Keanu Reeves Gives Major Update About Constantine 2

Keanu Reeves shared a significant update about the anticipated sequel of his hit horror fantasy movie Constantine. According to the actor, he was only waiting for the script to reprise his antihero character from the DC Comics.

Reeves’s 2005 superhero horror film was a solid hit, which was why many wanted a sequel. Constantine was loosely based on the DC Comics and Vertigo Comics Hellblazer graphic novels. In the film, Reeves plays the character of John Constantine, a suicide survivor and demon hunter who finds himself embroiled in a supernatural plot involving demonic and angelic forces. Reeves had been trying to get the sequel and in September 2022, the long-awaited Constantine 2 was announced. However, three years later, there are still no updates about the production, but Reeves hints that he is ready to film; he’s just waiting for the script.

Reeves recently appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to promote his book The Book of Elsewhere. During their conversation, the host revisited their previous interview on Dec. 13, 2021, and it was played on screen when Colbert asked Reeves if there was a character he wanted to play again, but no one asked him to. In response, Reeves said, “I would love to play John Constantine again.” Colbert said Constantine was a “great film” and he loved it, so he wondered why Reeves felt that a sequel wasn’t possible. The TV presenter asked Reeves, “Are you saying right now that if you’re willing to play John Constantine again on national television, with the prospect that Stephen Colbert would have a guest starring role, that no one will make that movie?” The John Wick actor said he “tried,” implying that he got “no” for an answer when he persuaded the producers for a sequel. The TV presenter jokingly offered to play a “reluctant demon” in the sequel should it be approved. The video cut to Reeves’ recent appearance on the show and Colbert reminded the actor that nine months after the interview, Constantine 2 was greenlighted. However, it has been two years and Colbert hasn’t received a call about the “reluctant demon” role he wishes to play in the film. The TV host jokingly said that he was “hurt.” Reeves answered, “Don’t be hurt, Stephen. I would love it if you were in the film. I have to say thank you. The power of your show reached so many. I got Colbert-ed in the best way and it worked.” Reeves explained how the 2021 interview on the show changed the fate of Constantine 2 before confirming that the script wasn’t done yet.

Reeves said:

Producers Lorenzo Di Bonaventura and Akiva Goldsman shared some updates about Constantine 2 at Collider’s Producers on Producing panel at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con. Goldsman said he was writing the script and hoped to share it with his partners soon. Goldsman shared, “It’s going fine. I’m writing a script about Constantine 2. It’s good. I hope to have a script for my partners soon.” When asked how long he’s been working on the script, Goldsman did not share when he started it but jokingly said, “Yes.” Director Francis Lawrence told Gamespot in October 2023 that the movie was “held up by the writer’s strike.” They reportedly struggled to regain command over the DC character. He also said he hoped to “do Constantine 2, and make a real rated R version of it.”

Constantine 2 is promising because horror is a big genre in theaters now, and fans are still waiting for it after two decades. However, the first film was released too long ago, and the new generation was probably not aware of it, except those who were knee-deep in the comic book world. Reeves’ first three The Matrix movies also did well at the box office. The fourth movie, The Matrix Resurrections, was released 18 years later and while it received positive reviews from the critics, it didn’t perform as expected at the box office. The film had a $190 million budget and only made $159.2 million. Constantine 2 may or may not end up with the same fate, depending on the script and the public’s response.

Constantine 2 will be directed by Francis Lawrence and still be based on the Hellblazer comic book series. Reeves is the only confirmed cast to return, but his co-star Peter Stormare, who played the devil himself, Lucifer, will likely reprise his role. It remains unclear if Rachel Weisz, Tilda Swinton, Shia LaBeouf, and Djimon Hounsou will also return in the sequel.

Source: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert