Keanu Reeves unhappy with Constantine 2 script after John Wick, is now at the center of debate over the creative direction of the long-awaited sequel to the 2005 cult film. According to Peter Stormare, who portrayed Lucifer in the original, Reeves is discontent with DC Studios’ push to turn Constantine 2 into a large-scale spectacle, advocating instead for a more spiritual and grounded story.
The DC property Constantine, directed by Francis Lawrence and starring Keanu Reeves, initially met mixed critical reception but has since gained a loyal following. After years of rumors and false starts, plans for Constantine 2 were finally confirmed in September 2022 with Reeves, Lawrence, and writer/producer Akiva Goldsman attached. However, issues surrounding the script and studio involvement are now causing friction, with Reeves feeling that the sequel risks losing the essence that made the original unique.
One of the main sources of conflict is DC Studios’ apparent desire to emulate the action-heavy style of the John Wick franchise—a series that has become synonymous with Reeves’ brand—rather than preserve the spiritual nature that the actor prefers for Constantine. Peter Stormare shared insights into Reeves’ reservations, referencing ongoing discussions with the actor and noting the studio’s preference for more over-the-top sequences.
“I think Keanu [Reeves], which I know pretty good, is not so happy with the scripts and usually what comes out of the studios…”
—Peter Stormare, Actor (Lucifer)
“But to do a sequel, the studios want to have, you know, cars flying in the air. They want to have people doing flip-flops and fighting action scenes.”
—Peter Stormare, Actor (Lucifer)
Stormare further explained that Reeves wants to avoid excessive action, citing the success of the first film’s more restrained approach to supernatural themes. The actor, who has completed multiple films in the high-octane John Wick franchise, now seeks a different cinematic tone for Constantine’s next chapter.
“And I think Keanu says, ‘I’ve done ‘John Wick.’ This movie is spiritual. It’s about demons and regular people. And I wanted to keep it that way.'”
—Peter Stormare, Actor (Lucifer)
The Battle Over Creative Control and Studio Direction
While the original Constantine eventually earned its cult status, Francis Lawrence’s directorial debut was not embraced by critics or hardcore comic fans upon release. Still, with box office returns surpassing $230 million and enduring audience enthusiasm, DC and Warner Bros. eventually saw the value in a sequel. Yet, creative disagreements between key figures such as Keanu Reeves, director Francis Lawrence, and DC Studios have stalled smooth development.
Stormare reiterated his own vision for the project, emphasizing a desire to maintain continuity with the film’s earlier spiritual and supernatural focus:
“I want to do God coming down exactly the same way, but in a black suit and looking more or less like Lucifer from the first one.”
—Peter Stormare, Actor (Lucifer)
The studio, however, has reportedly insisted on ramped-up action and visual effects more in line with blockbuster trends. Stormare summed up Reeves’ preferred direction, remarking that the actor wants the sequel to stay
“very close to the first one.”
“very close to the first one.”
—Peter Stormare, Actor (Lucifer)
This creative friction points to a fundamental divide over what the film should represent: a high-concept supernatural thriller or an action-packed spectacle. Keanu Reeves’ stance is significant, given his experience fronting tentpole franchises like John Wick, and demonstrates a desire for Constantine 2 to remain rooted in the moody, mystical storytelling of the original.
Francis Lawrence’s Long Struggle to Reclaim Constantine
Behind the scenes, director Francis Lawrence and his collaborators have faced persistent challenges bringing Constantine 2 to life. According to a 2023 interview, Lawrence recounted the difficulties he and co-creators Keanu Reeves and Akiva Goldsman encountered gaining control over the Constantine character—a property passed from studio to studio, with previous attempts at adaptations that went nowhere.
Lawrence described the process as a series of obstacles as filmmakers wrestled control back from both NBC (which produced a short-lived TV adaptation) and from the studio regime changes at DC and Warner Bros. These efforts were further complicated by other high-profile creatives like J.J. Abrams reportedly being interested in the character. Lawrence provided a window into the years spent negotiating the film’s fate at Warner Bros. and DC.
“We’ve had many obstacles. Me, Keanu, Akiva have tried over the years to wrangle some control of the character again, because it had been handed over. I think NBC did a TV show, and then J.J. [Abrams] was going to try and do something. And then the regime at DC changed, and they’ve got their plans. But luckily, we managed to wrangle some control and started working on some ideas for Constantine 2, which we’re really excited about.”
—Francis Lawrence, Director
Even after securing the chance to develop the sequel, progress on Constantine 2 was halted by industry-wide disruptions. The WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023 led to another production freeze, further pushing back the timeline even after the sequel was publicly announced. As of September 2024, the film was confirmed to be in production, but lingering disagreements over story and tone—primarily Keanu Reeves unhappy with Constantine 2 script after John Wick—continue to delay movement on the project.
What’s Next for Constantine 2 and Its Fans?
The tension between artistic vision and studio ambition has become the defining story of Constantine 2’s development. With key figures like Keanu Reeves, Francis Lawrence, and Akiva Goldsman advocating for a movie anchored more in spiritual exploration than in action blockbuster tropes, it remains unclear how the creative impasse will be resolved. James Gunn and the current DC leadership add another layer of uncertainty, with their own strategic approach to DC properties, including those produced under the Elseworlds banner.
Peter Stormare’s comments reveal that even some of the franchise’s original stars are invested in staying true to Constantine’s roots. For Reeves, having recently completed John Wick films, any return to the supernatural antihero must reflect a more meaningful, less spectacle-driven sensibility. Fans eager to revisit the dark world of Constantine may face a longer wait as these creative and production hurdles continue to play out.
For now, audiences can revisit the original Constantine film, currently streaming on Netflix, as the future of the long-awaited sequel remains in flux, shaped by ongoing negotiations between its passionate creative team and a studio focused on blockbuster appeal.
