The much-anticipated sequel to the 2005 cult classic is facing an unexpected obstacle, as the Keanu Reeves decision delays Constantine 2 sequel production. Despite support from Warner Bros. and DC Studios, and with the return of key figures like Reeves, director Francis Lawrence, and writer Akiva Goldsman, the project’s future remains uncertain due to the star’s hesitations over the script.
Two Decades of Waiting: Constantine Sequel Faces New Hurdles
Constantine’s return has been long in the making—nearly 20 years since its original release. Backed by major players such as Warner Bros. and DC Studios, with both director Francis Lawrence and writer Akiva Goldsman back on board, along with Keanu Reeves himself, the film seems poised for a comeback. However, the production has been stalled, with one significant reason emerging from within its own ranks.
Peter Stormare, who portrayed Lucifer and is eager to reprise his role, shed light on the root of the delay. He explained that Reeves remains unsatisfied with the current scripts and will not move forward until he finds one that resonates with him. Stormare, in a conversation with The Direct, highlighted the ongoing negotiations, stating,
“It’s a lot of back and forth,”
—Peter Stormare, Actor.
Keanu Reeves Holds Out for a Satisfying Script
Stormare further elaborated on Reeves’ stance, emphasizing the actor’s strong desire for the sequel to stay true to the spirit of the original movie.
“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. According to Stormare, the studios now want to introduce more spectacle, with high-octane action sequences and stunts.
“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.
After succeeding with the John Wick franchise, Reeves appears to favor a more grounded and spiritual story for Constantine 2, wishing to explore complex themes involving regular people and supernatural elements.
“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.’ And we talked about that,”
—Peter Stormare, Actor.
Creative Differences Between Studio Vision and Cast Expectations
The original film, although not a massive box office hit at first, grew into a highly regarded cult classic over the years, with characters like Gabriel played by Tilda Swinton and Stormare’s own Lucifer now iconic among fans. Stormare expressed hopes to see these nuanced personas further explored.
“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. I’m 12 years older, so it’s going to be hard to, you know, completely imitate the first movie. But, I think from Keanu, he wants to do a sequel that is very close to the first one,”
—Peter Stormare, Actor.
Stormare added that Reeves remains proud of his portrayal and is deeply invested in protecting the essence of his character and the overall tone.
“I think Keanu is very proud of that. He was fighting for it to be a character that he loved and wanted to develop. And I mean, with Tilda Swinton doing Gabriel, it is a cool character. And even my Lucifer is a cool character that you can relate to as a viewer…”
—Peter Stormare, Actor.
On the styling for his character in the original, Stormare recalled resisting typical devil iconography, further highlighting the team’s commitment to a unique vision.
“They wanted to dress me up like, you know, like a devil with a tail and a pitchfork and whatever, but we were really fighting for me to have, like, an off-white suit and do it very simple,”
—Peter Stormare, Actor. Similar creative conversations might reappear during the sequel’s development, as the studio reportedly pushes for more action.
Striving to Preserve the Film’s Unique Identity
Stormare conveyed concerns that increasing the action quotient may undermine what made the original film resonate.
“It turns into an action movie, and not like going deeper and deeper into the characters. I think he wants to do his character again, Constantine, as grounded as it was in the first one. It took a long time for you to become a cult movie, it really worked, and it will work on the audience again. You don’t have to add a lot of action and shootouts. You have other movies. Don’t turn it into big Marvel…”
—Peter Stormare, Actor.
He also cautioned against transforming the sequel into a typical superhero action flick, urging the creative team to preserve its distinctiveness.
“[Don’t turn it] into us flying around in harnesses all the time and shooting each other up. Don’t bring in the big guns. Let it be,”
—Peter Stormare, Actor.
Stormare mentioned that although a script exists, he has yet to view it, underscoring the continued uncertainty. He wishes for a sequel that ties closely with the first, much like the relationship between Godfather 2 and its predecessor.
“That is just hearsay from him, you know, and it’s trying to be very secretive. As we say, both me and him, just do the first movie again and add some other elements, and you have a sequel. ‘The Godfather 2’ was a sequel that was built on number one. They are similar. You can actually see number one and two together, and they stick together. So, don’t do a completely different movie, then it won’t hold together. And I think that’s where we are, yeah,”
—Peter Stormare, Actor.
Hope for Progress Amid Ongoing Delays
While the production process still faces setbacks due to the Keanu Reeves decision delays Constantine 2 sequel production, there has been some movement. Recent updates from The Direct indicate that a story has been assembled and pitched to DC Studios, leading to positive responses.
“We Just Recently Put A Story Together And Pitched It To DC Studios And They Said, ‘Okay’”
—Keanu Reeves, Actor (via The Direct).
For longtime fans of the Constantine franchise and the many returning cast and crew members, the road to a sequel is filled with anticipation and uncertainty. With stars like Keanu Reeves and Peter Stormare determined to maintain the original film’s spirit, the project’s ultimate direction depends largely on creative consensus and studio willingness to honor what made the first movie a cult phenomenon. As the production moves forward, audiences and industry insiders alike will be watching to see whether the sequel captures the same enduring appeal.
