The Journey of John Constantine: A Recap
As a character originating from DC’s Vertigo imprint, John Constantine made waves with his decades-long solo run in Hellblazer, following a noteworthy debut in another Vertigo title. In 2005, the enigmatic figure finally stepped into the limelight with the big-screen adaptation starring none other than Keanu Reeves. While the film, soaked in elements of the supernatural and horror, received mixed reactions from critics, it wasn’t long before John Constantine garnered a cult following. Reeves, embracing the character wholeheartedly, didn’t shy away from expressing his interest in a potential sequel.
“Constantine 2”: Delays, Hopes, and a Hint of R-Rated Darkness
Finally breaking the silence and quenching fans’ thirst for updates, filmmaker Francis Lawrence recently spilled the beans on the much-anticipated sequel. Speaking candidly to GameSpot, Lawrence gave fans a much-needed look into the tumultuous journey of Constantine 2.
“Constantine 2 obviously got held up by the writers strike. And we had to jump through a bunch of hurdles to get control of the character again, because other people had control of the Vertigo stuff. We have control. Keanu and Akiva Goldsman and I have been in meetings and have been hashing out what we think the story is going to be, and there’s more meetings of those that have to happen–the script has to be written–but really hoping that we get to do Constantine 2, and make a real rated R version of it.”
This update isn’t just a sigh of relief for fans who’ve been in limbo, but it also teases a deeper dive into the dark arts, hinting at a more mature and darker R-rated version. The sentiment resonates with the current trend of R-rated comic book adaptations, such as the buzz around Marvel’s Daredevil: Born Again.
Reflecting on the original Constantine, Lawrence expressed some regrets in a previous chat with The Wrap, stating,
“One of the biggest things for me about the first one was we followed, per Warner Bros., the rules to make a PG-13 movie in terms of violence, blood, language, sexuality. But the rating board gave us a hard R based on their gray zone of intensity. And my big, big regret was that we have an R-rated movie that’s really a PG-13 movie.”
Constantine in the New DC Universe?
Given the rebooted landscape of the cinematic universe, questions hover about where Reeves‘ portrayal of Constantine fits in. The forthcoming sequel, however, might not need to conform to the established DCU norms. Instead, it’s believed that the Elseworld label would be an ideal platform for John Constantine, allowing him to captivate a fresh audience without needing to weave into the narratives of other heroes.
For those yearning to immerse themselves in the mystical world of John Constantine once again, the original Constantine is now streaming on Max. As for the sequel, the anticipation only grows darker and deeper.
