10 Cancelled Sci-Fi/Fantasy Series That Deserved Better
7. Constantine
Based on the occult detective of Vertigo and DC fame, Constantine was a closer adaptation to the comics than its markedly different (yet admittedly solid) Keanu Reeves film adaptation. Actor Matt Ryan fit the rougher, chain smoking, vice-heavy grey-moral "hero" that John Constantine is, with the show even tackling the darkest parts of his own background, such as his arrogant mistakes allowing an innocent child to go to hell and the trauma sending him to a bleak mental institution as a result.
The series had a rough start, not knowing how to tackle its own dark themes and flubbing it with poor attempts at making some characters more relatable to a mainstream American audience. However, the episodes that adapted straight from the comics made for high quality horror fantasy storytelling, terrifying and disturbing, but purposeful and intelligent.
This series had immense potential, especially with the cult popularity of Constantine as a character and many fantastic acting performances - but was unfortunately cancelled before a second season.
Matt Ryan has since reprised his role in animated series for DC as well as cameos in Arrowverse. Hopefully they'll take another shot at putting him front and centre on a darker title.