The Real Reason Keanu Reeves’ Constantine 2 Is Taking So Long

Francis Lawrence’s 2005 demonic thriller “Constantine” was not very well respected when it appeared for the first time. Some critics liked the film’s visions, and many praised the performance of Peter Stormare as Satan, but just as many critics (including Jack Matthews in New York Daily News) A sheep that he was a painfully traditional functional/murder fantasy -hoey. “Constantine” was also insignificant in the box office and was $ 200 million globally in a $ 100 million budget (which, according to Hollywood accounting, is not bruster).

The film was based on “Hellblazer” cartoons, which have been published by Vertigo, an adult DC adult, and many fans of cartoons eventually admired the adaptation of the Lawrence movie. The cult grew. In 2022 Warner Bros. found that the influence of the original film had grown to a point where The sequel could be officially notified.

“Constantine 2” has now been in pre -production for three years. /The movie offered an update in September 2023And the film was set up because of the writers’ strike. Screenwriter Akiva Goldsman had said that he and Reeves had come up with the story, but no real manuscript had been written yet. The strike probably put “Constantine 2” for at least a year. Then there was also James Gunn’s new reboot DC Comics Universe, which later made his debut with “Superman”. As John Constantine is a DC Comics character, some are likely to rob with Gunn and his crew.

Another big reason for the delay is that Keanu Reeves, dedicated to his role as John Constantine, does not like any script. Straight talked recently with Stormare from the movie, and he had skinny. It seems that all manuscripts so far have been far too action, which is not what Reeves had in mind.

Oh yes, and not bury LEDE: It seems that Stormare really returns as a lucifer. The deadline also reports In February 2025, Reeves and Lawrence (as well as return) have set a new idea for Warner Bros., so the process is still grinding. No manuscript has occurred.

And we see how much creative freedom Reeves and Lawrence get. In his direct interview, Stormare pointed out that big studios have a bad tendency to “beef” sequels, even if it was not justified. According to him, Warner Bros. Wanted “flying cars in the air. They want to get people to make flip flop and fight action scenes.” Although “Constantine” performed a battle with demons, it was not a fist battle. Most of the themes were spiritual, and John Constantine was a cancer that performed rock-n-roll-eesorcisms, not hard nonsense that hits people on the face. Reeves, which turns 61 this year, does not need a new set of action, such as “Matrix” or “John Wick” in his continuation. He wants this to be different. Stormare theorized:

“I think Keanu says,” I’ve done “John Wick.” This movie is spiritual. It’s about demon and regular people. And I wanted to keep it like that. “And we’re talking about it. I want to do God in exactly the same way, but it seems that Lucifer is more or less than Lucifer.

This is a stable theory because anyone who draws attention to Hollywood seems to know how big studios and leaders usually think. Repeat the winning formula and add populist entertainment. Dour, character -driven demonic membranes are not suitable for that mold.

Stormare said that WB wanted his Lucifer to look like a more demonic horns and tail. In Lawrence, Lucifer looks like an ordinary person who is neither a white suit nor a tie. It was Stormare’s performance that made the character a demonic, not makeup. As a result, he understands that studios can nervous about a small drama rising from a wounded exorcist at the age of 60. Stormare knows that Reeves wants to study as a John Constantine character when he seees what happens to a man who knows that he is outside the Holy Redeem. Nobody wants it to be a high octane superhero movie. As Stormare said:

“It turns into an action movie, and not that it is not deeper and deeper into the characters. I think he wants to make his character again, Constantine, so grounded as it was in the first. It took a long time for you to become a cult movie, it really worked, and it will not work with the audience. [Don’t turn it] We fly to us all the time and shoot each other. Don’t bring big weapons. Let it be. “

Of course, this is all the information used, and Stormare acknowledged everything “hearing”. We can get that Reeves is indeed “selective”, making sure the film turns out to be the way you want. Lawrence is best known for its ambitious genre -influenced drama, such as “I am legend”, four “hunger” films, and coming later in 2025 “Long walking”, based on the story of Stephen King. Undoubtedly, he and Reeves add a lot of demonic activities to their film. However, time will tell if this thing ever is done.