While The Flash was making news earlier in the week on a rival network, NBC has its own DC Comics property gearing up for the fall with the chain-smoking supernatural detective Constantine. The character has a long history in the comics (sometimes under the banner Hellblazer) and even had the movie with Keanu Reeves, but David Goyer’s show seems to be sticking much closer to the source material.
I dig the look of Matt Ryan (Layer Cake, Torchwood) in the role and can already see the character’s attitude rolling off in waves in just the photo alone. Hopefully the show turns out well and continues DC’s success on television. Here’s the press release from NBC:
March 13, 2014
FIRST OFFICIAL IMAGE REVEALED OF MATT RYAN AS OCCULT DETECTIVE JOHN CONSTANTINE
As production begins on the new pilot CONSTANTINE — from executive producers Daniel Cerone & David S. Goyer and director Neil Marshall — NBC, Warner Bros. Television and DC Entertainment are today releasing the first official image of series star Matt Ryan in character as John Constantine.
“I’ve been a fan of John Constantine since he was first introduced in 1985. 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,” said executive producer David S. Goyer.
CONSTANTINE follows enigmatic and irreverent Liverpool con-man-turned-occult-detective John Constantine, who is reluctantly thrust into the role of defending our world against dark forces from beyond.
Featured in hundreds of comic book issues, John Constantine has been a DC Comics staple since his first appearance as a supporting character in Swamp Thing in 1985. The character was subsequently featured in his own bestselling Hellblazer and Constantine comic book series.
UK native Matt Ryan (Layer Cake, The Tudors, Torchwood) stars as the title character.
The CONSTANTINE pilot is executive produced by Daniel Cerone (The Mentalist, Dexter) and David S. Goyer (The Dark Knight films, Man of Steel). Neil Marshall (The Descent, Game of Thrones) is directing from a teleplay by Daniel Cerone, with story by Daniel Cerone & David S. Goyer.
CONSTANTINE is from Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Warner Bros. Television, and is based upon characters published by DC Entertainment.
© 2014 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
constantine david goyer hellblazer matt ryan nbc