Bad Robot by JJ Abrams is developing a darker reboot of DC Comics Constantine for HBO Max with Guy Bolton ready to write.
Deadline understands that Abrams’ producer Bad Robot is working with the WarnerMedia streamer on the reboot, which will see the character as a young Londoner. We heard that Bolton wrote the pilot’s script with plans to open a writers room in March.
The character is set to be cast as a diverse protagonist, unlike the one played by Matt Ryan on the NBC series, which aired for a season between 2014-15. This series was developed by David Goyer and Daniel Cerone and similarly based on DC Comics character John Constantine, a British exorcist and occult detective who hunts the supernatural.
Ryan also appeared as the character of The CW’s Arrow and as a regular series in Legends of Tomorrow DC, all part of the Arrowverse.
It is the most recent project Bad Robot has on HBO Max; last April, the streamer revealed that it had the green light Neglect, inspired by Stephen King’s The brightness; Duster; and a DC Justice League Dark show.
Bolton is a budding writer from the UK. He has already written two books, The pictures, which was sold to Hell or high water and Outlaw King director David Mackenzie and his production company Sigma Films for an adaptation for the feature film, and The Syndicate. He is also working on The croupier, an original pilot script that is in development with Gentleman jack producer Lookout Point and Sky.
In December, as part of the Deadline article on British writers to be watched in 2021, he told us that he was very “fortunate” to work with Bad Robot and highlighted the “thoughtful” notes he received.