After two decades, Keanu Reeves may finally get his wish to don the trench coat of supernatural detective John Constantine once again. During a recent appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Reeves and director Francis Lawrence discussed their ongoing efforts to bring Constantine 2 to life.
"I'm aching to play this guy," Reeves revealed when asked about returning to the role of the cynical exorcist who battles supernatural forces.
The original 2005 film, based on DC Comics' Hellblazer series, followed Constantine's adventures fighting demons while grappling with his ability to communicate with supernatural beings. Despite mixed reviews at release, the movie earned $200 million worldwide and has developed a devoted following over the years.
Lawrence explained that various obstacles, including leadership changes at Warner Bros. and DC Comics, had previously hindered sequel plans. "We have constantly tried to come back," the director noted.
The project gained renewed momentum following Reeves' 2021 appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, where he named Constantine as the character he most wanted to revisit. This public interest, combined with the film's growing cult status, helped push the sequel into development.
Officially announced in 2022, Constantine 2 has writer Akiva Goldsman crafting the screenplay. While specific plot details remain under wraps, both Reeves and Lawrence expressed enthusiasm about their collaborative development process with Goldsman.
"We have some really, really great ideas that we're super excited about," Lawrence shared, indicating they're close to having a workable script that could get the project greenlit.
For Reeves, even the planning stages bring joy: "It's just fun to be in the same room and talk Constantine."