NBC’s Constantine TV series, based on the popular Hellblazer comics from DC, is quickly picking up speed. It was just last weekend that we heard that Welsh actor Matt Ryan had landed the titular role, which seemed to confirm fan suspicion that the show would focus on a British John Constantine in a US setting. A significant story arc in the comics featured the character spending time in America, and that would be a great way for the network to honor the source material while still appealing to American audiences. Judging by the latest news from Bleeding Cool, that’s precisely what NBC has planned.
The show will reportedly take place in New York and will feature Papa Midnite as the pilot’s antagonist. If the show gets picked up for a series, Constantine and Midnite will continue to face off throughout the season with increasingly higher stakes.
In the comics, Papa Midnite is an immortal mob boss, businessman and voodoo practitioner operating out of New York City. He sometimes reluctantly joins forces with Constantine, but often fights against him as well, which should add an interesting dynamic to the show. He was played by Djimon Hounsou in the 2005’s Constantine feature film, so whoever lands the role on the small screen has some big shoes to fill.
Constantine‘s pilot is being directed by The Descent director Neil Marshall, with a script from Dexter alum Daniel Cerone. The project is one of the most hotly anticipated new comic-book properties coming to television, so hopefully the stars will align and we’ll end up with a show that Hellblazer fans can be proud of.
What do you think of this news? Are you excited to see Papa Midnite as Constantine‘s antagonist? Or are there other Hellblazer villains you’d rather see hit the small screen first? Let us know in the comments below.
Published: Feb 26, 2014 07:16 pm