Constantine’s Back in “Justice League Dark”

For those who’ve been missing John Constantine’s live-action television show, Justice League: Dark may fill your cravings. Warner Bros. Entertainment today announced the release of the new animated movie on February 7, 2017.

The film features actor Matt Ryan, who played Constantine on television, as the voice of the animated version. And it looks to be well-named: even the trailer on YouTube is rated R, presumably for violence and disturbing sequences, though one wonders if, in the full film, Constantine indulges in some of his trademark foul language.

The film will be available on Blu-ray™ Deluxe Giftset ($39.99 SRP), which features an exclusive Constantine figurine; a Blu-ray™ Combo Pack ($24.98 SRP); and DVD ($19.98 SRP). For those who can’t wait, the film will be available to own on Digital HD ($19.99 HD, $14.99 SD) starting January 24, 2017.

The Plot? From the press release:
When innocent civilians begin committing unthinkable crimes across Metropolis, Gotham City and beyond, Batman must call upon mystical counterparts to eradicate this demonic threat to the planet. Enter Justice League Dark, reluctantly led by the Hellblazer himself, John Constantine. Like Batman, Constantine is a cunning, often cynical loner who is the best at his chosen profession – but quickly realizes the sinister forces plaguing the planet will require help from other supernatural alliances. Forming a new “league” with sorceress Zatanna, otherworldly Deadman, and Jason Blood and his powerful alter ego Etrigan the Demon, this team of Dark Arts specialists must unravel the mystery of Earth’s supernatural plague and contend with the rising, powerful villainous forces behind the siege – before it’s too late for all of mankind.

What did I notice in the trailer? That the House of Secrets and Swamp Thing both make appearances in the film (yay!) that the tone of the trailer is pitch dark (even the artwork), and that the trailer is selling Constantine as the lead.

I know, that’s because of his popularity with the television show but if I were the Justice League, I’d think Zatanna would be a much better choice as a magical consultant. (She is in the trailer but, alas, but doesn’t show off her backwards-speaking spells. Etrigan doesn’t rhyme in the trailer either. Seems like a lost opportunity.)

Other cast includes: Jason O’Mara (Terra Nova, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) as Batman, Camilla Luddington (Grey’s Anatomy) as Zatanna, Nicholas Turturro (NYPD Blue) as Deadman, Ray Chase (Final Fantasy XV videogame) as Jason Blood/Etrigan, Roger R. Cross (24, Arrow) as John Stewart/Swamp Thing, Jeremy Davies (Justified) as Ritchie Simpson, Rosario Dawson (Daredevil, Sin City) as Wonder Woman, Jerry O’Connell (Stand By Me, Crossing Jordan) as Superman, Enrico Colantoni (Flashpoint, Veronica Mars) as Felix Faust, and Alfred Molina (The Da Vinci Code, Spider-Man 2) as Destiny.

Justice League: Dark is directed by Jay Oliva (Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns) with a story by J.M. DeMatteis and Ernie Altbacker (Green Lantern: The Animated Series) and teleplay by Ernie Altbacker.