NBC finds Zed for Constantine series

There has been a bit of a shakeup on the set of Constantine. A few weeks ago, the network let actress Lucy Griffiths, who played Liv in the pilot episode, for actress Angélica Celaya who will play Zed.

On Griffiths’ exit, producer Daniel Cerone Cerone said, “Pilots are great because they’re a bit of a litmus test, we get to figure out what works and what doesn’t … Liv is a great character, she’s wide-eyed, she’s reactive, [but]we felt a bit hamstrung by her, frankly.” Liv was a character invented specifically for the show, whereas Zed has a history with Constantine in the comics canon. – via Variety

Mary ‘Zed’ Martin
An artist, who met John Constantine in a London alleyway. She was recruited by the ‘Resurrection Crusade’, an extremist Christian group to bear the second coming, but John Constantine stopped this from happening. She then helps stop the Fear Machine, and later assists John in finding out about his twin.

First Appearance in Hellblazer #4

In addition to the exit of a female lead, NBC has asked that Constantine (played by Matt Ryan) not smoke.  There’s been a bit of a clarification on that, though the response has been somewhat vague. David Goyer to Variety that they aren’t going to shy away from his smoking, but realize that they can’t glorify it due to NBC’s broadcast standards. Instead look for John to stub out cigarettes instead of inhaling.

Interestingly, it looks like Constantine’s bisexuality won’t be explored initially in the series, which may have more people up in arms over this change. The producers aren’t saying it isn’t going to be talked about, just not right now on the launch of the series.

Expect to hear more about the series at the San Diego Comic Con, next week.

via Variety