NBC is near to casting its John Constantine, with Welsh actor Matt Ryan close to signing on as the chain smoking magus. Constantine featured in the long running, mature readers, comic Hellblazer before being relocated into the DC Universe with the start of his new comic, simply titled Constantine. Hellblazer made Constantine infamous as being a blue collar, chain smoking, self-serving, manipulative, “nasty piece of work” in his own words. A master of deceit and misdirection, owner of a scathing wit and also a very powerful magus who battled demons and more, out of self preservation as opposed to having any driving desire to save the day.
The pilot of NBC’s Constantine is set to feature the magus stepping in to help out the daughter of a late friend who is targeted by demons. Further details are yet to appear, whether the show will be set in Hellblazer’s London (which is doubtful) or the U.S like the Constantine comic isn’t clear.
The pilot was written by Daniel Cerone, from a story he co-penned with David S. Goyer and is set to be directed by Neil Marshal, best known for creepy horror The Descent and Game of Thrones’ ‘Blackwater’.
