Constantine Director 'Hopeful' for Sequel After DC Studios Shakeup

Francis Lawrence, the director of the 2005 film "Constantine," has shared his renewed hope for a sequel, "Constantine 2," following a significant leadership change at DC Studios. Lawrence revealed that he and his team have been trying to get this project off the ground for over two decades, with previous DC executives reportedly hindering its progress.

The unexpected departure of James Gunn and Peter Safran from DC Studios has created a stir among fans and industry insiders. Lawrence sees this shakeup as a potential opportunity, stating it has given him "renewed hope" for the long-awaited sequel.

Highlights

• Director Francis Lawrence confirms efforts to make "Constantine 2" have been ongoing for over 20 years.
• He believes the recent DC Studios leadership change might remove previous obstacles to the sequel.
• Lawrence is adamant that the sequel will be a "hard-R" rated film, unlike the first which was initially aimed for PG-13.
• Both Lawrence and star Keanu Reeves are willing to compromise on their salaries to ensure the film gets made.
• Separately, writer-director Francis Galluppi has been hired by DC Studios to work on a John Constantine movie, though its connection to Lawrence's proposed sequel is unclear.

Details

In an interview with Collider, Francis Lawrence clarified that while he doesn't wish for anyone to lose their jobs, the changes at DC could pave the way for "Constantine 2." He stated, "We've been trying to make Constantine 2 for twenty-something years, and we have an idea, and we have a script, and we've been wanting to make it, and the people that were at DC were an impediment to us making it." Lawrence emphasized that he, Keanu Reeves, and producer Akiva Goldsman all want to make the film, with J.J. Abrams also involved.

Lawrence recalled that the original "Constantine" film, despite being made with a PG-13 rating in mind, ultimately received an "R" rating. For the sequel, he intends to fully embrace this, aiming for a "hard-R" version of Constantine from the outset. He also expressed flexibility regarding the film's place within a shared universe or DC's evolving plans, as long as they are allowed to make a sequel to their original version.

Both Lawrence and Keanu Reeves are reportedly prepared to make financial concessions to bring the film to fruition. Lawrence mentioned, "This is not the kind of movie that I would charge full freight and Keanu could charge full freight. It's something we have to do, because we love and want to take a gamble on it, and do it responsibly." He indicated that they are not looking for a $100 million budget, but rather a more "scrappy" approach.

Why it matters

The 2005 "Constantine" film, based on the DC/Vertigo comic book "Hellblazer" and starring Keanu Reeves as the titular supernatural detective, has maintained a dedicated fanbase. The recent executive reshuffle at DC Studios could open doors for long-stalled projects to be reconsidered. Lawrence's and Reeves's strong commitment to the sequel increases the possibility of "Constantine 2" finally moving forward, though the new DC leadership's stance on the project remains to be seen.