Why you'll be able to see 'Constantine' star Matt Ryan on the CW show 'Arrow'
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Molly Driscoll Staff writer
Superman may be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, but superhero Constantine can jump from network to network.聽
Actor Matt Ryan starred on the NBC series 鈥淐onstantine鈥� as the superhero, but the network canceled the show this past spring. That doesn鈥檛 mean his portrayal is over, however 鈥� Ryan will pop up on the CW TV show 鈥淎rrow鈥� on Wednesday, portraying the same character. (Warner Bros. Television produces both TV shows.)
TV superhero crossovers are nothing new for 鈥淎rrow,鈥� which centers on the wealthy Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) and his work as the superhero, fighting with a bow and arrow. The CW program 鈥淭he Flash鈥� is a spin-off of 鈥淎rrow鈥� and leads Amell and Grant Gustin have popped up on one another鈥檚 programs.
However, the casting of the superhero character Constantine is interesting. The decision to circle back to the character of Constantine isn鈥檛 unexpected, as studios attempt multiple adaptations of comic book characters even if the first (or second) iterations don鈥檛 work, as seen with Warner Bros. 鈥淔antastic Four鈥� films.
But Ryan returning to play the character is far from guaranteed in today鈥檚 Hollywood. Look no further than the CW show 鈥淭he Flash鈥� 鈥� Warner Bros. is planning to release a movie about the superhero but actor Ezra Miller, not Gustin, will be taking on the role. Meanwhile, the famous comic book superhero Spider-Man was recently re-cast for the second time. Actor Tobey Maguire portrayed the character in the 2000s for three films, then Andrew Garfield played the character more recently, including in 2014鈥檚 鈥淭he Amazing Spider-Man 2.鈥� Now actor Tom Holland is taking on the role for future installments.
However, many actors, especially in the Marvel universe, have stuck with their roles through multiple films (recasting is rare in the Marvel movie series). This year, Forbes named Robert Downey Jr., who portrays the superhero Iron Man, the highest-paid actor in the world. Those who represent Downey have renegotiated his salary in the past with Marvel. When the actor made his debut as Tony Stark, also known as Iron Man, in 2008鈥檚 鈥淚ron Man,鈥� his portrayal was praised by fans and critics.聽
