Trying to follow along with all of the false starts in the world of “Constantine” is a futile gesture. After the original film was released in 2005, where it made decent but not great money and earned mixed reviews, it seemed like the potential franchise was killed before it really got the chance to happen. But over the years, there have been numerous attempts to revive the character, to no avail. Well, it appears like a long-awaited sequel is finally moving ahead.
According to a Deadline interview with producer Akiva Goldsman, he’s currently working on a story (and then he’ll write the script) for a “Constantine” sequel film, which will star Keanu Reeves and will be directed by Francis Lawrence. No plot details were given, but for those who have seen the film, you know “Constantine” follows the title character (Reeves) as he battles the forces of evil using magic. The character is based on the DC Comics character of the same name.
“We’re doing it with JJ Abrams, and Francis and Keanu and I have been pretty deep in the story-breaking stage,” teased Goldsman. “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.”
He added, “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. Beyond that, we are still discovering it as I am writing the script.”
As mentioned, the idea of a “Constantine” sequel has been floating around for years. Sometimes the sequel is going to happen, then it isn’t. Other times, it’s going to be a full reboot with a new lead actor, but that gets morphed into a potential TV series. Then Keanu Reeves comes back and it might happen again in some R-rated film where he meets Jesus. But then WB isn’t interested. Then you have James Gunn and Peter Safran taking over DC Studios and a new “Constantine” film seems highly unlikely. And now, after all of that, it appears like it’s actually going to happen.
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If it does finally get made, you have to assume it’ll be part of the Elseworlds designation from DC Studios, joining the likes of “The Batman” and “Joker” as films that contain DC characters but aren’t part of the traditional DCU continuity.
Obviously, it’s far too early to know when we might see “Constantine 2” arrive in theaters.