The CW Renews All Fall Shows; Resurrects John Constantine
The CW has announced renewals for pretty much everything, again.
Just prior to the network’s turn around the Television Critics Association winter tour, word came that all the returning fall shows would get additional seasons: Arrow (season six), The Flash (season four), DC’s Legends of Tomorrow and Supergirl (third seasons for each), and Supernatural (season thirteen), which looks to be working to outlast network president Mark Pedowitz just as he predicted.
Also picked up were the non-genre shows Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and Jane the Virgin.
“Over the past several seasons, The CW has built a schedule of proven performers, from our lineup of DC superheroes, to critically acclaimed comedies, to sci-fi dramas,” said Pedowitz. “Early pickups of these seven series now allow our producers to plan ahead for next season, and gives us a solid base to build on for next season, with original scripted series to roll out all year long.”
The Vampire Diaries is the only veteran show not returning next year, closing out its run on the network with its current eighth season. Freshmen shows No Tomorrow and Frequency have not been renewed as of yet, nor did they get back orders for complete seasons, leading many to conclude the shows won’t be back next year. But there’s still time between now and the official announcements in May. Remember, critical darling and network exec fave Crazy Ex-Girlfriend got renewed for a second season even though no one watches it.
Executive producer @GBerlanti and writer David S. Goyer will be reanimating #Constantine on @cwseed, with @mattryanreal casting the spells! pic.twitter.com/85ltkqHE1y
— The CW App (@cwseed) January 8, 2017
Also announced at the TCA winter tour: the return of Constantine… sort of. Matt Ryan will reprise his role in a new animated series on CW Seed, taking its place next to Vixen with a season of 10-minute episodes (five or six, reports aren’t clear). Originally an NBC production, Constantine was cancelled just as it was getting its legs, and Ryan had the opportunity to play the dabbler in the dark arts on an episode of Arrow. Although there are still no more plans for crossovers, a new animated series could be a step in that direction, as Vixen‘s Megalyn Echikunwoke played her Mari McCabe in live-action form on Arrow as well.
All of this news follows a cryptic tweet from DC Comics president and chief creative officer Geoff Johns:
5) More #DCTV @CW_TheFlash @CW_Arrow @Gotham @TheCW_Legends @LuciferonFOX @TheCWSupergirl and many more! One which will be announced soon…
— Geoff Johns (@geoffjohns) January 1, 2017
iZombie hasn’t been renewed yet, and we know about the Black Lightning project that landed at Fox, as well as Krypton over at Syfy. The inclusion of Lucifer in Johns’ list could hint that the new DC show might not be on the CW. Unless he’s talking about the animated Constantine.
Could the Teen Titans show be back in business? Maybe the Justice Society spins out of Legends?
We will, of course, be discussing this news when the Rogues Gallery podcast returns next week.
