It’s been 18 years sinceConstantinewas in theaters, but the franchise may still have some life left. While answering fan questions, Keanu Reeves, who starred as the titular occult detective John Constantine, recently shared an update about the sequel.
Constantineis an adaptation of theDCcomics character of the same name. Last year, it was announced that Reeves and Warner Bros. were working on aConstantinesequel, but little has been revealed about the project. James Gunn, CEO of DC Studios, has recently reshuffled or cancelled several projects on DC’s docket to revitalize the company’s cinematic offerings. However, a Warner Bros. spokesperson did confirm theConstantinesequel was not cancelledlast month.
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During a recent AMA onReddit, Reeves was asked by a fan if he had spoken with Gunn about theConstantinesequel. The fan further stated that they hoped to see the movie in theaters eventually. Reeves responded, “Yes, and me too.“Constantine 2writer Akiva Goldsman, who also produced the first film, has stated that he’s working on the film’s script and praised Reeves. Goldsman said the character is “very much Keanu” and credited the first film’s director, Francis Lawrence, with crafting the morality of the film’s universe. Lawrence is also expected to return for the second film, again serving as the production’s director.
The fact thatConstantine 2is still happening is something of a surprise. Gunn has indicated that the DCU’s future will not strictly adhere to one continuity, with various Elseworlds projects being in the works. So the first film does not necessarily have to be canon to the rest of the DCU.Constantineis a cult classic, but it wasn’t a massive success when it first came out, making it an outlier for revitalized franchises.
However,the John Constantine characterdoes have plenty of storylines to adapt. Constantine is a fan-favorite DC character who, until recent years, hasn’t always gotten his chance to shine in one of DC’s adaptations. The fact that Gunn is willing to take a risk on an older franchise with a dedicated fanbase is probably a good sign. The original film wasn’t necessarily perfectly faithful to the comics, but a continuation could adapt many more elements from the comics and explore the character more deeply.
