This is an interesting piece of news. Robert Rodriguez’s El Rey Network, known for broadcasting cult classic films in uncut form and the home of the awesome Lucha Underground, has acquired the TV show Constantine. Let’s be clear: this deal is not for new episodes, but rather to broadcast all 13 episodes of Constantine’s run.
If this doesn’t sound like a big deal to you, you’re quite wrong. You see, Constantine Season One still does not have a DVD/ Blu-Ray release date, an act almost as criminal as the cancellation of the series. So if you legally want to watch the episodes, this is the way to go for the time being.
Expect Constantine and Almost Human to start airing on El Rey sometime in November. Other shows included in the multi-year deal with Warner Bros. Domestic Distribution include V: The Series, the V miniseries, Mortal Kombat: Conquest, Freddy’s Nightmares, The Twilight Zone (2002) and Night Visions. Mortal Kombat: Conquest and Freddy’s Nightmares will premiere before the end of this year, with the rest coming in 2016.
UPDATED WITH PRESS RELEASE:
El Rey Network, the 24-hour English-language cable network founded by filmmaker Robert Rodriguez, has finalized an acquisition deal with Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution to license the exclusive off-network cable rights for all episodes of the popular series “Constantine” and “Almost Human,” which will make their basic cable debuts beginning November 2015. Also under this multi-year agreement, El Rey Network will acquire several additional high-profile properties rolling out in 2015 and 2016. This includes the basic cable premiere of “Human Target” plus “V: The Series,” “Mortal Kombat: Conquest,” “Freddy’s Nightmares,” “The Twilight Zone,” “V Miniseries,” and “Night Visions.”
“We are proud to have these extremely popular titles make their off-network cable debuts on El Rey Network,” added Robert Rodriguez, Founder and Chairman, El Rey Network. “This is the kind of distinctive, action-packed content that viewers have come to expect on our air, and these franchises will be the perfect complement to our existing line-up of iconic and thrilling originals and acquisitions.” Financial terms were not disclosed.
Detailed information on El Rey Network’s acquired series is listed below:
LICENSED SERIES:
“Constantine” (Airs Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET – 11:00p.m. ET beginning on November 3)
Based on the wildly popular comic book series “Hellblazer” from DC Comics, seasoned demon hunter and master of the occult John Constantine (Matt Ryan, “Criminal Minds”) is armed with a ferocious knowledge of the dark arts and a wickedly naughty wit. He fights the good fight – or at least he did. With his soul already damned to hell, he’s decided to abandon his campaign against evil until a series of events thrusts him back into the fray, and he’ll do whatever it takes to protect the innocent.
“Almost Human” (Airs Mondays at 8:00 p.m. ET – 11:00 p.m. ET beginning on November 9)
In 2048, police officer John Kennex wakes up from a 17-month coma without his girlfriend, his partner – and without one of his legs. While Kennex survived a catastrophic attack on the police department, his partner, relationship, and one limb did not. Now outfitted with highly sophisticated synthetic appendage – along with depression, trauma-onset OCD, and PTSD – Kennex is persuaded to come back to work by his longtime captain. As all cops are required to work with a robot, Kennex must overcome his aversion to androids and get accustomed to his new partner, a discontinued android with unexpected emotional responses.
“Human Target” (Premieres in 2016)
The series follows the life of San Francisco-based Christopher Chance (Mark Valley), a unique private contractor, bodyguard, and security expert hired to protect his clients. Rather than taking on the target’s identity himself (as in the comic book version), he protects his clients by completely integrating himself into their lives, to become a “human target.”
“Mortal Kombat: Conquest” (Premieres in 2015)
In a dark and mythical re-telling of classic tale of good versus evil, the TV series “Mortal Kombat: Conquest” follows the fierce warrior Kung Lao and his comrades Taja and Siro on their quest to protect the earth realm from falling under the control of the evil conqueror of realms Shao Kahn, ruler of the Outworld. Vital to the survival of mankind are warriors who can compete in Mortal Kombat. While combatants from Outworld have magic and darkness on their side, fighters from the Earth Realm have only their strength, both physical and mental, and belief that their cause is just and right.
“Freddy’s Nightmares” (Premieres in 2015)
Based on the Nightmare on Elm Street film series, “Freddy’s Nightmares: A Nightmare on Elm Street the Series” is an anthology show hosted by Freddy Krueger. Krueger sometimes appeared in the episodes, but often he just hosted the strange, “Twilight Zone”-like stories about the residents of Springwood’s nightmares. Episodes consist of two stories, usually with a small character from the first half of the episode becoming the focus of the second half. In an unusual move for an anthology series, many episodes had sequels that documented the further adventures of characters who had appeared in previous episodes.
“V Miniseries” (Premieres in 2016)
“V” is a two-part science fiction television miniseries, written and directed by Kenneth Johnson. First shown in 1983, it initiated the science-fiction franchise concerning aliens known as “The Visitors” trying to gain control of Earth, and of the ways the populace reacts to this.
“V: The Series” (Premieres in 2016)
A remake of the 1983 miniseries created by Kenneth Johnson, the new series chronicles the arrival on Earth of a technologically advanced alien species which ostensibly comes in peace, but actually has sinister motives. “V” stars Morena Baccarin, Lourdes Benedicto, Morris Chestnut, Joel Gretsch, Logan Huffman, Charles Mesure, Elizabeth Mitchell, Laura Vandervoort, and Scott Wolf.
“The Twilight Zone” (Premieres in 2016)
This 2002 remake of the classic series, created by Rod Sterling and hosted by Forest Whitaker, presents tales of suspense, fantasy, science-fiction, and horror.
“Night Visions” (Premieres in 2016)
“Night Visions” is an anthology series similar to “The Twilight Zone” – some tales are supernatural; others are just commentaries on twisted human nature. Each hour episode is made up of two half-hour episodes aired back-to-back.
