CONSTANTINE Casts Emmett Scanlan as The Spectre

Here comes the Spirit of Vengeance.

IGN reported yesterday that the upcoming NBC series Constantine has cast Emmett Scanlan as Jim Corrigan, better known to DC Comics fans as The Spectre.  The character will be a recurring guest star.

According to the article, Corrigan will be "a homicide detective in New Orleans who is plunged into Constantine's world of occult horrors.  Furthermore, Corrigan is someone who is obsessed with justice, and who doesn't let police procedure or red tape stop him from putting away the bad guys, even if the bad guys turn out to be inhuman."

Scanlan is an Irish actor perhaps best known to American audiences as Simon on the BBC America zombie series In the Flesh and as Brendan Brady on the British soap opera Hollyoaks.  He also appeared recently in this summer's Guardians of the Galaxy as the Head Riot Guard.

Created by Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel and artist Bernard Baily, The Spectre first appeared in 1940's More Fun Comics #52 as Jim Corrigan, a hard-boiled cop who was on his way to his engagement party until was he murdered by being stuffed into a barrel filled with cement and then drowned.  His spirit was refused entry into the afterlife however, instead being sent back to Earth by a supernatural entity referred to only as "The Voice" to eradicate evil.  Assuming the identity of The Spectre, Corrigan begins seeking vengeance against his murderers in grim, supernatural ways.  Breaking off his engagement with his fiancée Clarice, Corrigan continues his crusade, becoming the Spectre whenever he's needed.

In the current New 52 continuity, Corrigan is a Gotham City Police Detective whose fiancee is kidnapped.  Guided by the Phantom Stranger on the instructions of The Voice, the Stranger leads Corrigan to the abandoned warehouse where she is being kept, but this turns out to be a trap.  Jim Corrigan and his girlfriend are murdered by the kidnappers and he is then transformed into The Spectre, who accuses the Phantom Stranger of betraying him.  As the Spectre is about to attack the Phantom Stranger, The Voice intervenes and sends the Spectre off to inflict his wrath on those who are more deserving.

This will be the first time The Spectre has appeared in live-action, although he previously appeared in the animated short DC Showcase: The Spectre (voiced by Gary Cole) and on the series Batman: The Brave and the Bold (voiced by Mark Hamill).

Constantine premieres on NBC on October 24, 2014 at 10 p.m. EST.