NBC’s Version of Constantine Won’t Be Bisexual

By Ashley R. Lierman

Speculation has come to an end on whether the NBC adaptation of long-running DC Comics series Hellblazer will retain the main character’s bisexuality – and the answer is no. Executive producers David S. Goyer were willing to fight to show evidence of John Constantine’s smoking habit onscreen, it seems, but found his sexuality to be of lesser importance. Via Entertainment Weekly:

When asked about this at the Television Critics Association’s semi-annual press tour Sunday, executive producer Daniel Cerone ran down the various editions of the character that have existed since the demon fighter was introduced in 1985 to suggest his sexuality is not a crucial aspect of the character (nearly all of the character’s relationships in the comics have been with women). “In those comic books, John Constantine aged in real time,” he said. “Within this tome of three decades [of comics] there might have been one or two issues where he’s seen getting out of bed with a man. So [maybe] 20 years from now? But there are no immediate plans.”

As for Constantine’s cigarette habit, however, Cerone and Goyer noted that the network had suggested every replacement from patches to chewing gum – but according to Goyer, “We thought [showing him] having to snub something out is more truthful.”

After all, to what part of a character’s identity should one be more truthful than his smoking?