It’s been a while, but we finally have some good, positive news about Keanu Reeves’ Constantine 2, which will serve as the sequel to the original 2005 film that featured Reeves as the troubled, chain-smoking, cynical exorcist. While the first entry received a highly polarised response from both critics and fans, its reception has massively improved over the years, making it a cult classic.
It seems like Constantine 2 is finally breaking free from Hollywood’s so-called “development hell.” According to Keanu Reeves, the long-awaited sequel is finally ready to move forward.
“We’ve been trying to make this film for over a decade,” Reeves told Inverse. “We just recently put a story together and pitched it to DC Studios, and they said, ‘OK.’ So, we’re going to try and write a script.”
In 2022, it was announced that a sequel to the 2005 film Constantine was in development. Reeves would return in the lead role, along with the original film’s director, Francis Lawrence, and screenwriter, Akiva Goldsman. The first movie adapted the comic book character to fit Reeves’ casting, notably changing Constantine’s nationality and hair colour.
Constantine (2005) remained highly polarised among viewers during its theatrical run. Yet, it was a financial success, earning over $230 million globally. In recent years, Reeves’ stardom has grown exponentially, fueling fan demand for the development of Constantine 2.
In his recent interview with Inverse, Reeves also disclosed that the sequel would take place in the “same world” as Constantine (2005) while keeping his mouth shut about the second chapter’s plot.
“We’re not going off that,” Reeves promises, before teasing, “John Constantine’s going to be tortured even more.”
Reeves’ version of John Constantine in the original movie is already a tortured soul who has been damned to Hell for attempting suicide and suffers from terminal lung cancer.
Constantine 2 could adapt or take inspiration from “Rake at the Gates of Hell” (#78-83 in the Hellblazer arc), which directly deals with the First of the Fallen, a powerful demon connected to Lucifer, seeking revenge. This narrative aligns perfectly with the established ending of the original movie.
It allows for a natural escalation of the threat and provides ample opportunity for both physical and psychological torment as Constantine faces the consequences of his actions. The theme of revenge also creates a strong emotional core, amplifying the “torture” aspect. Stay tuned for more updates.