- Fans have been asking for a sequel to “Constantine” for years.
- The horror film stars Keanu Reeves as demonologist and exorcist, John Constantine.
- Producer Akiva Goldsman confirmed that he’s working on “Constantine 2” with Keanu Reeves.
2005 was a completely different era for superhero movies.
It was the year Christian Bale first donned the Batsuit in director Christopher Nolan’s “Batman Begins,” and the Marvel Cinematic Universe was still years away from dominating the box office.
2005 also gave DC fans an adventure that was surprisingly overlooked at the time, but has since become something of a cult classic: “Constantine.”
The film stars Keanu Reeves as demonologist and exorcist John Constantine in an adaptation of DC’s “Hellblazer” comics. It was directed by “Hunger Games” filmmaker Francis Lawrence, and produced by Akiva Goldsman.
The story revolves around Constantine as he tries to figure out why detective Angela Dodson’s (Rachel Weisz) twin sister died by suicide, and how her death is connected to the growing war between heaven and hell.
“Constantine” is more of a horror movie than a stereotypical superhero adventure with its creepy demons and occasionally gory visuals. But, then, the comics it’s based on are equally dark and twisted.
“Constantine” made a healthy $230 million at the box office, but a long-mooted sequel has yet to hit theaters.
Earlier this year, Goldsman gave an update on the project, and it seems like audiences might finally see Reeves take up the fight against hell once more in “Constantine 2.”
Akiva Goldsman said ‘Constantine 2’ is going ahead and he’s already figured out the story
Keanu Reeves as John Constantine in “Constantine.”
Warner Bros. Pictures
Back in February, Warner Bros. and Akiva Goldsman confirmed that they’re working together on “Constantine 2” as well as “I Am Legend 2.”
In an interview with Deadline, the producer praised Reeves, who has been interested in revisiting the character since 2005.
“This is a credit to Keanu, who endlessly has said, ‘This is the character I want to return to.’ Finally, he said it enough times that it stuck,” Goldsman said.
“The character is very much Keanu and the way he and Francis saw the world of good and evil, and the wonderful and authentic noir where there is a world behind the world of good and evil coexist with our world right up close,” Goldsman continued.
He added: “Beyond that, we are still discovering it as I am writing the script.”
Although writers and actors are currently on strike in Hollywood, Goldsman told The Playlist in July that the team behind “Constantine 2” has already figured out the story.
“My pens are down, so there’s nothing to do. But, yeah, those are the next things I’m writing when I’m allowed to write again,” said Goldsman.
Goldsman said he had started writing “I Am Legend 2” before the strike, but added: “Francis, Keanu, and I have broken ‘Constantine 2.’ I just haven’t started typing yet.”
In March, Keanu Reeves said he didn’t know if ‘Constantine 2’ will actually happen
Keanu Reeves as John Constantine and Jhoanna Trias as a possessed girl in “Constantine.”
Warner Bros. Pictures
While the “Constantine 2” news seemed pretty concrete back in February, the sequel wasn’t mentioned by new DC Studios co-chairmen and CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran when they announced their plans for the DC Universe in January.
The first phase of the new DC Universe is titled “Gods and Monsters,” and it’s easy to imagine Constantine fitting into that since he fights demons, monsters, and the devil himself.
The studio is even working on a “Swamp Thing” movie, and Constantine made his comic book debut in the green monster’s series back in 1985.
But while promoting “John Wick: Chapter 4” in March, Reeves seemed to downplay the progress of “Constantine 2.”
He told CinemaBlend: “We’re trying, I don’t know if it’s going to happen. I don’t know if I look good as a blond. Hopefully, I get to do it, but I don’t know.”
And so, the wait continues…
