NBC picks up ‘Constantine,’ ‘The Mysteries of Laura’ and ‘A to Z’

NBC’s 2014-15 lineup continued to take shape Thursday, as the network picked up three new series, “Constantine,” “A to Z” and “The Mysteries of Laura.”

Solidifying a trend for shows adapted from comic books, “Constantine” is based on the “Hellblazer” series from DC Comics. It follows John Constantine (Matt Ryan, “Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior”), a demon hunter and master of the occult reluctantly drawn back into the fight against darkness when demons target Liv (Lucy Griffiths, “True Blood”), the daughter of an old friend.

“Dexter” writer Daniel Cerone penned the pilot script and will serve as executive producer with “DaVinci’s Demons” creator and “Batman Begins” screenwriter David S. Goyer.

Fresh off playing Tracy, a.k.a. The Mother, on “How I Met Your Mother,” Cristin Milioti will star in “A to Z,” another sitcom that looks back at the origins of a romance. She plays Zelda, a strait-laced lawyer who falls for secret romantic Andrew (Ben Feldman, “Mad Men”) after a computer glitch -- or was it destiny? -- leads to a chance meeting.

Writer Ben Queen (“Drive”), Rashida Jones (“Parks and Recreation”) and Will McCormack (“Will & Grace”) serve as executive producers. “A to Z” is the second relationship-centric sitcom pickup for NBC this upfront season, following a series order for the Casey Wilson-Ken Marino vehicle “Marry Me.”

Rounding out Thursday’s pickups is “The Mysteries of Laura.” Adapted from a Spanish series, it stars Debra Messing (most recently of “Smash”) as Laura Diamond, a brilliant NYPD homicide detective. She balances her day job with an equally demanding home life that includes unruly twin boys and a would-be ex-husband who won’t sign the divorce papers -- and just so happens to become her boss at the precinct.

Billed as a “hilariously authentic look at what it really means to be a working mom today,” “The Mysteries of Laura” hails from “Boston Legal” writer Jeff Rake and “3 Days to Kill” director McG will executive produce with Greg Berlanti (“Brothers & Sisters”), Aaron Kaplan (“The Neighbors”) and Todd Lituchy.

On Tuesday, NBC ordered the comedy “Marry Me” and dramas “Allegiance,” “State of Affairs” and Odyssey.”