Constantine 2, the long-anticipated sequel to the 2005 supernatural thriller, has made significant progress with the completion of its screenplay. Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura (G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Transformers One) confirmed the milestone but admitted he has yet to read the script, which is currently waiting in his inbox.
Speaking to ComicBook, di Bonaventura expressed both excitement and apprehension about the sequel’s script, penned by Akiva Goldsman (Batman Forever, Angels & Demons). This marks a change from the original film’s writers, Kevin Brodbin and Frank Cappello. “You know it’s in my inbox right now. Funny enough, I’m too scared to read it, though. I want it to be good so bad. I probably read it in the next few days. When I get on an airplane,” di Bonaventura said.
The sequel, officially put into motion by Warner Bros. in 2022, sees the return of Keanu Reeves as the titular John Constantine and Francis Lawrence (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes) as the director. Plot details for Constantine 2 are still tightly under wraps, and it remains unclear whether the sequel will align with James Gunn and Peter Safran’s newly formed DC Universe (DCU) or exist in a separate continuity. This ambiguity mirrors the treatment of other DC films like Matt Reeves’ The Batman, which operates outside the primary DCU narrative.
The original Constantine film, released in February 2005, cast Reeves as a supernatural exorcist and demonologist who teams up with a troubled LAPD detective (played by Rachel Weisz) to investigate her twin sister’s mysterious death. Despite mixed reviews, the film achieved modest commercial success, grossing US$230 million globally against a US$100 million budget. The ensemble cast also included Shia LaBeouf, Tilda Swinton, Djimon Hounsou, and Peter Stormare.
In addition to di Bonaventura and Goldsman, the production team for Constantine 2 includes J.J. Abrams and Hannah Minghella of Bad Robot, suggesting a high-profile backing for the project. Goldsman, who also serves as a producer, hinted earlier this year that the sequel would delve deeper into the themes introduced in the original, focusing on the battle against dark forces threatening Earth.
Though unconfirmed, there is speculation that Constantine 2 might be released under DC Studios’ Elseworlds label, reserved for films that do not fit directly within the DCU continuity. This label also includes upcoming projects like The Batman Part II and Joker: Folie à Deux.
As DC Studios ramps up its slate with the forthcoming DCU, which includes Creature Commandos and a new Superman movie, Constantine 2 stands out as a darker, more mature-themed project. While a release date has yet to be set, anticipation for this sequel continues to build, promising to offer fans a new chapter in the dark and enthralling narrative of John Constantine.