‘Constantine’ sequel is in the works
Keannu Reeves in Constantine. Photo handout from Warner Bros. Pictures and Vertigo/DC.
A long-awaited sequel to ‘Constantine’ is in the works. It’s hard to believe that ‘Constantine,’ starring Keanu Reeves, was released in 2005—exactly twenty years ago. However, the film has aged remarkably well and continues to entertain audiences today, for anyone who will watch it again or view it for the very first time. I still remember watching it in theaters, especially because I was familiar with the Vertigo comic book series it was based on, known as “Hellblazer.” The series was published under the DC Comics umbrella (Vertigo Comics) and included other titles like The Sandman, featuring supernatural, paranormal, and otherworldly superpowered beings.
One of Vertigo Comics’ most popular characters was “John Constantine,” an exorcist, cleric, and demon slayer. John Constantine’s unique background makes him stand out during a time when DC Comics is exploring a wider range of lesser-known characters beyond the traditional superheroes everyone recognizes, to potentially make the jump into theaters as a live-action remake of it.
Keanu Reeves as “John Constantine,” simply known as ‘Constantine’ in the movie title, was not necessarily the most obvious choice for the role on paper. There was a lot of resistance to the idea of Keanu Reeves as “John Constantine” since they did not look like each other at all in the comics, but we all know how that turned out as his acting was exceptional, and in retrospect, it’s hard to imagine any other Hollywood actor taking on this character. Keanu Reeves truly owned the role, infusing it with his trademark (laid-back, nonchalant, and cool) acting style and immediately winning over audiences with his portrayal.
Take note: This was long before we became accustomed to seeing Keanu Reeves in a black suit as an assassin, with the initials “J” and “W.” Yes, I am referring to Keanu Reeves in the John Woo movies! Haha…. Kidding! It does speak to his unique ability to make many of his film roles iconic fixtures in popular culture beyond the realm of cinema. Keanu Reeves’s portrayal of “John Constantine” is a prime example of this, and there has been a growing demand for him to reprise the role one more time as Keanu Reeves is already getting older. Sure, it would demand a lot out of him physically, as “John Constantine” is a very physical type of character. Although not a clear-cut action type of hero, he does get into a lot of battles and one can only make that ruling when battling demons and sending them back to hell as “John Constantine” only does.
Over the many years, especially the last few, Keanu Reeves has expressed a strong desire to star in a sequel to ‘Constantine’ to celebrate the film’s impact since its original release, which he has mentioned numerous times in interviews with various media outlets. From the looks of it, this is clearly on the bucket list of Keanu Reeves. These interviews can be found online and not only in magazine articles, but I am not going to be deciphering any of them because where is the fun in that, right? Instead, the message is loud and clear: Keanu Reeves is ready to do a sequel to ‘Constantine’ because he immensely enjoyed the role and the experience, and he wants to give the fans of the movie what they want, which is a long-overdue follow-up to it.
Keannu Reeves in Constantine. Photo handout from Warner Bros. Pictures and Vertigo/DC.
There is still much to explore in the supernatural world of “John Constantine,” the “Hellblazer.” With his gifted and cursed abilities to travel between heaven and hell, communicate with half-angels and half-demons, and serve as a last resort for humans facing demonic problems, he has established himself as a unique supernatural hero. While he may not be the most pleasant person you’ll encounter, he does what needs to be done, even at the risk of losing his life again. This is evident in ‘Constantine,’ where he sacrifices himself for the second time to lure Lucifer into combat with the fallen angel Gabriel, trying to delay or prevent the release of his spawn into the world.
The cast of ‘Constantine’ features notable names like Rachel Weisz, who has been one of my favorite actresses in Hollywood ever since I watched her in ‘The Mummy’ movies. The film also stars a young Shia LaBeouf, a few years before he gained fame in ‘The Transformers’ series, and Gavin Rossdale, the lead singer of Bush, who plays a half-demon named “Balthazar,” who is one of the oldest enemies of “John Constantine.” This eclectic mix of casting choices resulted in memorable performances that enhanced the world of “John Constantine” to the point that there was so much richness to this film because it was not only “John Constantine” who was interesting, to say the least, but a whole bunch of them.
Interestingly, unlike many superhero movies when they make their initial entry into a potential franchise, ‘Constantine’ is not an origin story. Instead, it presents an older, more jaded, and cynical “John Constantine,” who has experienced much in his life and is now suffering from lung cancer due to his heavy smoking. Aware that he doesn’t have long to live, he becomes more reckless and perhaps less clear-minded in his decisions. He knows that as a suicide, he would go straight to hell, where many of the demons he has sent there reside. Naturally, he wants to avoid meeting them and suffering alongside them for eternity. This provides a basic overview of the plot, illustrating its depth and one of the reasons why this movie has maintained its popularity to this day despite being over twenty years old, which to me does not feel like it at all.
“John Constantine” or better yet I prefer to refer to him by his real superhero name the “Hellblazer” has supernatural adventures crafted in a way that captivates even non-believers, thanks to the always compelling storytelling in Vertigo Comics. This reminds me I do know a few people who, after they watched this movie, were scared straight enough to follow a straight and narrow path in their lives. Haha… I mean there were more than a few scenes that scared the bejesus out of a lot of people, not necessarily because of the CGI, special effects, and how it was shot, but more of what it entails for one’s soul if you choose to be evil or do evil deeds. That visit to Hell that “John Constantine” made scared more than enough moviegoers. Haha… For the record, I do believe that “John Constantine” believes in God; from the looks of his heroic actions, it seems that it made more people do so as a cause-and-effect reaction.
What does it all mean? It simply means there has always been a fascination with the afterlife, and ‘Constantine’ explores this religious theme in depth, achieving remarkable results with even the most skeptical of moviegoers. At the time, I believe the movie studio may have underestimated the film’s potential to become a box office hit and connect with audiences, especially considering its massive fanbase in Vertigo Comics which was more than a cult following. So, it should be a basic math equation: popular comic book character = hit movie. Indeed, this is one of those instances where investing in a lesser-known comic book property paid off, but if they did the research, it was never a long shot to begin with.
The great news, though, is that we’ll see more of the “Hellblazer” continuing his demon-slaying supernatural adventures one day worldwide in cinemas.
