Photo: NBC
When NBC’s take on DC/Vertigo’s chain-smoking anti-hero struggled in the ratings, the network halted production on Constantine after 13 episodes. Middling critical response and a terrible time-slot (Friday nights at 10 pm) didn’t help its cause, and the question became when/if NBC would ever air those remaining episodes after its mid-season finale capped out at the 8th episode.
Fans of the series took to social media with the #SaveConstantine hashtag, trying to stave off what seemed like the inevitable cancellation of the new series. Even executive producer Daniel Cerone got in on the grassroots action.
If nothing else, NBC has provided a stay of execution today, as the show’s official Twitter feed has announced Constantine‘s return on January 16th at 8 pm, where the 5 remaining episodes will air.
Will a new time-slot provide a shot in the arm or will it just be a fulfilling of an obligation? Time and viewership will tell.
David Goyer, a Hollywood vet perhaps best known for co-writing Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, is going to direct a a new version of The Count of Monte Cristo which is billed as having “a graphic novel approach” in Michael Robert Johnson’s script.
Now what does this mean?
This experience [producing the Man of Steel Superman movie] helped Goyer land the new gig because Constantin’s approach for Monte Cristo will be akin to the refurbished take Warner Bros. did on its Sherlock Holmes movies as well as its DC heroes. In fact, one source tells The Hollywood Reporter that a buzz phrase for Monte Cristo is “19th century Dark Knight.” Constantin put an ultra-modern spin on a literary classic with Paul W.S. Anderson’s The Three Musketeers, which didn’t catch on domestically but performed solidly internationally.
You may recall that Alexander Dumas’s original tale 19th century tale featured a man named Edmond Dantes who is wrongly jailed and then emerges from prison with a new swagga persona and a plot to find a treasure he heard tell of while in the pen to help exact his revenge on those who sent him to jail. So far, so good, as far as this “graphic novel” thing goes.
The surprising twist is that Dantes (played by Ryan Gosling) has a secret lab where he builds a giant robot with the aid of a wise tinkerer played by Morgan Freeman, and is able to transfer his persona into the robot. This comes in handy when aliens attack the Earth with the goal of stopping the French Revolution. While attempting to stop the aliens, Dantes teams up with another guy named Jean Valjean (Channing Tatum) who also has a giant robot. Together the two start a team called “Le Revengeaux,” gathering an unusual gang of misfits—a reformed thief named Oliver Twist who can turn into a puddle of water (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and a feisty prostitute named Hester Prynn (Jessica Chastain) who is trained in the ancient art of Qigong.
It will be an exciting film.
PS: When I was a kid I always thought this story was called The Count of Monte Crisco and wondered what it had to do with rendered vegetable oil. Later I discovered that there was a delicious sandwich called the “Monte Cristo” consisting of a deep fried ham and cheese sandwich. Life is beautiful.
PPS: because I just can’t let this go, over the weekend I was chatting with some comical folks about the co-opting of the term “graphic novel.” One had seen a magazine feature billed as a “two page graphic novel!” I guess there are worse things to have than frivolous co-opting of the name of your literary form.
Yay!
I really like this show, glad to see it back!
It’s a great show I can’t wait to see what happens next. I haven’t missed one episode yet hope they keep it on I think it’s a great show and the cast is good too good chemistry. Time slot wasn’t good hope the do better and more advertising would be great.
Please keep it!! I can’t wait to see what happens next!
Same thing happened with the first airing of the original doctor who series. Almost got pulled because of a horrible airing time. Recourse was to re-air what was shown at a better time, this may have to happen again. People who didn’t get to watch it because of it being out of their time-frame will walk in to a season almost over, scratching their heads as to what the hell is going on. I hope it works out, I like the series, but pessimistic on how it’s trying to be saved.
Enjoy the show, but repetitive needs more mix up and back ground of characters . Maybe some flash back shows. Keep it twisting.
Let’s see, Dracula flopped on Friday night at ten so NBC thought another supernatural series would do better in the same slot?
This show is awesome. I love it, I love these type of show because it puts me in a different space than the dull and drab of every day life. I dvr every episode to make sure i get the full story. If NBC cancels they really aren’t listening to their followers.
Great show and great writing. NBC needs to move it to a better time slot and let things flourish.
Constantine is the first series I have enjoyed in years. If it doesn’t come back for good I am done with watching tv.
Just LOVE the show. I think it’s a step above Grimm and even Sleepy Hollow. I hope it becomes a keeper. If I don’t get to watch it at the time slot (which is lousy) I go straight to hulu on Mondays to watch it. So time sounds great to mr!!
the thing is that people in other countries dont get to watch why not have a website for shows you suits think are dying and ask fans to help $1 here and there
Really like this one a lot. I’d love to think it would get picked up for more, but it’s a good consolation to know that we’ll at least see all 13 episodes.
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I love this show! A great mashup of Constantine and the Dresden Files! I am not happy that it might be cancelled. I think using a Scottish actor with a roguish manner is brilliant. Keep the show going, please!
I’ve loved John Constantine since his humble beginnings in “Swamp Thing” & while the series is a bit tame compared to the comics it has great potential. Shame not to give it the chance it deserves.