Smoke 'em if you got 'em, Hellblazers...
Deadline reports that the NBC series Constantine will halt production after its initial 13 episode order. The cast and crew were notified of the decision three days ago after completing production and the series will remain in its usual Friday 10 p.m. slot for the remainder of its run.
However, according to the article, Constantine still has a chance for a second season, possibly similar to how NBC airs 13-episode seasons of Hannibal. NBC supposedly had to make a decision whether to keep Constantine in continuous production with little ratings information. Because the show was delayed until late October when NBC’s Friday genre block begins, the network had to make a call whether to order additional episodes after only four episodes had aired instead of at least seven, the norm for a new series.
Daniel Cerone, Constantine's showrunner, confirmed the article's accuracy on Twitter, stating that the decision for Season 2 is in fans' hands...
The producers are confidant. Constantine higher ratings than Hannibal and CLIMBING. Hannibal got 2nd season. So keep watching! #Constantine
— Daniel Cerone (@DanielVCerone) November 24, 2014
The suits at NBC may have been encouraged by the show’s +38% week-to-week ratings jump for Episode 5, "Danse Vaudou," this Friday — earning a 1.1 among adults 18-49 in Live+Same day, the show’s highest mark since the series debut, and by its best retention of the Grimm lead-in, also since the series debut. Constantine also has a strong fan base because of the Hellblazer comics and has seen big DVR improvements, recently rising +81% in Live+3 for Episode 4, "A Feast of Friends," regarded by fans as a possible creative turning point in the series.
NBC showed support for the show, running a marathon of the first four episodes on Syfy last Thursday and revealing that Constantine cast members will appear on the network’s broadcast of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. It's not known what will replace Constantine on the schedule after its run, but Hannibal seems most likely.