Constantine Director Reveals Why We’re Finally Getting a Sequel (And Promises “Real R-Rated Movie”)

As a film enthusiast with over two decades of movie-watching under my belt, I am absolutely thrilled to hear that Constantine is making a comeback! The original 2005 film has been a cult classic for many years now, and it’s heartening to see the team behind it finally bringing us a sequel.

In the near future, we can anticipate the return of Constantine on the silver screen, with Keanu Reeves and director Francis Lawrence reuniting to bring us a follow-up to their 2005 cinematic gem. Since its initial release in theaters, nearly 20 years ago, the DC film has been steadily growing its fanbase. You might wonder why it’s taken so long for this team to come together again for a second movie. As per Lawrence, they’ve had a desire to create a sequel since the first one premiered.

Discussions about a sequel to the movie “Constantine” have been going on for quite some time, and there was always an eagerness to create another one. However, it wasn’t until around five years ago that things began to pick up pace. During our conversation with Lawrence about the first-ever 4K release of “Constantine” in celebration of its 20th anniversary, we inquired from the filmmaker what ultimately triggered the long-awaited sequel project.

Essentially, Lawrence revealed that around our 15th anniversary or so, we had a meeting on Zoom where we talked about reviving the project. We were more engaged with it then and managed to overcome various obstacles. Now, we’re actually writing a script for it. It’s not just because we feel the world is ready for it now, but rather, there seems to be a larger fan base, and it has taken on a sort of cult classic status, which is quite intriguing and odd. However, it’s something we’ve always cherished.

“We’re now in a spot where we are actively working on a script.”

Lawrence, Reeves, and producer Akiva Goldsman have long harbored a desire to delve deeper into the universe of Constantine, sparked by the growing appreciation for the movie from audiences following its initial release.

They’ve long harbored dreams of fully embracing the R-rating they unintentionally received with the initial movie. In contrast to Constantine, which was handled more like a PG-13 production, this time they plan to take full advantage of the creative liberties that an R-rating offers.

In simpler terms, Lawrence expressed that out of all his movies, “Constantine” stood out as particularly deserving of a follow-up. He sees potential for delving deeper into the storyline and further developing the character, which audiences seemed to appreciate. At first, when the film was released, it didn’t feel like it was widely accepted. Critics argued that Keanu Reeves wasn’t a good fit for Constantine because he wasn’t blonde and British, but over time, opinions have shifted more favorably towards the movie. Despite the initial criticism, Lawrence and his team have always been eager to create a sequel.

Initially, we pondered over this decision. Our film, despite adhering to PG-13 guidelines, was surprisingly given an R rating. This sparked our curiosity, and we thought, “Why not create a sequel and truly embrace the R-rating? Let’s make a genuine R-rated movie.

At this moment, we don’t have a planned release date or production kickoff for the next installment of Constantine, but it’s still in the works. The remastered version of the original Constantine movie will be available in 4K on February 18, 2025 – marking its 20th anniversary to the day.

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2024-12-18 20:39