Francis Lawrence’s 2005 demonic thriller “Constantine” wasn’t terribly well-reviewed when it first got here out. Some critics appreciated the movie’s visuals, and lots of praised Peter Stormare’s efficiency as Devil, however simply as many critics (together with Jack Matthews within the New York Each day Information) lambasted the movie for being a painfully conventional motion/homicide fantasy hooey. “Constantine” was additionally unremarkable on the field workplace, netting $200 million worldwide on a $100 million finances (which, by Hollywood accounting, is not a blockbuster).
The movie was based mostly on the “Hellblazer” comics, printed by DC’s adult-oriented imprint Vertigo, and the comics’ many followers ultimately got here to admire Lawrence’s movie adaptation. A cult grew. Again in 2022, Warner Bros. discovered that the unique movie’s clout had grown to the purpose the place a sequel might be formally introduced.
“Constantine 2” has now been in pre-production for 3 years. /Movie supplied an replace in September of 2023, and the movie had been placed on maintain due to the writers’ strike. Screenwriter Akiva Goldsman had stated that he and Reeves had give you a narrative, however that no precise screenplay had been written but. The strike possible put “Constantine 2” on maintain for at the least a yr. Then there was additionally the matter of James Gunn’s new rebooted DC Comics universe, which is able to debut with “Superman” later this yr. As a result of John Constantine is a DC Comics character, some wrangling possible needed to happen with Gunn and his crew.
One other large purpose for the delay is that Keanu Reeves, dedicated to reprising his function as John Constantine, would not like several of the scripts. The Direct lately spoke with Stormare concerning the movie, and he had the thin. It appears all of the scripts to this point have been method too action-forward, which is not what Reeves had in thoughts.
Keanu Reeves dislikes the brand new Constantine 2 scripts
Oh sure, and to not bury the lede: evidently Stormare will certainly be returning as Lucifer. Deadline additionally reported in February 2025 that Reeves and Lawrence (likewise returning) have pitched a brand new thought to Warner Bros., so the method remains to be grinding alongside. No script has manifested.
And we’ll see how a lot inventive freedom Reeves and Lawrence will get. Stormare identified in his Direct interview that large studios have a foul tendency to “beef up” sequels, even when it is not warranted. In his phrases, Warner Bros. wished “automobiles flying within the air. They need to have individuals doing flip-flops and preventing motion scenes.” Whereas “Constantine” featured fights with demons, it wasn’t a fistfight sort of film. Many of the themes have been non secular, and John Constantine was a cancer-riddled cynic who carried out rock-n-roll exorcisms, not a hard-fisted badass who punches individuals within the face. Reeves, who turns 61 this yr, would not want one other motion sequence like “The Matrix” or “John Wick” on his resume. He desires this one to be completely different. Stormare theorized:
“I feel Keanu says, ‘I’ve completed “John Wick.” This film is non secular. It is about demons and common individuals. And I wished to maintain it that method.’ And we talked about that. I need to do God coming down precisely the identical method, however in a black go well with and searching kind of like Lucifer from the primary one. I am 12 years older, so it is going to be exhausting to, , fully imitate the primary film. However, I feel from Keanu, he desires to do a sequel that could be very near the primary one.”
It is a sound idea, as anybody being attentive to Hollywood appears to know the way large studios and executives are likely to assume. Repeat a successful formulation, and add populist leisure. Dour, character-driven demon movies do not match into that mildew.
Stormare says that Keanu desires a personality piece
Stormare stated that WB wished his Lucifer to look extra historically demonic, with horns and a tail. In Lawrence’s movie, Lucifer appears to be like like an unusual human in an off-white go well with and no necktie. It was Stormare’s efficiency that made the character demonic, not the make-up. Due to this, he understands that studios can get nervous about pitching a downbeat drama a couple of wounded exorcist in his 60s. Stormare is aware of that Reeves desires to discover John Constantine as a personality, seeing what occurs to a person who is aware of he’s past holy redemption. Nobody desires it to be a high-octane superhero film. As Stormare stated:
“It turns into an motion film, and never like going deeper and deeper into the characters. I feel he desires to do his character once more, Constantine, as grounded because it was within the first one. It took a very long time so that you can grow to be a cult film, it actually labored, and it’ll work on the viewers once more. You do not have so as to add a whole lot of motion and shootouts. You’ve different motion pictures. Do not flip it into Massive Marvel … [Don’t turn it] into us flying round in harnesses on a regular basis and capturing one another up. Do not convey within the large weapons. Let or not it’s.”
After all, that is all second-hand data, and Stormare acknowledged all of it as “rumour.” What we will glean is that Reeves is certainly being “selective,” ensuring the movie seems the best way he would really like. Lawrence is greatest recognized for formidable genre-inflected dramas like “I Am Legend,” 4 of the “Starvation Video games” motion pictures, and, coming later in 2025, “The Lengthy Stroll,” based mostly on a narrative by Stephen King. Little question, he and Reeves will insert loads of demonic motion into their film. Time will inform, nevertheless, if this factor ever will get made.
