NBC Chairman Hints Constantine Won't Share a Universe With Arrow, Gotham, Flash

Asked at the Television Critics Association yesterday whether the upcoming Constantine adaptation on NBC might share a universe with The CW's Arrow and Flash, NBC Chairman Robert Greenblatt evaded the the question to the best of his ability--but seemingly said no. "Cross-network is really hard," Greenblatt told IGN. "It's hard enough to do it within your network. I think let us see how the pilot goes before we answer that question!" Besides The CW, DC Entertainment properties are expected to land ad NBC and FOX next year. Two other DC properties--Hourman and iZombie--are in development at The CW but not as sure a thing to get a pilot in time for the start of next fall's season.

Cross-network crossovers are rare, but not entirely unprecedented, more or less as it is in comics. When shows do cross between networks, it's often in a subtler way, such as Detective Munch from NBC's Law & Order franchise appearing on FOX's The X-Files for an episode On the tone of the Constantine show itself, Greenblatt said, "I don't know the DC comic very well, but there is dark, interesting stuff in it, but it's also got some witty banter," adding, "It's a fun tone, although the supernatural stuff is scary." Man of Steel's David Goyer and The Mentalist's Daniel Cerone are executive producing the series, and Goyer is expected to have a hand in writing the pilot. With Batman vs. Superman's script theoretically finished and the film's release pushed back the better part of a year, it may open up Goyer's schedule somewhat to work on projects like this, or some of the other, rumored DC Entertainment movies--but only if the film wasn't delayed to accommodate a back-to-back shooting schedule with a Goyer-written Justice League, as has been speculated.