A new Constantine series is reportedly in the works at HBO Max from J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions, which will recast the iconic role of DC’s Hellblazer. John Constantine has most recently been played by Matt Ryan on NBC’s short-lived Constantine show, and subsequently on the Arrowverse’s Legends of Tomorrow. Prior to Ryan’s television portrayal, the beloved character was played by Keanu Reeves in the 2005 film directed by Francis Lawrence.
One of DC’s odder comic characters, John Constantine was first introduced in 1985 and was given his own series in 1988. The character draws equal inspiration from smoky noir detective fiction and dark occult fantasy, and Constantine has remained a unique and adored piece of DC lore for decades. As the original, rigid DCEU model has given way to a less centralized structure, many fans have crossed their fingers for more mainline cinematic Constantine content to come.
Those wishes might be getting granted, as a new report from The Illuminerdi claims Warner Bros. and Bad Robot are developing a new Constantine series for HBO Max. The report claims that Warner is looking to recast the role of Constantine with a young actor of color, citing Riz Ahmed as the kind of star they’re looking for. The Illuminerdi’s report fits with a 2020 rumor that J.J. Abrams had signed on to develop a Constantine film for Warner Bros. If the new claims are true, it seems that theatrical project has been adapted as a streaming series instead.
Constantine remains one of DC’s most popular characters, so the idea of a major new series should be exciting for fans. Keanu Reeves’s 2005 Constantine movie remains something of a cult-classic, and Matt Ryan’s recent turn in the role has been highly praised as well. The character has yet to find widespread success outside of a more dedicated comics fan base, but a major platform on HBO Max could launch the next iteration of the Hellblazer to a larger viewership.
There’s also the potential that the new Constantine show could be tied to past rumors of a Justice League Dark series at HBO Max. A Swamp Thing show aired on DC Universe in 2019 to critical acclaim, but it was canceled shortly after its premiere. A new Constantine project could signal a Swamp Thing revival on HBO Max, with both characters possibly coming together for a future Justice League Dark adaptation. It remains to be seen if the new Constantine reports hold true, but if they do, DC fans have plenty of reason to get excited.
Source: The Illuminerdi