A “Constantine” series is in early development at HBO Max from producer and director J.J. Abrams. This would be part of the “Justice League Dark” franchise of the DCEU.
It has yet to be officially confirmed which DC characters would factor into the “Justice League Dark” series, but Constantine was a part of the team in the comics as were heroes like Swamp Thing, Madame Xanadu, Deadman, and Doctor Mist, among others.
Most likely the principal characters on the show would get their own standalone series before joining forces in “Justice League Dark,” similar to the strategy the now defunct Marvel Television division did with its Netflix shows on “The Defenders.” That series brought together Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist after each appeared in their own shows on the streamer.
Constantine’s first appearance was in “The Saga of Swamp Thing” #37, June 1985. In these early appearances, Constantine was depicted as a sorcerer of questionable morality, whose appearance was based on that of the musician Sting (specifically, as Sting appeared in the films Brimstone and Treacle and Quadrophenia).
John Constantine has been portrayed onscreen both in film and television in the past. The first live-action incarnation of the character was played by Keanu Reeves in the 2005 film “Constantine.” Matt Ryan then played the character in the NBC series “Constantine” before reprising the role in The CW series “Arrow” and “Legends of Tomorrow.”
Should the series go forward, it would be the latest in a growing list of DC projects coming to HBO Max that tie into the larger DC Extended Universe established in the films. The Constantine series will be joined by John Cena as Peacemaker in an HBO Max series that ties into James Gunn’s upcoming “Suicide Squad” film, while the streamer is also prepping a Gotham PD show that will tie into the events of “The Batman” starring Robert Pattinson.
