised the Rachel Weisz film.

[Walts Ghost]

Originally Posted by Darth Anakin

Goyer is the only reason I'm even remotely interested in this since I despised the Rachel Weisz film.

That film was not a very good representation of the character at all...The film is decent otherwise, but it's nothing like the character should be. This show being on NBC probably won't be either...

[lazystoner]

NBC has ordered Constantine up for a pilot: http://www.deadline.com/2014/01/cons...daniel-serone/

It's a good year for DC Comics television adaptations.

[WhySoCereal]

I'm going to be cautiously optimistic about this.

[Talyn]

I see the property Constantine on NBC and I think....oh no, it'll be like Dresden Files but dumbed down. There's no way his character doesn't get limited on a network tv series. I don't trust NBC when it comes to superhero shows, does anyone remember The Cape? I sure as hell don't want to. Then....I see Goyer's involved. That....gives me a headache. Granted the man has good ideas, but he needs a filter and writing partners to keep him from having complete control. It's time for new blood to come in. Now....I see Dan's attached to this. Good man, good producer....I'm gonna watch it, I have to since he's attached to it or I'll never hear the end of it from Chris.

I'm gonna hope for the best, but I'm gonna have to prepare myself for the worst. Would it be so bad to have....oh I don't know, an actual writer or consultant from the comic series.... We don't need a staff of them, but one to help communicate and ease the transition?

[Foggy]

Because Da Vinci's Demons and Flashforward ended up being so great...

[The_Donster]

I was one of the few that actually watched The Dresden Files and was sad when that didn't get picked up. I've heard the books are much darker, so I'm a little nervous about Constantine. Is it possible they'll try and cash in on the success of Sherlock(BBC/CBS)? I'd much rather see it on AMC or FX, since they push the envelope a bit more. Still, I'm cautiously optimistic too.

[jayembee]

Maybe this time they'll consider James Marsters (Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer) as Constantine.

[mrrant_33]

The Descent director Neil Marshall has been tapped to direct the pilot Constantine, from Warner Bros TV and NBC, Deadline reports.

“If you have seen The Descent you know why this is awesome,” DC Entertainment Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns said via Twitter, sharing the link.

Based on the DC Comics character, Constantine centers on John Constantine, a con man-turned-supernatural detective who is thrust into the role of defending humanity against dark forces. The character is most widely recognized outside of comics circles as having been the subject of a 2005 film starring Keanu Reeves in the title role. A comic book starring Constantine, titled Hellblazer, ran at Vertgo for 25 years before being cancelled and rebooted as Constantine, with a new #1, for DC Comics’s The New 52 initiative.

No one has yet been cast in the drama, although at least four characters’ names and descriptions were recently released to casting agencies, including Constantine himself and his longtime muscle/driver Chas.

The pilot was written by Daniel Cerone from a story by Cerone and David S. Goyer. Marshall recently helmed the pilot as well as the third episode of Michael Bay’s Starz pirate drama Black Sails and an episode from the upcoming fourth season of HBO’s Game Of Thrones.

http://comicbook.com/blog/2014/01/31...neil-marshall/

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by mrrant_33

The Descent director Neil Marshall has been tapped to direct the pilot Constantine, from Warner Bros TV and NBC, Deadline reports.

“If you have seen The Descent you know why this is awesome,” DC Entertainment Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns said via Twitter, sharing the link.

Actually, I don't know that. I hated The Descent. On the other hand, Marshall's first feature, Dog Soldiers was an unexpected treat, and Centurion wasn't too bad. Now his episode from Season 2 of Game of Thrones, "Blackwater" -- that was awesome.

[mrrant_33]

Welsh Actor Matt Ryan Cast As CONSTANTINE In NBC's Television Series


NBC has found the actor that will play John Constantine in their new comic book-based television series, Constantine. The show will be based on the DC Comics' Hellblazer series.

Deadline is reporting that fresh-faced Welsh actor Matt Ryan has been cast to play John Constantine in NBC's Constantine television series. The series will based on the Hellblazer comic book series that's published by DC Comics. The character was created by legendary and perpetually-grumpy comic book writer, Alan Moore. Constantine first appeared in Moore's Swamp Thing (vol. 2) #37 (June 1985). Several years later the character would receive his own comic book series, "Hellblazer," written by Jamie Delano. It is the longest running title under DC Comics' edgier venue, Vertigo. The character was the basis for the 2005 Constantine live-action film that was directed by Francis Lawrence ("The Hunger Games") and starred Keanu Reeves ("The Matrix").

His appearance is based on singer-songwriter, Sting, as the artists Stephen R. Bissette and John Totleben made that request based on their love of the rock band, The Police. Constantine has blonde hair, a British accent and is usually wearing a trenchcoat. He's a powerful sorcerer, but prefers to outsmart his opponents instead of relying on his magical gifts. He's a chain smoking, self-destructive, cynical man with a surly exterior. Probably caused from that dark cloud that hangs over him. He's a magnet for the weird and his friends have a habit of getting hurt or worse, dead.

As for the new television show, its described as:

Based on the characters in DC Comics’ John Constantine stories, the project centers on John Constantine (Ryan), an enigmatic and irreverent con man-turned-reluctant supernatural detective who is thrust into the role of CONSTANTINE defending us against dark forces from beyond. John Constantine is described as a working-lass Londoner with rakish good looks, scruffy blond hair, deadpan humor, and signature trench coat, who has been studying the dark arts since he was a teenager. When the daughter of a late friend is targeted by demons, Constantine steps in to save her.

David S. Goyer and The Mentalist executive producer Daniel Cerone wrote the pilot. Neil Marshall ("The Decent") will direct the first episode. A series that will see Mike Ryan as the lead. The Welsh actor has lived in London and America, and his perhaps best known for playing Edward Kenway in Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. Besides providing the voice for Edward he also gave a full motion-capture performance. You might also recognize him as Mick Rawson from the "Criminal Minds" spinoff series, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior.
Read more at http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansit...8eKvMTi4AOl.99

[theusher]

Official Image of Matt Ryan as John Constantine Released!

Following an unofficial image that debuted yesterday, NBC has released their first official image of Matt Ryan as John Constantine for their upcoming series based on the DC/Vertigo character. Check it out below!

"I've been a fan of John Constantine since he was first introduced in 1985," executive producer David S. Goyer said. "This Constantine, envisioned by Neil Marshall and embodied by Matt Ryan, looks like he sprang directly from the comics’'covers. Fans old and new are going to be in for a treat."

Set to star Ryan as the titular character, "Constantine" will also feature Lucy Griffiths as Liv, Harold Perrineau as the angel Manny and Charles Halford as Constantine's friend Chas. Written by Daniel Cerone ("The Mentalist") from a story by Cerone and Goyer, the pilot for "Constantine" is currently in production with The Descent and "Game of Thrones" director Neil Marshall at the helm.