NBC have been tight-lipped about the future of their first comic book adaption, but a new rumor suggests that it may not be the end of the line for Constantine.
Constantine was nowhere to be found amongst the list of recent renewals that NBC ordered, and fans have (unsurprisingly) been fearing the worst for the supernatural drama. After NBC declined to pick up a full season order for the show, instead opting to cap the season at 13 episodes, many considered this an unofficial cancellation.
NBC, however, have remained non-committal about Constantine‘s impending fate. When pressed for comment at the TCAs, the network admitted that the live ratings for the show hadn’t come close to their expectations, but that the delayed viewership was significantly higher. They even moved Constantine from its 10 p.m. time-slot to 8 p.m. on the same night, in a bid to improve those live numbers. They’ve been sitting steady around the 0.8 mark for the coveted 18-49 rating, making The Rising Darkness the least of John Constantine’s worries.
But don’t abandon hope just yet, Hellblazers. If a report from Cinelink is to be believed, NBC might just pack up John Constantine’s bags and move him over to their sister channel, SyFy — somewhere that feels much more like a home for the Hellblazer adaption. NBC are, reportedly, impressed by Constantine‘s dedicated fanbase — as evidenced by their #SaveConstantine campaign — and their prolific social media presence. They also have a lot of love for Matt Ryan, who plays the titular character, and really, who doesn’t?
This kind of move also isn’t unheard of for a television show, though it is rare. Cougar Town made a network jump from ABC to TBS, where it performed solidly in the ratings and earned itself an additional three seasons.
But what could a move to SyFy mean for ‘Constantine?’
The report from Cinelink suggests that to start with NBC would drop the Constantine title for the show, opting instead for a rebrand to Hellblazer — the same title as its comic book counterpart. With lower ratings expectations on the cable channel, there would be more room to experiment creatively and really push the boundaries of the darker parts of John Constantine’s world.
With the potential to tone down the procedural nature of the current iteration of the show, and really ramp up the horror aspect, the move to SyFy could bring the adaption far closer to the source material. They could even explore aspects that they’ve been unwilling to on their flagship channel — like seeing John light up on screen or, dare we say it, the dreaded b-word. We can’t imagine any Hellblazer fan objecting to the move, and it may even give the show a new lease on life.
For now, nothing is confirmed, and all eyes are on NBC as Constantine‘s finale fast approaches our screens. But it is a sliver of hope for those of use who have fallen in love with the Hellblazer adaption and the untapped potential it still has.
Constantine‘s season finale, “Waiting for the Man,” airs Friday, February 13 at 8 p.m. EST on NBC.
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