Director Francis Lawrence Says He And Keanu Reeves Have Control Of CONSTANTINE

Director Francis Lawrence Says He And Keanu Reeves Have Control Of CONSTANTINE

Peter Safran and James Gunn's Gods and Monsters chapter of the new DC cinematic universe seems as if it would be a perfect introduction for a certain chainsmoking, con man warlock.

By MarkJulian - Oct 29, 2023 08:10 PM EST
Filed Under: Constantine

Following Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, the DCEU will officially be put to rest and a new DC Comics cinematic universe will rise in 2025 with James Gunn's Superman: Legacy.  

The Superman reboot will launch a full slate of forthcoming DC Comics films that include The Authority, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, and Swamp Thing.

On the television side, shows centering on the Creature Commandos, Green Lanterns, the Amazons of Themyscira, and Booster Gold are also in the works.

With the first chapter of the new DC universe titled Gods and Monsters, it seems as if it would be the perfect opportunity to introduce the fan-favorite Liverpool con man/magician, John Constantine.

However, in a new interview to promote his upcoming Hunger Games prequel, director Francis Lawrence stated that he, Keanu Reeves, and Akiva Goldsman are currently in control of the Vertigo Comics warlock detective.

"So Constantine 2 got obviously held up by the writers strike," Lawrence recently told GameSpot. "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."

Back in September 2022, it was unexpectedly revealed that a sequel to 2005's Constantine was in the works.

However, in March 2023, Reeves expressed doubt that a sequel to Constantine would be moving forward following Warner Bros.' decision to reboot their superhero shared universe.

 "I don't know if it's gonna happen...I know I'm playing a different Constantine than the comic, you know, and I do get in a bit of trouble for that. I don't know if I'd look good as a blond. Hopefully, I get to do it, but I don't know."

Perhaps the project that Lawrence, Goldsman, and Reeves are working on will be an Elseworlds title, similar to Matt Reeves' Batman sequel and Penguin television series for Max.  That would allow for a different actor to portray Constantine in Safran and Gunn's new cinematic universe, similar to how someone other than Robert Pattinson will portray Batman in the Brave and the Bold.

Are you still excited by the idea of a Constantine sequel after all these years? Or do you think too much time has passed? Let us know in the comment section below.

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Battinson
Battinson - 10/29/2023, 8:47 PM
I want more Constantine and I want it now!!!!
dracula
dracula - 10/29/2023, 8:49 PM
No cross guns this time if it ever happens

This is Constantine not Hellboy or Spawn
Ryos
Ryos - 10/30/2023, 3:47 PM
@dracula - of course Dracula would say that
KaptainKhaos
KaptainKhaos - 10/29/2023, 8:50 PM
Too bad we can't get an accurate Constantine and not John Wick: Demon Hunter (as cool as that would be)
TheUnworthyThor
TheUnworthyThor - 10/29/2023, 8:57 PM
McMurdo
McMurdo - 10/29/2023, 9:37 PM
@TheUnworthyThor - yes but to Taika you're all ears
TheUnworthyThor
TheUnworthyThor - 10/29/2023, 10:59 PM
@McMurdo - Hmmm an Academy Award winner versus the sequel to a Rotten movie that was connected to the amazing Vertigo series by practically nothing but the name John Constantine. Tough choice there.
IvanBadski
IvanBadski - 10/30/2023, 2:43 AM
@TheUnworthyThor - well actually, reeves constantine appeared in the comics as one of variants, so it is cannon :D
Kozmik
Kozmik - 10/29/2023, 8:57 PM
Absolute nonsense. Francis Lawrence, Keanu Reeves and Akiva Goldsman has control over absolutely nothing (at least as Laurence is using the term) because if Warner Bros doesn't want it to happen, it isn't going to happen.
TheOtherOn
TheOtherOn - 10/29/2023, 9:18 PM
@Kozmik - I am assuming by "having control" they mean they have the rights to make movie/tv show with that character. If that's the case then WB can't do anything about it, other than of course threating them to blacklist from any future projects and the huge mess that WB/DC is in currently, who's loosing some sleep to work with them in near future.
Kozmik
Kozmik - 10/29/2023, 10:19 PM
@TheOtherOn - And I'm saying they have no such thing. That implies a lost of control over one of DC's own characters – never mind they didn't create John Constantine, which I could at least understand.
LSHF
LSHF - 10/29/2023, 9:00 PM
That's good news. Smart of Reeves.
bcom
bcom - 10/29/2023, 9:08 PM
I'm a big fan of the first Constantine movie. I understand those that didn't like it for how they changed John and I fully get that, but it's still a hell of a fun movie. Hopefully the second one will be the same.
r1g0r
r1g0r - 10/29/2023, 9:11 PM
As much as I enjoyed reeves in the part, he was as far from playing Constantine as it's possible to get.

Oh wait, he chain smoked.
BobGarlen
BobGarlen - 10/29/2023, 9:30 PM
I want this movie to happen. It's probably the DC project I'm looking forward to the most.
Ha1frican
Ha1frican - 10/29/2023, 9:31 PM
I rewatched that first movie and it holds up. Not a very faithful adaptation but still a good movie regardless
harryba11zack
harryba11zack - 10/29/2023, 10:05 PM
hope they bring back the same lucifer and gabriel from the first film, they were hardly in it but their performances were the stand out for me.
HashTagSwagg
HashTagSwagg - 10/29/2023, 10:07 PM
Well he's hardly gonna come out and say, "save your money, I have no control of this ship, the studio are running the show". Not unless he wants to end up like Josh Trank.
Kozmik
Kozmik - 10/29/2023, 11:02 PM
@HashTagSwagg - Sure, but we all know the truth. Why even bother stretching it like taffy?
Lemons
Lemons - 10/29/2023, 10:26 PM
I'd love to see Constantine meet Dream of the Endless.
Origame
Origame - 10/29/2023, 11:00 PM
Hopefully we can finally find out what's the deal with angel Shia LaBeouf.
Kozmik
Kozmik - 10/29/2023, 11:03 PM
@Origame - Shia LaBeouf seems like a lot of things though an angel wouldn't be among them.
Origame
Origame - 10/30/2023, 4:43 AM
@Kozmik - ?si=bnNhwcrhsjrFI4Rh
Kozmik
Kozmik - 10/30/2023, 10:06 AM
@Origame - Sure, but you do know how LaBouef has actually lived, right? He's no angel.
Origame
Origame - 10/30/2023, 10:29 AM
@Kozmik - it's a joke dude.
Kozmik
Kozmik - 10/30/2023, 4:43 PM
@Origame - Sure, and a comments page gets across that razor-sharp sense of humor so well?
Origame
Origame - 10/30/2023, 4:50 PM
@Kozmik - ...it's not even that deep dude.

Even at the time Shia was just known as the guy from even Steven's. It's hardly like people were clamoring to see the follow up for him.
Chrome
Chrome - 10/30/2023, 12:16 AM
The first Constantine was great! Always wondered why they didn’t make a sequel, it did well at the box office and Keanu brings star power
Kozmik
Kozmik - 10/30/2023, 10:07 AM
@Chrome - No, it was not. It wasn't the worst thing but it didn't exactly have me craving another.
dagenspear
dagenspear - 10/30/2023, 1:24 AM
Weird that this is seeming to be being developed.
solskulldeath
solskulldeath - 10/30/2023, 1:36 AM
I want John Constantine to speak with his thick Scouser accent!!!
videovac
videovac - 10/30/2023, 2:10 AM
Don't nobody give a fukc about this.
NinnesMBC
NinnesMBC - 10/30/2023, 2:38 AM
Curious to see what the new bosses, Gunn and Safran, have to say about this because what they're saying is pretty bold.

Because if they get away with their take on a Elseworlds tale corner, many will raise their voice as well asking for the same, fair chance and I wouldn't blame them.

Two Constantines and two Batmen in different creative corners of different continuities. Not confusing at all for the general public.
ModHaterSLADE
ModHaterSLADE - 10/30/2023, 3:17 AM
Nice, the first movie was a solid action-horror flick.
Fogs
Fogs - 10/30/2023, 3:40 AM
At the time I enjoyed the first one, comic-accurate or not. Watched a while ago and as @Ha1frican said, it still hold up.

I'd like to see a well-writtwn sequel to that one.
Forthas
Forthas - 10/30/2023, 8:02 AM
Not high on my list of DC projects I would like to see, but I am not opposed to it especially if James Gunn and Peter Safran are hands off. The last thing we need is for Constantine to be a slapstick comedy.
JustAWaffle
JustAWaffle - 10/30/2023, 8:24 AM
I agree with the detractors who want a more faithful Constantine, but dang it I look forward to seeing Keanu do another one.
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