Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and its success must have competitor DC Comics (and parent company Warner Bros.) on the defensive, because last night saw the announcement of their third comic book-based series in development as Deadline.com broke the news that NBC has purchased (with penalty) a drama based on everyone’s favorite chain-smoking, whiskey drinking con man turned demon killer, John Constantine.
Following the announcement of a CW series about The Flash earlier in the summer and the recent news that Fox is developing a Gotham City based police drama with pre-Commissioner Gordon, it’s no surprise that NBC has decided to add a comic-based property to its development slate. It is written/executive produced by The Mentalist executive producer Daniel Cerone and the much-debated mind behind the much-debated Man of Steel,  David S. Goyer.
While Cerone has had much success both critically and with fans for The Mentalist, Goyer’s track record is a hot-topic for debate amongst fans. On the one hand, he’s responsible for such beloved franchises as the Blade series, as well as being Christopher Nolan’s writing partner throughout his run with the Batman franchise, but he’s also the man responsible for aforementioned Man of Steel and his last TV show, the Lost knockoff Flash Forward, was cancelled after only one season.
For our money, Constantine is an excellent choice for an ongoing series, but the creators behind the show would do wise to avoid rehashing the 2005 film version of the character, which saw Keanu “Whoa” Reeves take on the titular role, interpreting the character more as an action hero than the sly con artist he’s meant to be. In fact, perhaps the best place for them to start is with a loose adaptation of 100 Bullets creator Brian Azzerello’s run on the series (which, if you haven’t read, you need to go and do right now… issues #146-174), which followed the character from a short prison stay to uncovering a pornography ring, catching a serial killer, fighting some Neo Nazis, and finally confronting the man responsible for his initial incarceration. It would make for several excellent seasons of TV and truly showcase all the subtle and complex elements that make up this one-of-a-kind character.
I created an account just to say this: Constantine’s drink isn’t whiskey, it’s gin (not that he’s picky).
If he’s not British, he’s not Constantine. His English-ness is part of his attitude and character. And since we first met him in Louisiana (in Swamp Thing), he could pop up literally anywhere. The TV version doesn’t have to have come of age in the 1970s London Punk scene, being a more recent character to still have some young energy to him, but he should be something similar.
Harry Dresden, while a great character, came about a couple of decades after John Constantine, who was created by Alan Moore in (i think) 1984. Most of DC/Vertigo’s occult line, barring Mr E, Dr Occult, and Phantom Stranger, was spawned ‘Hellblazer’.
And, yes; fir the love of God, make him English!
Gotta be a Brit and be in Britain to suceed. Planting it in the U.S. of A. was why the movie met with poor success originally. Paul Bettany would be perfect as J.C.. Born to play the role in this comic reader’s humble opinion.
Hmm, I am splitting hairs here, but Flashforward was not a “Lost” knockoff, it is based on a book written by Canadian Robert Sawyer and it is a great story in its own right. That the TV adaptation was very crappy is another story.
Constantine is definitely not unique. Several other characters come to mind both in comics and in TV… one that most everyone will be familiar with is Harry Dresden.
I am looking forward to a Constantine show! (not so much to a Gordon one)
He could smoke those HD cigarettes or a dirty toothpick.
Why bother? Constantine is a heavy smoker, drinker, and all that, and NBC wouldn’t even allow smoking on that Playboy Club show which was set in the friggen ’60s. Some group will come around complaining, and NBC will cave. If ‘Parks & Rec’ and ‘Community’ were on a different channel, NBC would certainly stand for Nothing But Crap.
For some reason, I don’t read him as British. In fact, I don’t think I knew he was, because I haven’t read much… but that’s fair.
I agree with Aaron Paul being cast as the lead, now that he’s free from breaking bad. I also think Neil Patrick Harris would be a good choice, as he looks the most like a young Sting.
james masters would be excellent but he’s pushing 50 i believe. i think keanu reeves should have a cameo as sandman… think about it….
Three words: make him British.
Two words: Aaron Paul.
I didn’t hate it but it wasn’t true to my favorite elements of the character.
I actually didn’t mind the Constantine movie, it wasn’t great but not as bad as I feared and Tilda Swinton was awesome!