John Constantine is similar to Blade in the sense that he's always existed on the fringe of his wider comic book canon. Yes, he exists in the same wacky universe as Superman and Batman, but his uniquely R-rated adventures always showcase a much grittier side of that universe. Also like Blade, Constantine got his own cult classic movie, but unlike Wesley Snipes' bloodsucking anti-hero, he has yet to get a sequel. It seemed like that was finally happening, but now that movie's future is uncertain.
The good news is that a new Constantine movie is officially in development. The bad news is it's not the one fans have been waiting over 20 years for. Deadline revealed tonight that DC Studios is officially pursuing a new Constantine movie from director Francis Galluppi, who is currently working on the next chapter in Sam Raimi's beloved horror franchise, Evil Dead Wrath. However, this news has cast doubt on the potential direct sequel to Keanu Reeves' 2005 movie, which was reportedly in early development as well with both Reeves and director Francis Lawrence attached. Just last month, reports circulated that the sequel was still in development despite DC's parent company, Warner Bros., merger with Paramount. DC Studios boss James Gunn even confirmed last year to the Bobatalks podcast that he has discussed a new movie with Reeves "on and off."
According to Deadline's report, Galluppi has been tapped as a writer for the new Constantine film, so he won't necessarily be directing. The report also didn't specify if this new project is replacing Reeves and Lawrence's prospective sequel, but it's no secret that development on the project has been difficult. Gunn confirmed in that aforementioned interview that he hasn't read a script for Reeves' new movie yet, and that's potentially because Reeves reportedly hasn't been satisfied with a script, at least according to co-star Peter Stormare, who played Satan in the original film.
What Does the 'Constantine' Reboot Mean for Keanu Reeves' 'Constantine 2'?
A Constantine reboot may not be what fans of the original movie want to hear, but it may not be a death knell for the existing franchise just yet. The new reboot would more than likely take place in the DCU alongside the likes of David Corenswet's Superman and Aaron Pierre's John Stewart. Gunn also recently confirmed that casting for the DCU's Batman is also kicking off soon, seemingly once again confirming that Robert Pattinson's version from The Batman and its upcoming sequel will remain a separate continuity. With that precedent, Keanu Reeves and Francis Lawrence's sequel could still happen as its own "Elseworlds" storyline, but as of right now, only time will tell.
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