We have some pretty great new series coming our way in the 2014-15 TV season, and one of those I’m most looking forward to is Constantine. He’s British and a detective, so I would have watched for that alone. But the fact that he’s a supernatural detective, and it’s a comics-based show, means I am all in, before it even starts.
The news of a cast change started buzzing around at the end of last week, and that was confirmed over the weekend both by NBC at their TCA Press Tour presentation, and by Constantine‘s official Twitter account:
.@AngelicaCelaya is coming to #Constantine as Zed. pic.twitter.com/Kii4BAV5Zd
— Constantine (@NBCConstantine) July 13, 2014
NBC had always been planning on adding in from-the-comics Zed to the show early on in the season, but now she’ll be a main character, basically taking the place of also-from-the-comics Liv, played by Lucy Griffiths (Nora on True Blood), daughter of one of Constantine’s oldest friends. Griffiths will remain in the pilot, but the Powers That Be on the show decided to go in a different direction in the episodes that follow, according to Deadline.
Here’s the revised synopsis, without all the Liv references that were peppered throughout the earlier version:
Based on the wildly popular comic book series “Hellblazer” from DC Comics, seasoned demon hunter and master of the occult John Constantine (Matt Ryan, “Criminal Minds”) is armed with a ferocious knowledge of the dark arts and a wickedly naughty wit. He fights the good fight — or at least he did. With his soul already damned to hell, he’s decided to abandon his campaign against evil until a series of events thrusts him back into the fray, and he’ll do whatever it takes to protect the innocent. With the balance of good and evil on the line, Constantine will use his skills to travel the country, find the supernatural terrors that threaten our world and send them back where they belong. After that, who knows… maybe there’s hope for him and his soul after all.
The cast also includes Harold Perrineau (“Lost”) as Manny and Charles Halford (“True Detective”) as Chas.
Writer Daniel Cerone (“The Mentalist,” “Dexter”) serves as executive producer with David S. Goyer (“Man of Steel,” “The Dark Knight Rises”). “Constantine” is produced from Bonanza Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television. The show is based upon characters published by DC Entertainment.
Here’s another look at the trailer:
Trailer: Constantine – NBC Official #1
I am really, really looking forward to this one.
Constantine, starring Matt Ryan, Lucy Griffiths, Harold Perrineau, Charles Halford, and Angelica Celaya, premieres on Friday, October 24 at 10/9c on NBC.
