Q: Could a character from an NBC DC show appear on a CW DC show, or vice versa?
David Goyer: You mean the same actor or the same character? Obviously you could see the character because it’s up to DC. The same actor, I guess if legal could work it out. We’ll see. Listen, we want to get on the air first.
Who would be the character you’d most like to launch into a TV show from the supernatural universe after Constantine?
After Constantine? Oh gee. Some of them maybe we’ll roll out in “Constantine” and we’ll see.
What were the comic book storylines you focused on?
It’s not like “Game of Thrones” where we’re saying okay, we’re going to do book three and that’s going to be our first season. I would say that the first season of our show is loosely tracking a version of the storyline in which John was introduced, American Gothic. That was certainly the inspiration for it.
Would you want to launch another DC supernatural show as early as next year, like “Chicago Fire” and “Chicago PD?”
First and foremost, I want to launch this show and have it be successful and get a second season so that we can keep digging into all these amazing stories that we want to tell but sure, if it takes off, who knows? The sky’s the limit.
Rockne S. O’Bannon said he wanted to do the Hunger Demon story. Are you looking to include that?
That’s a great story. We would love to do that.
Should we only expect one other DC character to be on this season, or could we get our hopes up for more?
It’s possible there’d be more than one. In terms of where we’re at in the storyline so far, we’re only working with one. I do want to be clear though that this show hopefully will be appreciated by people who aren’t just comic book fans. We’re not just making it for people like me.
Where do you want to keep up the DC comic book work and where do you want to make time to do your own thing?
Well, look. I’ve got another show on TV right now that is not [a] comic book, “Da Vinci’s Demons.” I have a number of projects that I’m developing that aren’t comic book based, so hopefully I’ll spend some time doing some comic book stuff and spend some time not doing comic book stuff. I love comic books. I was weaned on them so it’s not like it’s a stretch for me, but I have other interests as well.
Can you talk about the shows you’re developing?
Not yet.
Did you have to bring another showrunner on to “Da Vinci’s” to help with the load of this show and you’re movie work?
Yes, yes. At a certain point you can only do so much. John Shiban already came in on “Da Vinci’s Demons” to help with the day to day of that show. We’re shooting the third season of that right now. The pickup of that coincided with this happening so I realized I needed help.
What’s been fun for you about observing the Superman/Batman/Justice League buzz, seeing rumors pop up and knowing what’s actually planned?
You know, I can’t possibly answer anything about that. I’m sorry. Today is all “Constantine.” Sorry.
Is the whole show going to be based in Atlanta?
No. It never was all based in Atlanta. It just happened to be that that’s where she was and that’s where the house is, which is something that’s going to be his base of operations but the show will ultimately take place all over the world. It’s a road show like “X Files” was.
But you can double Atlanta for anywhere else?
I mean, we shot “Da Vinci’s Demons” in Wales so we’re able to pull off Renaissance Italy in Wales. If we can do that, I think Atlanta can double for other places. When we shot “Flash Forward” in L.A., we had episodes that took place in Tokyo, in Iran and all sorts of things. With set extension you can do a lot.
How hard was it to find your Constantine?
Very hard. I think we saw over 500 people but when we saw Matt, we loved him. He was doing a Shakespeare play with Jude Law and he had this giant beard, but we knew immediately that he was the guy. In order to convince NBC we had to wait for his play to end and for him to shave his beard. It was hard and just look at him. If you know the comics at all, he just leapt off the page. It’s kind of amazing.
Was the original Constantine based on Sting?
That’s what I’ve heard.
Do you have any favorite eras of Constantine after American Gothic?
Well, American Gothic is amazing. I like a lot of the initial Delano run. Garth Ennis did a great one. I mean, there’ve been so many. Mike Carey. I like Azzarello’s stuff. I mean, there’s so much great stuff to pull from. There’s over 200 issues. I haven’t even read them all.
Have you tried to read the latest ones?
I have been but also I’m behind on my stack.
Do you have your original Constantine or Hellblazer issues?
I do. I’m trying to remember what issue of Swamp Thing that I wrote a letter in. During the American Gothic story.
Did you do a lot of letter writing?
I did. I think I only got four of them printed.
Has a fan ever brought a comic book with your published letter in it to ask you to sign it?
Yes. I had a letter printed in Captain America when Mark Gruenwald was writing it. Someone brought one.
Any plans to write a comic book?
I would love to, if I can find the time. I’ve been trying to kick around something with Geoff Johns again. It’s just a question of finding the time.
Might there be an adaptation of this show in DC?
It’s possible.
