It looks like NBC may have filled a certain occult anti-hero's trenchcoat.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, NBC is close to casting Matt Ryan as the title character in "Constantine," a Warner Bros. Television drama based on DC Comics' John Constantine.

Ryan, who is originally from Wales, has previously appeared in such films as "Layer Cake," "Armistice" and "Flypaper," as well as the TV shows "The Tudors," "Criminal Minds" and its spinoff, "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior." He also voiced the lead character Edward Kenway in the video game "Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag."

According to THR, Daniel Cerone ("Dexter") will pen the script with David Goyer ("Batman Begins") attached to executive produce. Neill Marshall ("Game of Thrones") will direct the pilot.

Created by Alan Moore, John Totleben and Stephen R. Bissette, John Constantine debuted in 1985's "The Saga of the Swamp Thing" #37, and served as the main character's supernatural adviser before making the jump three years later to his own series, "Hellblazer." With the launch of Vertigo in 1993, "Hellblazer" was moved to the mature-readers imprint, where it remained as its longest-running series until last year, when the title was ended and the character returned to the DC Universe. He now stars in "Justice League Dark" and in his own title "Constantine." He also made the jump to the big screen in 2005, where he was played by Keanu Reeves.

NBC Closes in on their "Constantine"

I think @dragonborn_ct will get a kick out of this

I can dig it

This is something that is letting me know that this show is actually happening!

@lifeboy: I really am surprised they made the right decision and chose a British dude. Between this Gotham and Arrow DC tv shows seem to have there sh!t together.

@jonny_anonymous: Word Up buddy! I'm so excited about Contantine right now!

@lifeboy: hopefully they set th right tone for the show and don't go to superhero with it

@jonny_anonymous: I know its a long shot but I have my fingers crossed that the House of Mystery is his head quarters. I will freak the hell out if it comes out!

Thanks for the info btw. I was almost about to give up on the CV forum and some of the stuff in on the main page because of all the negativity. This thread gives me hope.

@lifeboy: if not his HQ then it will at least make an appearance. I hope they adapt Dangerous Habits in to a story in the show.

bump

Interesting...

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He did good as a pirate so it's not far off a magician..... right? lol

Just like him being Welsh isn't so far off from a Londoner/Scouser? :p

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Exactly haha

also here is the blurb:

A working-class Londoner with deadpan humor who is a mysterious conman and occult detective
haunted by the recent loss of a young girl's soul. No stranger to the dark underworld that exists parallel to our own, Constantine has been studying the dark arts since he was a teenager. He's taught himself spells, rituals, curses and conjuring, but the one person he most wishes to see -- his mother, who died giving birth to him -- remains out of reach, at least so far. When Liv, the daughter of a late friend, is targeted by demons, Constantine steps in to save her and the two form an alliance.

No idea who he is.

@fallschirmjager: He did the voice of Edward Kenway in Assassin's Creed and he was in Layer Cake, The Tudors and Criminal Minds.

Yeah, I read that in the article still don't know who he is and I've seen the Tudors. Don't remember him.

Ok, he's a Brit so that's at least a step in the right direction.

@fallschirmjager: he was only in 3 episodes and played Richard Pace

the synopsis sounds good as well

@longbowhunter: well technically he's Welsh =P

Anyways, I'm not sure how far I want to go with the hype for this series yet. Matt Ryan is a solid enough actor and Neil Marshall should be able to create a nice visual language for the series. That said I'm not sure how much leeway this is going to get to be artistic like Hannibal, which is a international co-production where NBC nly pays 30% for.

Supernatural Detective can most definatly be done well but I'll belive it when I see a pilot. We should likely be getting a bit more news in the coming weeks, it'll likely go in to production March-ish and we should know by May Upfronts if it's gotten picked up to series (unless it's Wonder Woman pilots bad it will be)

Cool.

@mrmazz: Well Welsh = British.

this is him blond

Really? THIS guy? I have lost all faith in DC and their ability to cast characters correctly. I swear WB is trying to bury the company. Just kidding, he seems like a good choice and everyone seems to be happy about it so yay!

@arturocalakayvee: lol are you just going to make that joke in every casting announcement?

@jonny_anonymous: Maybe a few more times :P

@arturocalakayvee: But when they announce Lucy Liu as Dr Doom you'll be saying it for real lol

It can't he helped, I like it when my comic movies are precise so change like that angers me. There are very few drastic changes that I accept right away. I'm stubborn, I can't help it :P

@jonny_anonymous: lmao I am surprisingly cool with this :P I did like Edward by the end of Black Flag so I am okay with him playing Constantine LOL

Thank you for the shout out Jonny. It didn't appear in my notification box somehow?

@dragonborn_ct: yea the notifications are messed up these days

Haha I understand, it annoys me sometimes when they blatantly change a character in a movie because it's like they are saying "this character isn't good enough"

Dissapointed, I wanted a black actor, It's 2014 for chris's sake.

Whilst I don't know much about Constantine, I am excited to see how this one pans up. But I'm all for it if Zatanna shows up and brings in Swamp Thing etc.

@lyrafay: Swampy would be cool

lol

Idris Elba!!!
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he will soon play everybody... ever!

Some more casting news for the pilot

Lucy Griffiths(True Blood), Harold Perrineau(Sons of Anarchy) and Charles Halford(True Detective) have all joined the pilot

Griffiths is set to be the female lead opposite John Constantine (Matt Ryan), Liz. Liv is an offbeat young woman tired of her ordinary life who comes to discover that she has the ability of seeing the supernatural world among us, which makes her a key player in the battle between good and evil. Liv teams up with Constantine to save lives, master her power, and learn more about her late father.

Harold Perrineau will play the angel Manny, sent from Hevan to watch over Constantine and can enter the bodies of those around him.

Charles Halford will play Chas, Constantine’s oldest friend and staunch companion who possesses powerful survival skills.

SOURCE: Deadline

@jonny_anonymous:

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@billy_batson said:

@jonny_anonymous:

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Ok he looks kinda perfect.

Did you hear that they might not let him smoke?

@jonny_anonymous said:

@billy_batson said:

@jonny_anonymous:

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Ok he looks kinda perfect.

Did you hear that they might not let him smoke?

Yeah, it's still up in the air but hopefully they'll let him.

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@billy_batson said:

@jonny_anonymous said:

@billy_batson said:

@jonny_anonymous:

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Ok he looks kinda perfect.

Did you hear that they might not let him smoke?

Yeah, it's still up in the air but hopefully they'll let him.

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Yea, I mean there is worse things on tv than someone smoking a fag