The star of NBC's "Constantine" wants a crossover with Batman and Superman, and the entire Justice League in the end game.
The big news in DC is that it is finally competing with the Marvel movie universe. Kicking it all off with "Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice," ten films are slated for release, supposedly set within the same universe but involving a variety of characters.
Matt Ryan wants in on a "Constantine" crossover with Batman and Superman, and the proposal isn't farfetched. Guillermo del Toro is helming the film adaptation of Justice League Dark, which will sport heroes from the darker side of DC.
DC head Geoff Johns previously insisted the TV and movie franchises will remain separate, but del Toro's interest in Matt Ryan as "Constantine" could yet pull off an exception (screenrant.com).
Potential for the "Constantine" crossover on film was previewed in 2005 when Keanu Reeves played the anti-hero with a constant death wish. Matt Ryan was inquired on his thoughts in an interview:
"I liked the movie for what it was as a standalone movie. It's not in the same space in my head though. Since I started this, I've delved into the comics and not really thought about the film. What's funny is, I went out to dinner with a friend of mine the other day and she said, 'Oh, a producer friend of mine is coming', and he was the original producer of the Constantine movie. That was funny."
"Constantine" is struggling in ratings, cut down to 13 episodes in its first season. Matt Ryan remains one of the stronger points of the show.
Ryan's friend Joseph Klaus ("The Originals") wanted the same cult base for "Constantine," as well as a successful run.
"Yeah, I think so. With this kind of genre of shows, you want a cult fan base. Even though it is kind of mainstream, that's the type of audience we want to build around it.
He just said, 'I'll be interested to see how you handle it.' [Laughs] He wants to watch me go through it because he's been through it." (mirror.co.uk)
"Constantine" season two starts on January 16, on NBC.
