Back in 2005, people were excited about Constantine, a film featuring Keanu Reeves fighting against both heaven and hell in a supernatural film noir. It was based on the long-running DC/Vertigo comic, Hellblazer, about a shady conman named John Constantine who was out to protect Earth from the perils of Hell.
On paper, it sounded amazing, like a detective story mixed with the occult, but the film failed to resonate with audiences. The production did manage to make its budget back (and then some) yet the reception was mixed. Before long, the movie was overshadowed by its competition and faded into obscurity. For most, it simply wasn't the biblical detective story that fans had wanted and the studio had promised.
Fast forward nearly a decade, and John Constantine is set to make his grand reemergence. Constantine, NBC's new series, is a rare second chance for a comic book character. The TV show is a way to take the character and start from scratch, and hopefully win back fans who shunned the film. It seems to be working. Even before tonight's premiere, the show had been one of the most hyped of the new season. With any luck, NBC's take on the character will make viewers forget that the 2005 film ever existed.
Even before the premiere airs tonight, it's easy to see that NBC's take on John Constantine is far more accurate to the comic books than Reeves' take ever was. In the film, Constantine was extremely generic. Sure, he was cynical, like in the comics, but that was about as far as his personality went. In the end, the movie version of Constantine was just plain boring to watch, and viewers didn't sympathize with him in the slightest.
On the other hand, the show hearkens back to the character's roots. Welsh actor Matt Ryan stars as a surly, British Constantine with a penchant for wisecracks and witty retorts. It's much closer to the original character, who originally appeared in 1985 as a supporting character in Alan Moore's Swamp Thing. The show aims to go a long way to make viewers actually care about whether or not Constantine succeeds in his divine mission.
Yes, Constantine may not smoke anymore like in the comics (a side effect of broadcast television) but at the very least, Matt Ryan seems excited about playing the part. Plus, he's finally blonde! Alan Moore did model him after Sting, by the way.
In terms of story, the 2005 version was overstuffed with exposition; there was simply too much to try and fit into a movie for the story to be coherent. Several major aspects of the story were simply cut from the script altogether, and Constantine's failed exorcism and subsequent guilt - two defining aspects of the character - weren't even mentioned due to time restrictions. Thankfully, the NBC show shouldn't have to deal with such restrictions, as having multiple episode arcs gives the show room to breathe. More story can be introduced over a longer period of time, and fewer aspects of the lore will have to be cut. There's a chance for concepts to evolve over time, and the show will be easier to follow without sacrificing the complexity that makes the character interesting.
In general, the show looks far more dedicated to following John Constantine's story than the 2005 film ever was. The movie was so cut down and Americanized that it was almost unrecognizable to fans of the comics, but the show seems to be taking great lengths to keep the story both genuine and entertaining to watch. The film may have been a Hollywood cash-grab (albeit a successful one), but the new Constantine series from NBC looks more like a project people are actually passionate about than an overblown marketing scheme.
Constantine airs tonight at 10 p.m. on NBC.
