Although initial reports regarding the NBC version of John Constantine have been pretty positive, news is emerging that some of the “compromises” that are being made to bring it to network television may alter the character quite considerably.

In an interview with Collider at the Saturn Awards, director Neil Marshall confirmed that Constantine will not be seen smoking in the pilot episode, nor is there any mention of the character’s cancer.”You can’t smoke on network,” Marshall explained. “That’s one of his character traits.  We’re working around that.  We’re trying to get aspects of it in there as much as possible.” He later admitted that this decision was “frustrating”.

The hope is to make a show that is “as dark and scary as possible” and Marshall also confirmed that at present he is due to direct one episode beyond the pilot.