‘Constantine’ To Find A New Home On A Sister Network? Reports Suggest Yes
John Constantine, and his television show, seem to be hard to keep track of these days. The Inquisitr reported Friday that NBC did not include Constantine in their renewal press release that was full of shows like Law and Order: SVU, Grimm, The Blacklist, and Chicago Fire.
NBC ‘s Grimm, a show that had a very rough first season, has been consistently renewed and pushed forward. So, it stands to reason, that Constantine might have the same chances. Especially considering, Mr. Constantine has a massive cult fan base that originated with the late 80s Vertigo comic series, Hellblazer, which featured the adventures of John Constantine.
According to Comicbook.com, NBC is currently looking for a way to continue the show. One of the options on the table is moving the show to another network that NBC owns. Now, that may seem like a simple A, B, or C option, but its a little more dicey than that. The USA Network, CNBC, SyFy, MSNBC, Bravo, Oxygen, mun2, CNBC World, Chiller, Sleuth and Universal HD are all NBC related television stations. The word rumors seem to suggest that SyFy is the most likely successor.
Cineblend reported the heads of NBC are in fact considering this move from their main network to SyFy. The SyFy network is currently home to show such as Helix,Z Nation, and the newest movie-to-tv series, 12 Monkeys. It would seem that Constantine, a horror detective-like show, would sit nicely alongside other horror and science fiction-based shows. Constantine set designer, David Blass, pretty much let the cat out of the bag on Twitter that talks are commencing about the move to SyFy.
Recently, Constantine had a marathon on SyFy, and the numbers did improve. Comicbook.com reported that SyFy has been looking for their own American Horror Story or The Walking Dead. Most Constantine and Hellblazer fans will be happy to see the show continue either way. There have been concerns as far effects, but that is speculative.
However, it would certainly take NBC’s comic-based dog out of the race. DC Comics book-based shows like Gotham, Arrow, and The Flash all air on rival networks. That does not include paid options like Netflix, where Marvel is setting up shop, and ABC, which already airs Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
The move to SyFy would be big enough news, as far as changes to the show go, but that is not the end of the story. Constantine would be re-branded as Hellblazer, if the move takes place. Which, for many Hellblazer fans who saw the DC Comics “New 52” Constantine as a wimpy, less-dark version of the Vertigo original, might flock to the new branding.
This move from NBC’s Constantine to SyFy’s Hellblazer sounds unsusual, but apparently, Cougartown made a similar move from ABC to TBS.
Hell(blazer), if William Shatner is faithfully watching, live-tweeting, and saying NBC’s Constantine should go on… Why isn’t it?
So, what are your thoughts? Will NBC keep Constantine past its season finale on February (Friday) 13 at 8:00 p.m., or will it swept under the rug like the forgettable 2005 Keanu Reeves film? Would it be more successful on SyFy, re-branded as Hellblazer?
Leave your thoughts.
[Images Via Twitter, JoBlo, DC Comics]
