Update: Constantine sequel in the works with Keanu Reeves & Francis Lawrence returning

Update: Now that Keanu Reeves is returning for the Constantine sequel, you might be wondering where that leaves the Constantine TV series which was being developed by J.J. Abrams for HBO Max. It seems that the streamer has decided to pass on the project, as well as the Madame X series from Abrams and Angela Robinson. Neither project is completely dead as both will be shopped to other platforms, with Bad Robot and Warner Bros. Television expecting them to find new homes.

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Well here’s some exciting news — Deadline has reported that Warner Bros. are developing a Constantine sequel which will see Keanu Reeves returning to star as the cynical exorcist and demonologist. Not only that, but original director Francis Lawrence is also coming back to helm the sequel.

The original Constantine movie was released in 2005 and grossed a respectable $230.9 million on a $70-100 million budget. The movie found Constantine helping an LAPD detective (Rachel Weisz) prove that her sister’s death wasn’t a suicide, but was in fact something much more sinister. Toss in angels, demons, and the devil himself (Peter Stormare), and you had a mighty fun flick.

Since then there have been several attempts at bringing the character back, including in a Justice League Dark movie directed by Guillermo del Toro, but I think most fans had given up seeing Keanu Reeves back in the role. The actor expressed his desire to return for a Constantine sequel last year. “I love playing Constantine,” Keanu Reeves said. “I’ve played a lot of Johns. How many Johns have I played? I don’t even know. I think it’s over ten. But anyway, I’d love to have the chance to play Constantine again.”

Akiva Goldsman (I Am Legend) will script the Constantine sequel and will also produce the through his Weed Road Pictures banner alongside Bad Robot’s J.J. Abrams and Hannah Minghella. Aside from Keanu Reeves, Matt Ryan has played the character most frequently; first in his own live-action TV series as well as The CW’s Arrowverse. He also voiced Constantine in several animated DC projects, including Justice League Dark, Constantine: City of Demons, Justice League Dark: Apololips War, and Harley Quinn. A female version named Johanna Constantine recently appeared in Netflix’s The Sandman series played by Jenna Coleman.

What do you hope to see from a Constantine sequel?