Constantine TV Series? Plus other potentially cool DC projects

[Postman Dave]

While DC has so far struggled to make a big-screen impact beyond Superman and Batman, it's consistently had more success with episodic television. Smallville (Superman) gave way to Arrow (Green Arrow), which is soon to be joined by The Flash and the pre-Batman Gotham, about Commissioner Gordon and the Gotham PD. Now NBC are getting in on the action, developing a series based on John Constantine, star of DC/Vertigo's Hellblazer series. David S. Goyer (who else?) is writing the pilot, with Mentalist exec-producer Daniel Cerone.

John Constantine, the cynical, manipulative, trenchcoated, chain-smoking urban magician, was created by the legendary Alan Moore in 1985, as a supporting character in his famous Swamp Thing run. It was Swamp Thing's title, but the scene-stealing Constantine immediately became the story's engine, installing himself essentially as Swamp Thing's manager in an arc involving the Brujeria: a black magic chaos cult who had quietly taken over the world and were next intent on the destruction of Heaven.

Constantine grew to the extent that he was given his own series in 1988 (initially to be called Hellraiser until a certain Clive Barker film forced a re-think). With Moore disinclined to write it himself, the job fell to fellow Northampton resident Jamie Delano, whose lengthy run was followed by sterling work from Garth Ennis, Paul Jenkins, Warren Ellis, Brian Azzarello, Mike Carey, Denise Mina, Andy Diggle and Pete Milligan (among many others, including Neil Gaiman). After 25 years, post DC's New 52 re-jig, Hellblazer was retired last February at issue 300, and Constantine was folded into regular DC continuity, both in his own more mainstream series, and as part of the Justice League Dark.

There was, of course, a Constantine film in 2005, which got some things right, but re-cast the Liverpudlian Sting-lookalike Constantine as Keanu Reeves, turned his taxi-driving compatriot Chas into a teen sidekick (Shia LaBeouf), gave him a crucifix-shotgun and had him pack in the gaspers. A television series then has every opportunity to do the thing properly - even if somewhere like HBO would seem a better home for sweary fights with demons than primetime NBC. There's also scope for appearances by other characters in the DC pantheon: Swamp Thing, obviously, but Constantine has also encountered Shade, Sandman, Animal Man, Zatanna, The Phantom Stranger and various others (including Batman).

Where this leaves Guillermo Del Toro's own mooted Justice League Dark project is unclear, although given that DC's TV and film projects have hitherto not interconnected, it's possible a movie and a show could exist independently, side-by-side. What we do know is that Goyer and Cerone have a "script plus penalty" deal, which means they get paid for the script, plus more if the show doesn't go into production. That means it's often more economical for a studio to actually make a show than not make it. So the signs are good for Constantine to at least reach the pilot stage. We'll keep you posted.

Empire

Yes, Hellblazer could be getting a second chance with a mainstream audience. I actually liked the Constantine movie although I can see why there wasn't a great demand for a sequel.

And while we're looking at this article, a pre-Batman GCPD TV series? Sign me the fuck up.

 

[Krisis]

Gotham: Young Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle Cast
Meet the future Batman and Catwoman.
by Eric Goldman MARCH 4, 2014

A ton of casting news has come in for FOX's upcoming TV series Gotham recently, but today two major components were added with the announcement of who is playing Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle, the final series regulars for the show.

David Mazouz (Touch) has been cast as the preteen Bruce Wayne. The press release describes Bruce as, "sentenced to a solitary life after the tragic murder of his wealthy parents. Serious and soulful, young Bruce relies on the guidance and protection of Alfred Pennyworth and James Gordon."

David Mazouz and Camren Bicondov will play Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle in Gotham.

A newcomer, Camren Bicondova has been cast as Selina Kyle, "a teenage orphan who is suspicious and wholly unpredictable. A street thief and skilled pickpocket, she’s dangerous when cornered."

Prior to this, while FOX's president Kevin Reilly had mentioned Selina Kyle as a potential inclusion on Gotham, it was not known that the character would be a series regular.

Is Gotham Really the New Smallville?05:44
The press release stresses that Gotham's focus is on James Gordon and his origin story, with the other characters -- including Bruce Wayne -- in supporting roles.

Ben McKenzie (The OC, Southland) stars as Detective James Gordon, with Sean Pertwee as Alfred Pennyworth, Robin Lord Taylor as Oswald Cobblepot, Zabryna Guevara as Captain Sarah Essen, Erin Richards as Barbara Kean, Donal Logue as Detective Harvey Bullock and Jada Pinkett Smith as crime boss Fish Mooney.

-IGN

 

[Wang Chung]

I can't wait for this to start

using facial recognition on my galaxy s4

 

[Postman Dave]

Yeah, it's gonna be fucking awesome.

 

[Castiel]

I'm already super pumped for Gotham, Ben McKenzie as Gordon should be great. Let's not forget that he killed it as the voice of young Bruce in Year One.

It's good that DC are going to TV with some that might not work on the big screen, Constantine already failed when they tried him for various reasons so hopefully they can do a show right. NBC has me uncertain though... Like the article said, HBO would be incredible for something like that.

 

[Krisis]

Joker, Riddler, Two-Face Teased in New Gotham Synopsis
Plus, the Fox show’s logo also has been revealed.
by Scott Collura MARCH 11, 2014

Fox has revealed the logo and official synopsis for its upcoming non-Batman Batman show, Gotham. And several familiar villains have been mentioned in that synopsis -- if in oblique terms -- including the Joker, Two-Face, and the Riddler. First up, here’s the logo:

Fox's Gotham

The blimps are a nice effect. And here’s the synopsis:

Everyone knows the name Commissioner Gordon. He is one of the crime world's greatest foes, a man whose reputation is synonymous with law and order. But what is known of Gordon's story and his rise from rookie detective to Police Commissioner? What did it take to navigate the multiple layers of corruption that secretly ruled Gotham City, the spawning ground of the world's most iconic villains? And what circumstances created them – the larger-than-life personas who would become Catwoman, The Penguin, The Riddler, Two-Face and The Joker?

GOTHAM is an origin story of the great DC Comics super villains and vigilantes, revealing an entirely new chapter that has never been told. From executive producer/writer Bruno Heller (“The Mentalist,†“Romeâ€), GOTHAM follows one cop's rise through a dangerously corrupt city teetering on the edge of evil and chronicles the birth of one of the most popular super heroes of our time.

Growing up in Gotham City's surrounding suburbs, JAMES GORDON (Ben McKenzie, “Southland,†“The O.C.â€) romanticized the city as a glamorous and exciting metropolis where his late father once served as a successful district attorney. Now, two weeks into his new job as a Gotham City detective and engaged to his beloved fiancée, BARBARA KEAN (Erin Richards, “Open Grave,†“Breaking Inâ€), Gordon is living his dream – even as he hopes to restore the city back to the pure version he remembers it was as a kid.

Brave, honest and ready to prove himself, the newly-minted detective is partnered with the brash, but shrewd police legend HARVEY BULLOCK (Donal Logue, “Sons of Anarchy,†“Terriers,†“Vikings,†“Copperâ€), as the two stumble upon the city's highest-profile case ever: the murder of local billionaires Thomas and Martha Wayne. At the scene of the crime, Gordon meets the sole survivor: the Waynes' hauntingly intense 12-year-old son, BRUCE (David Mazouz, “Touchâ€), toward whom the young detective feels an inexplicable kinship. Moved by the boy's profound loss, Gordon vows to catch the killer.

As he navigates the often-underhanded politics of Gotham's criminal justice system, Gordon will confront imposing gang boss FISH MOONEY (Jada Pinkett Smith, “The Matrix†films, “HawthoRNe,†“Collateralâ€), and many of the characters who will become some of fiction's most renowned, enduring villains, including a teenaged SELINA KYLE/the future CATWOMAN (acting newcomer Camren Bicondova) and OSWALD COBBLEPOT/THE PENGUIN (Robin Lord Taylor, “The Walking Dead,†“Another Earthâ€).

Although the crime drama will follow Gordon's turbulent and singular rise through the Gotham City police department, led by Police Captain SARAH ESSEN (Zabryna Guevara, “Burn Noticeâ€), it also will focus on the unlikely friendship Gordon forms with the young heir to the Wayne fortune, who is being raised by his unflappable butler, ALFRED (Sean Pertwee, “Camelot,†“Elementaryâ€). It is a friendship that will last them all of their lives, playing a crucial role in helping the young boy eventually become the crusader he's destined to be.

GOTHAM is based upon characters published by DC Comics and is produced by Warner Bros. Television. Executive producer Bruno Heller (“The Mentalistâ€) wrote the pilot, which will be directed and executive-produced by Emmy Award nominee Danny Cannon (the “CSI†series, “Nikitaâ€).

21:41The Secret Identity Parade - The Superhero Show
We'd heard talk about characters like the Joker showing up from Chairman of Entertainment at FOX Kevin Reilly back in January, but this seems to lock in the idea that Gotham will be rolling out many of Batman's old foes eventually.

Via Fox and Coming Soon

-IGN

 

[Krisis]

David S. Goyer on the Constantine TV Show and Staying True to DC Comics
Clings more to the comics "than the film did."
by Anthony Couto MARCH 10, 2014

With all the TV projects DC/Warner Bros. is trying to get made, the Constantine pilot at NBC looks to bring the most supernatural flare. Writer of the TV pilot, Man of Steel’s David S. Goyer has opened up about what to expect from the potential NBC series and how true his version of John Constantine will be to the source material.

In an interview with i am Rogue, Goyer assures that the pilot is coming into fruition, saying that it will begin shooting next week. When asked about how VFX-heavy the possible series will be, Goyer says that director Neil Marshall (The Descent, Black Sails, Game of Thrones) is “pretty good with scares.”

Leading the recently announced cast of Harold Perrineau (Seeking Justice) as Manny, Lucy Griffiths (Winter’s Tale) as Liv and Charles Halford (HBO’s True Detective) as Chas, is Matt Ryan (Layer Cake) as the titular character. Ryan will speak in a British accent on the show, and also fit the comic book description of Constantine by being a tall, blonde-haired man, who will be wearing (or, ahem, Hellblazing in) his signature trenchcoat. Goyer assures that this incarnation “clings more closely to the source material than the film did,” referencing the 2005 Keanu Reeves film.

As for whether or not Ryan’s Constantine will smoke, Goyer says, “We’re negotiating right now,” which is to be an expected road-block on network TV.

Addressing whether or not there will be be more characters from the comics joining the show, Goyer notes, “Hopefully, touch wood, there'll be another recurring character announced. Pretty cool actor who fans will know the character he plays from the comic books as well,” and says that he would like to bring in “some occult figures.”

When it comes to "occult figures" in the DC lore, that leaves characters like Etrigan, Phantom Stranger, The Spectre (if it’s anything like John Ostrander’s version, then yes, please), Zatanna, Frankenstein, Dr. Fate or really, anyone from Justice League Dark up for grabs. Who would you like to appear on Constantine?

You can read the full interview here, or watch it below:
[video=youtube;BaINh_ZkxII]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaINh_ZkxII[/video]


If it’s picked up to series, the Constantine pilot will air this fall on NBC.

-IGN

 

[Postman Dave]

the casting for Constantine looks pretty solid, I really hope they pull this off.

 

[Krisis]

First trailer for Gotham!

[video=youtube;0d1zpt6k5OI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0d1zpt6k5OI[/video]

 

[Postman Dave]

Looking pretty damn promising so far!

 

[Fuji Vice]

This may have potential, provided Fox don't just up and cancel it like they've done to great shows of theirs in the past.

 

[Krisis]

Constantine Trailer
[video=youtube;uPE2oBnzROY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPE2oBnzROY[/video]

 

[Postman Dave]

Constantine Trailer
[video=youtube;uPE2oBnzROY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPE2oBnzROY[/video]

Hmm, not convinced just yet. Looks closer to the source but still a few things bugging me.

 

[Krisis]

Flash promo

[video=youtube;KxnMK90wjFg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxnMK90wjFg[/video]

 

[Postman Dave]

Looks a bit goofy at times but so did Arrow originally so meh.