I know there are quite a few fans of 2005’s “Constantine” on this site, purely based on the amount of emails I’ve received over the last year about whether a sequel is actually happening.
Well, a sequel is officially happening. Akiva Goldsman, returning to Warner Bros, will pen the screenplay. Director Francis Lawrence will helm and, of course, Keanu Reeves is set to star. Also, a surprising addition will be JJ Abrams as a creative consultant and producer — he must be a fan of the original.
There had been rumors last week that the “Constantine” sequel had been cancelled, amidst the James Gunn shakeups, but no, it’s still very much occurring. Goldsman stated that he’s currently working on the script.
You’re wondering, Goldsman, Goldsman, where have I heard that name before? Oh, hey! That’s the guy who wrote Batman & Robin! Then again, four years later, he would go on to win an Adapted Screenplay Oscar for “A Beautiful Mind.” His screenplay for Ron Howard’s “Cinderella Man” wasn’t bad either.
Otherwise, Goldsman’s had some real gems over the years, “Batman Forever,” “Practical Magic,” “Lost in Space,” “I, Robot,” “The Da Vinci Code,” “Angels and Demons,” “Winter’s Tale,” “The Dark Tower,” “Divergent: Insurgent,” “The 5th Wave” …
“Constantine” grossed $280 million worldwide. Reeves will reprise his role as supernatural exorcist and demonologist John Constantine, who in the original is dying but stays around to save his soul. The source material was made popular by Alan Moore and Stephen R. Bissette's “Hellblazer” comics.
I honestly can’t remember much about “Constantine.” It didn’t do anything for me when I saw it 18 years ago. Maybe a rewatch will make things a little clearer. The very large fanbase that it’s built over the years puzzles me.