The recent renewal of the Constantine movie for a sequel has lead fans all over to enjoy the return of Keanu Reeves as the superhero in a trench coat. Director Francis Lawrence too seems keen to pick up where he left off. What started has his first ever movie to direct is now, after seventeen years, getting its own sequel.
Warner Bros. Discovery chose to greenlight the sequel instead of a reboot with the rising fame of the actor and with Lawrence working on Hunger Games sequel; The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. With the director once trying to keep the film PG – 13 still managed to give the movie an ‘R’ rating, this made him aspire of actually making a ‘Hard R’ version of the sequel back in the year 2020.
The Hopeful Resurrection Of Constantine
Ever since the release of the movie back in 2005, Francis Lawrence, Keanu Reeves, his previous manager and Akiva Goldsman, writer – producer of the movie had all been trying to pitch a sequel to WBD. They all wished to see the supernatural detective on the big screen again with a better approach to the story and the character itself.
John Constantine as a character has much left to explore and Lawrence wants to get into his story as a whole. The developments in the comics too have given him much eagerness to create a sequel as is and now that WBD seems to be on their side as well, the Constantine sequel is in the works with all three of them returning as well.
Francis Lawrence Wanted An R – rated Movie
During their reunion interview for the fifteenth anniversary of Constantine in 2020, Lawrence had stated how he worked on the movie thinking it to be PG – 13 but, it got an R rating instead. Francis Lawrence then continued on how if given the opportunity, he would be open to making a ‘hard R’ version of the sequel someday.
The creative freedom would allow him to explore more darker aspects of John Constantine and his story within the Detective Comics. The actor’s gained popularity too gives much to look forward too in the role.
Although previously remarked by Lawrence that had it not been his first movie, he would have had much more control over the cast and his views were accordingly;
“I would have had him, like in the material, be blonde and English”
Now with both Lawrence and Reeves being as famous as they are with their large scaled projects, the sequel, although in the works, may not be seen as an R – rated movie.
Source: Discussing Film
