Constantine 2 director Francis Lawrence has clarified the status of the long-in-development DC sequel.
While promoting The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes during an exclusive interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Lawrence was asked if the regime change at DC Studios had effectively killed the sequel to the 2005 movie starring Keanu Reeves.
“No, but we’ve had many obstacles,” Lawrence said. “Me, Keanu [Reeves], Akiva [Goldsman] have tried over the years to wrangle some control of the character again, because it had been handed over. I think NBC did a TV show, and then J.J. [Abrams] was going to try and do something. And then the regime at DC changed, and they’ve got their plans.”
Lawrence added: “But luckily, we managed to wrangle some control and started working on some ideas for Constantine 2, which we’re really excited about. It’s still the very beginning, as the strike put it on hold for a little bit. So we’re probably going to start getting back together after Thanksgiving, and dig back in to try and crack it.”
Who is Constantine?
Based on the Hellblazer graphic novels. 2005’s Constantine starred Reeves as a chain-smoking exorcist with the ability to see half-angels and half-demons on Earth. The movie co-starred Rachel Weisz, Shia LaBeouf, Tilda Swinton, and Djimon Hounsou. Despite mixed reviews, Constantine earned $230 million worldwide and was a big success in the home video market.
Original Constantine producer Goldsman returns as screenwriter for the sequel which will likely fall under the DC Elseworlds banner alongside The Batman Part II and Joker: Folie à Deux. Constantine 2 does not have a release date.
