Director Francis Lawrence has provided an update on Constantine 2 – a belated sequel to his own comic book horror film starring Keanu Reeves. It’s all sounding cautiously positive.
Because time is a horrifying hall of mirrors, it’s almost exactly 20 years since comic book horror adaptation Constantine emerged in US cinemas (18th February 2005, to be precise). Now regarded as a cult hit, it’s been the subject of occasional chatter in recent years, as director Francis Lawrence and screenwriter Akiva Goldsman have talked enthusiastically about making a sequel. Title star Keanu Reeves is also keen to reprise his role.
In an interview with Collider, Lawrence has provided a status update on Constantine 2, which had previously been delayed by the Hollywood Strikes and negotiations over usage rights.
“I will say we are closer than ever to being able to do a sequel, which is a great thing,” Lawrence said. “And Akiva, Keanu and I are super, super excited about it.”
The first film introduced Reeves as the big-screen incarnation of John Constantine, an expert in the occult and a dab hand at exorcisms, and saw him embroiled in a twisted Archangel’s plot to turn Earth into a living hellscape. Some viewers took issue with its departures from the source Hellblazer comics, but it had some impressive visuals and a superb cast, including Tilda Swinton as the aforementioned Archangel, Gabriel, and Peter Stormare as Satan himself.
It’s a wonder how a sequel could top Constantine’s apocalyptic action, but Lawrence has said that he and Goldsman have combed through old back issues and come up with a worthwhile story.
“We have a great idea,” he said. “We have gone through a bunch of the comics over the years and looked at things. I will say that there’s probably grains from things that we’re pulling, but in truth, most of it is just coming from the three of us, you know, loving the character, loving the world, having it sort of in the back of our minds for 20 years and just kind of percolating on ideas, and stories and characters we love, and ideas we love.”
The Constantine 2 script was said to have been finished last September, while Lawrence has previously suggested that his sequel will be R-rated. Does this mean that, after 20 years, the sequel will start filming soon? We’ll bring you more as we get it.
