Constantine 2 is reportedly in development at Warner Bros. with John Wick's Keanu Reeves set to stick around in the leading role.
Keanu Reeves made his one and only appearance as DC's John Constantine in a 2005 solo outing from director Francis Lawrence.
So, it came as a great shock when it was revealed in September 2022, just before James Gunn's DCU reboot announcement, that a sequel was in the works with both Reeves and Lawrence returning under a script from Akiva Goldsman.
Is Constantine 2 Still Happening?
At the time of the last update in March 2023, Reeves stated that while they are "trying" to get Constantine 2 off the ground, he "[didn't] know" yet whether it will come to fruition under the new DC regime.
DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn has revealed that the bar for an Elseworlds project outside the DCU, which Constantine 2 would presumably be, will be "higher" than those in the connected world as it will require something "really special."
As such, the writers will have to deliver a particularly exceptional screenplay for Constantine 2 to join the ranks of DC's Elseworlds alongside Matt Reeves' The Batman and Todd Phillips' Joker.
Just weeks prior to Reeves' uncertain comments, the actor confirmed he had spoken to Gunn about Constantine 2, seemingly offering a glimmer of hope development will continue under the new DC Studios leadership.
Director Francis Lawrence confirmed in October 2023 to Gamespot that Constantine 2 was "held up by the writers' strike" and there were obstacles to regaining command over the DC character, but they now "have control:"
"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."
He added how he, Reeves, and Goldsman had been "hashing out" the story for the long-overdue sequel, but "the script has to be written" still:
"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."
An exciting detail in Lawrence's comments comes as he expressed his hopes to "do Constantine 2, and make a real rated R version of it." This news ought to thrill many as Reeves' 2005 original movie was also R-rated.
Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura recently told ComicBook of his hopes the sequel can move forward because Constantine is "such an alternative kind of 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."
When Will Constantine 2 Release?
A story had seemingly been worked out for Constantine 2 by October 2023, leaving the duties passed over to Akiva Goldsman to now pen the screenplay.
That ought to be more of a focus for Goldsman now after Will Smith confirmed to ScreenDaily in December how "the script just came in" for I Am Legend 2, which hails from the same writer, allowing his focus to shift to the DC sequel.
With Goldsman likely writing the script for Constantine 2 over the coming months, the next challenge will come in getting the greenlight after James Gunn explained a DC Elseworlds movie will need something "really special."
But with so much commitment from the whole crew, including powerhouse star Keanu Reeves, that shouldn't be a tough task. The next difficulty will be finding an opening in the actor's busy schedule.
With so much work still to be done across writing, pre-production, filming, and post-production, the sequel is unlikely to arrive anytime before 2026 and likely even later as DC has a busy few years lined-up in getting its brand-new DCU kicked into gear before further expanding Elseworlds.
Who Will Return in Constantine 2?
Obviously, Keanu Reeves will be back to lead Constantine 2, as the actor's return was the only one officially stated in the original report; he has also been pushing to get the DC sequel made for years.
Reeves told The Late Show With Stephen Colbert during the 2021 promotion of The Matrix Resurrection how John Constantine is a role he "would love" to play again, noting that he had been "trying" to get a sequel into development.
Another actor who appears likely to return is Prison Break's Peter Stormare, who played the devil himself, Lucifer, in the original 2005 movie.
Stormare was the first to tease the sequel being in the works and has since told ScreenRant how he has even spoken with Reeves about Constantine 2, making it likely he will reprise his role as Lucifer for the second go-around.
With 18 years having passed since Constantine, the fate of the rest of the cast - including Rachel Weisz, Tilda Swinton, Shia LaBeouf, and Djimon Hounsou - remains unclear at this time, especially with development so early on.
Behind the camera, Francis Lawrence is set to reprise directing duties. I Am Legend writer Akiva Goldsman will pen the screenplay, having only served as a producer on the original 2005 movie - a role he'll reprise.
J.J. Abrams will additionally come on board as a producer, having previously been developing his own Constantine streaming show which has since been canceled.
What Will Happen in Constantine 2?
Constantine 2 writer Akiva Goldsman confirmed the sequel "expands on the themes" of the 2005 movie, particularly on "maintaining the barrier between earth and the evil creatures that are on the other side."
Lucifier actor Peter Stormare told ScreenRant how Keanu Reeves had expressed his desire for the movie to be "simple" and character-focussed, swerving the intense special effects on many modern comic book movies:
I think Keanu, we have talked, he said, 'I want to keep it like the first one. Simple, contain and based on characters, not on special effects, and if we can't get that, then I'm not in it.'"
Constantine 2 has yet to set an official release date.
