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Constantine Director Talked To Keanu Reeves Recently About Doing A Sequel
Francis Lawrence, who directed Keanu Reeves in 2005's Constantine, says he's spoken to the John Wick star about doing a sequel to the movie. The supernatural thriller, which was a very loose adaptation of the character from the comic books, was Lawrence's debut feature. He went on to make I Am Legend with Will Smith and directed the last three Hungers Games movies as well as Jennifer Lawrence (no relation) spy thriller Red Sparrow in 2018. Constantine was a big-budget movie that, at the time, was not well received by fans or critics.
Many balked at casting Reeves in the role, given that the comic book Constantine is from Liverpool and is based in London. The movie shifted the setting to Los Angeles, and bears only a passing resemblance to the comic books. However, Constantine has gained a second life in recent years, with many appreciating Reeve's take on the character outside of how it differs from the comics. It's also been appreciated for its slick visuals and well-directed action set pieces. Rumors of a sequel have floated for years, and earlier this month, it was reported that JJ Abrams is involved in a new movie, though it's unclear whether that will be a reboot or not.
Now, Lawrence has added fuel to the fire by saying that he's spoken to Reeves and producer Akiva Goldsman about making a sequel, in an interview with SlashFilm. Lawrence says that all three men wanted to make a smaller budget R-rated sequel. He goes on to say that they have spoken about it recently and that given its cult following in recent years, it would be a smart move. However, he also acknowledges that he doesn't even know who owns the rights to the character, but says he thinks it's crazy that studios wouldn't want to do another Constantine movie with Keanu involved. Read his full comment below.
Lawrence does, however, seem to be hinting that he holds out hope for a sequel. Whether that would mean involvement in the recently announce Abrams movie, or whether he is hoping that his version could be one of the different versions of the character, isn't clear. But he is certainly up for making a Reeves-led sequel happen. The prospect of a sequel to the 15-year-old movie is an enticing one. The first movie definitely has its flaws, but, viewed with hindsight, it was probably a little ahead of its time, leading to it ultimately only finding an audience in the past few years. The TV version was canceled after one season, though the character has found a home on DC's Legends Of Tomorrow.
Most importantly for the movie, it has Reeves attached. Reeves has re-entered the zeitgeist as a pop culture figure thanks to the popularity of the John Wick franchise, and his presence alone would ensure the movie is a success. In fact, Fans have even already started making fan art of Keanu returning as Constantine. As Lawrence says, it would be crazy not to consider putting together a solid R-rated sequel to Constantine.
