After nearly two decades since the original film, momentum seemed to build for a sequel to 2005’s cult favorite “Constantine.” Despite Warner Bros. and DC Studios giving their approval, and the anticipated return of Keanu Reeves, director Francis Lawrence, and writer Akiva Goldsman, new reports indicate the project faces obstacles. Questions now linger around what exactly is causing the ongoing delay in production, specifically with Keanu Reeves holding up Constantine sequel production as a central concern.
Delays Despite Creative Team and Studio Agreement
The path toward a “Constantine” follow-up has been anything but straightforward. Even with the backing of major studios and the original creative leads expressing enthusiasm, tangible progress remains elusive. A significant aspect hindering the production appears to stem from the internal process of developing a script that satisfies Keanu Reeves, who remains devoted to portraying John Constantine as he did in the first film. This creative tension has renewed questions among fans and industry insiders about the nature of the hold-up.
Peter Stormare Reveals Creative Sticking Points
Peter Stormare, who played Lucifer in the 2005 film, is expected to reprise his role. In a recent interview, Stormare confirmed that one of the central difficulties in moving forward is Reeves’ level of satisfaction with the scripting process.
“It’s a lot of back and forth,”
—Peter Stormare, Actor (Lucifer)
According to Stormare, Keanu Reeves is known to be selective about scripts, particularly those emerging from major studios, and is yet to be convinced by current versions. Stormare further explained:
“I think Keanu [Reeves], which I know pretty good, is not so happy with the scripts and usually what comes out of the studios… Because the first one wasn’t that successful in the beginning, it became a sleeper and became a cult movie, and now it is one of the biggest cult movies ever.”
—Peter Stormare, Actor (Lucifer)
Studio Pressures and Creative Vision
The disconnect, as described by Stormare, involves differing expectations between the studio and the key talents about the sequel’s tone and style. Studios seem to be pushing for bigger action sequences, more grandiose set pieces, and increased spectacle, contrary to the intimate and supernatural themes that characterized the original film. Stormare elaborated on this by referencing the expected studio input:
“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 believes that after Reeves’ experiences with the high-octane John Wick franchise, the actor prefers to focus on more grounded elements involving “regular people—and demons.” Stormare provided insight into their discussions about the film’s direction:
“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 (Lucifer)
Desire for Authenticity and Continuity
Stormare also commented on the desire among the creative team to maintain continuity with the original. While he personally hopes to reprise the role of God in a manner reminiscent of his earlier Lucifer portrayal, he acknowledged the passage of time could present challenges. Still, the goal is to protect the unique tone that contributed to the cult status of the first film.
“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 (Lucifer)
He further praised Reeves’ passion for the character and the valuable contributions of other cast members like Tilda Swinton, who played Gabriel:
“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 (Lucifer)
Concerns About Shifting Tone and Studio Influence
Stormare recalled previous struggles over his character’s design and worries similar battles could play out again. He emphasized that the core of “Constantine” should not be overshadowed by excessive action or visual effects, hinting at tensions between directors, cast, and studio executives regarding creative control.
“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 (Lucifer)
He continued to urge restraint in terms of spectacle, hoping to keep the sequel grounded. Stormare noted that embracing a more subtle and character-driven narrative made the first movie resonate with audiences over time, and he believes this is essential for the sequel’s success.
“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 (Lucifer)
“[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 (Lucifer)
Current Status and the Path Ahead
According to Stormare, a script may exist but remains closely guarded, and he has not yet read it. Until a version emerges that aligns with both Reeves’ and the studio’s visions, progress remains slow. Hopes remain high for a sequel that, much like “The Godfather Part II,” builds faithfully on what worked in the original.
“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 (Lucifer)
Meanwhile, Keanu Reeves confirmed that active story development is underway. The creative team has approached DC Studios with their latest story, which leaves room for optimism:
“We Just Recently Put A Story Together And Pitched It To DC Studios And They Said, ‘Okay’”
—Keanu Reeves, Actor (John Constantine)
What This Means for the Constantine Sequel
As it stands, Keanu Reeves holding up Constantine sequel production appears rooted in a pursuit of authenticity and respect for the original’s unique blend of supernatural themes and grounded character drama. Peter Stormare, Francis Lawrence, Akiva Goldsman, and others continue to work behind the scenes, striving to reach common creative ground with DC Studios and Warner Bros. The next steps hinge on finding a script that resonates with everyone involved, particularly Reeves, whose attachment to the character remains central to the film’s future. For fans, the promise is that if and when “Constantine 2” arrives, it will likely echo the spirit of the cult classic they have waited almost twenty years to revisit.
