Constantine Producer Offers an Update on the Long-Awaited Sequel

Summary

• Constantine 2
  is slowly becoming a reality with a dedicated team behind it.
• The project faced challenges due to shifts in direction and creative control.
• The team now has control of the character and is determined to create a real rated-R version of the film.

Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura has offered an update on the development of the long-awaited DC sequel, Constantine 2. Speaking with Comicbook.com, the producer, who has been behind the likes of Constantine, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, and Madame Web, hopes that the Constantine follow-up does happen, as it’s such a “great character.”

“I hope it does, because its’ a great character. Great in comic books, and it was great making that first movie. It’s such an alternative kind of character. It’s what really attracted me to Madame Web, was the singularity of the character, that idea that she is going to become blind and that she is going to become this other thing was really attractive.”

While the comparisons to Madame Web may not seem so promising now that the Spider-Man spinoff has been released, it certainly sounds like those involved in the first Constantine are still pushing for a return of Keanu Reeves as the paranormal investigator.

RELATED: Why Keanu Reeves’ Constantine Needs a Reboot And Not a Sequel

Constantine 2 is slowly but surely inching closer to becoming a reality. The original film, which featured Keanu Reeves in the role of John Constantine, a supernatural detective battling demons and mystical beings, garnered a dedicated cult following over the years. This enduring interest reignited hopes for a sequel, and Warner Bros. has taken the initiative to bring it to life. Akiva Goldsman is on board as the scriptwriter, and Francis Lawrence, the director of the first film, is set to return to helm the sequel.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Lawrence shed light on the project’s progress, revealing the challenges they faced during its development. Over the years, various parties have attempted to take the character in different directions, with NBC launching a TV series and J.J. Abrams expressing interest in a project. Amid these shifts in direction and creative control, the DC Universe underwent changes of its own. However, the dedicated team behind Constantine 2 managed to reclaim control and is now gearing up to revive the project after a temporary hiatus due to the strikes.

“We’ve had many obstacles [with production]. Me, Keanu, Akiva have tried over the years to wrangle some control of the character again, because it had been handed over. I think NBC did a TV show, and then J.J. [Abrams] was going to try and do something. And then the regime at DC changed, and they’ve got their plans. But luckily, we managed to wrangle some control and started working on some ideas for Constantine 2, which we’re really excited about. It’s still the very beginning, as the strike put it on hold for a little bit. So we’re probably going to start getting back together after Thanksgiving, and dig back in to try and crack it.”

Constantine 2 Director Aims to Create ‘A Real Rated R Version’

Constantine

Release Date February 8, 2005

Writers Jamie Delano , Garth Ennis , Kevin Brodbin , Frank A. Cappello

Tagline Hell wants him. Heaven won’t take him. Earth needs him.

Lawrence and Goldsman are working alongside Keanu Reeves to craft the story for Constantine 2. With control of the character finally in their hands, they have engaged in productive meetings to outline the film’s direction and are determined to create a real rated-R version of the film.

“So Constantine 2 got obviously held up by the writers strike. And we had to jump through a bunch of hurdles to get control of the character again, because other people had control of the Vertigo stuff. We have control. Keanu and Akiva Goldsman and I have been in meetings and have been hashing out what we think the story is going to be, and there’s more meetings of those that have to happen–the script has to be written–but really hoping that we get to do Constantine 2, and make a real rated R version of it.”

The development of DC Studios’ shared cinematic universe, spearheaded by James Gunn and Peter Safran, had cast doubt on the fate of the film. However, Keanu Reeves previously revealed that he had engaged in talks with Gunn regarding the project’s future. While specific plot details remain under wraps, he expressed his sincere desire that fans will ultimately have the opportunity to experience the next chapter of Constantine’s supernatural adventures.

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