‘Constantine’ Director Francis Lawrence Shares Update On Sequel: “We Are Closer Than Ever”

deadline.com:

Francis Lawrence, director of Constantine, is sharing an update on where he’s at with the film’s sequel. In a new interview, the filmmaker teased that a follow-up to the 2005 superhero horror film starring Keanu Reeves was “closer than ever.” “I will say we are closer than ever to being able to do a sequel, which is a great thing,” Lawrence told Collider.

The director also told the publication that they have something “really cool” in the works, adding that he, Reeves, and producer Akiva Goldsman “are super, super excited about it.” Constantine is loosely based on the DC Comics/Vertigo Comics’ Hellblazer.

Kevin Brodbin and Frank Cappello wrote the script based on a story by Brodbin. Reeves gives life to John Constantine, a chain-smoking cynic with the ability to perceive the true visage of half-angels and half-demons.

As far as the sequel goes, Lawrence notes that they “have a great idea,” adding, “We have gone through a bunch of the comics over the years and looked at things.” Lawrence says that the idea they have for the sequel stems from having the character “in the back of our minds for 20 years and just kind of percolating on ideas, and stories and characters we love, and ideas we love.” In 2023, Lawrence revealed that the sequel had suffered some setbacks due to the writer’s strike, telling Gamespot, “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.