Keanu Reeves Says He's 'Aching' to Reprise “Constantine” Role as He and Director Tease Sequel 20 Years Later

Keanu Reeves can’t wait to be Constantine again.

Reeves, 60, reunited with Constantine director Francis Lawrence during a recent episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast to reminisce about the original film’s 20th anniversary. The two also offered updates for the highly anticipated sequel of the 2005 supernatural action film.

The John Wick actor and Lawrence noted that a script is in the works, and they felt confident the film will get a green light once it’s completed.

Lawrence said he has been open to a sequel since the first film debuted, but “hurdles” beyond his control, such as leadership changes at Warner Bros. and DC Comics, have prevented progress. “We have constantly tried to come back,” Lawrence shared.

When discussing the potential to once again play the cynical exorcist, Reeves admitted, “I’m aching to play this guy.”

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Lawrence credited the film’s “cult following” for reigniting interest in a sequel, as well as Reeves’ own passion for returning to the demon-fighting hero. The Hunger Games director even noted Reeves’ 2021 appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert renewed a push for Constantine 2. During the interview, Reeves admitted of all the characters he has played, Constantione was his top pick to revive. "I would love to be John Constantine again," he said. "I've tried."

The sequel was first announced in 2022, with Reeves returning as John Constantine and Lawrence helming the film. Akiva Goldsman is writing the screenplay.

Adapted from DC Comics’ Hellblazer series, John Constantine is a cynical exorcist who can communicate with supernatural beings and fights evil demons. The first film grossed $200 million worldwide upon its release.

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While Reeves and Lawrence did not reveal plot details for Constantine 2, they agreed exciting ideas are in the works.

"I think it's the combination of that [Colbert appearance] and the sort of growing cult following of the original film over the years that have got people thinking like, ‘Okay, we can do this.' We have finally gotten to the place where we now have the permission to go down that road,” Lawrence shared on the podcast. “And Akiva [Goldsman] is writing, and Keanu and Akiva and I have been collaborating, and I think we have some really, really great ideas that we're super, super excited about. And I think we're pretty close on having an object that is really workable."

“It's just fun to be in the same room and talk Constantine,” Reeves added.

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