Within the pages of DC Comics’ Hellblazer, occult investigator and con man, John Constantine rarely met a demon he couldn’t trick or manipulate into giving him what he wanted. But Constantine may have a harder time getting the same results with network executives.
Deadline is reporting that “Constantine” Season 1 is getting capped off at 13 episodes, as the network has declined to pick the series up for a full season of 22 episodes. Usually, this would mean that a broadcast network was canceling a show, but the report states that “Constantine” still has a shot at getting renewed for a second season.
The issue with “Constantine” is that it’s premiere was held for a late October debut, but the show is already in production on its thirteenth episode; which is why NBC had to make a decision after only five episodes have been aired. The good news for “Constantine” fans is that the most recently broadcast episode had a 38% ratings bump and “Constantine” has also been a strong performer in DVR and other digital platforms.
Related: Emmett Scanlan Is Jim Corrigan on ‘Constantine’
“Constantine” will ultimately live or die based on the viewership of the remaining eight episodes of season 1. This is a similar situation to Fox’s decision to cut off “Sleepy Hollow” last season after 13 episodes, But that was also accompanied by a second season order because “Sleepy Hollow” was Fox’s most popular new drama at the time. “Constantine” hasn’t had the same level of success yet.
There is some speculation that “Constantine” may be replaced by “Hannibal” Season 3 in February. But NBC actually has several options for that timeslot, including Aquarius, Allegiance, Odyssey, and “The Slap.”
Three more episodes of “Constantine” will air in 2014, with the remaining five episodes slated to premiere in 2015.
