15 Actors Perfect for the Role of John Constantine in the DCU
The DCU version of John Constantine invites a lead who can handle occult mystery, dry wit, and a lived in sense of danger. The character’s history blends British roots with American settings, trench coat noir with apocalyptic stakes, and lonely heroics with complicated alliances. Fans often look to performers with experience in supernatural thrillers, detective drama, and sardonic humor that never tips into camp.
This list gathers fifteen actors with resumes that show a track record in genre storytelling, complex antiheroes, and sharp dialogue. Each name brings clear evidence from film and television work that matches the character’s tone and skill set. You will find credits that cover horror and fantasy, crime and espionage, and ensemble crossover worlds that mirror the DCU’s scale.
Dan Stevens
Dan Stevens built genre credentials through leading roles in ‘Legion’ and ‘The Guest’ after early recognition in ‘Downton Abbey’. His work spans psychological horror, action thriller, and period drama, with screen time in English and American productions that shows comfort with both accents and markets.
He has headlined effects heavy television, carried independent chillers, and supported large studio releases such as ‘Beauty and the Beast’. That range shows familiarity with stunt heavy shoots, VFX driven storytelling, and the dry humor that threads through his darker characters.
James McAvoy
James McAvoy’s filmography includes blockbuster franchises and gritty character pieces with standout turns in ‘Split’, ‘Glass’, and ‘Atonement’. His television work began with ‘Shameless’ and continued through British drama and miniseries that honed a quick shifting performance style.
He has led ensemble fantasy in ‘His Dark Materials’ and navigated morally gray figures in spy stories and thrillers. That combination covers the occult detective mix of charming entry and ruthless decision making that the role demands.
Tom Hiddleston
Tom Hiddleston’s blend of dark charm and controlled menace is documented across ‘Loki’, ‘The Night Manager’, and ‘Crimson Peak’. His resume shows long form character development across multiple seasons as well as gothic romance and suspense.
He has anchored cosmic scale stories and intimate cat and mouse thrillers, moving between dry humor and steely calculation without breaking tone. That background mirrors the jump from smoky alley investigations to reality warping stakes that Constantine often faces.
Andrew Scott
Andrew Scott drew global attention with ‘Sherlock’ and expanded his range through ‘Fleabag’, ‘Ripley’, and ‘His Dark Materials’. His roles map to unflinching psychological drama, sly comedy, and mythic fantasy.
He works fluently in British and American productions and brings layered interiority to characters who thrive on manipulation and charm. That history aligns with a magician detective who bargains first and fights only when the cards are stacked.
Richard Armitage
Richard Armitage has carried epic fantasy in ‘The Hobbit’ while maintaining a strong presence in contemporary thrillers like ‘Hannibal’ and ‘Berlin Station’. His stage and audio work adds voice driven storytelling that supports narration heavy scenes and incantation sequences.
He shifts from disciplined intelligence operatives to haunted figures in horror inflected drama. Those credits show durable action experience and brooding restraint that fits occult investigations and morally costly victories.
Ben Barnes
Ben Barnes blends fantasy heroics and modern grit through ‘Shadow and Bone’, ‘The Punisher’, and ‘Westworld’. His characters often straddle charisma and menace, operating comfortably in worlds with elaborate rules and secret histories.
He has worked across ensemble ensembles and solo arcs, moving between period fantasy, comic book crime, and high concept science fiction. That portfolio supports a magician who can lead a team, double cross a demon, and keep a straight face while doing both.
Jack O’Connell
Jack O’Connell broke out with ‘Skins’ and moved into ferocious drama with ‘Starred Up’ and ‘Unbroken’. He brings a grounded physicality and a lived in edge that supports street level noir and brutal stakeouts.
His television work in ‘Godless’ and ‘The North Water’ shows endurance in harsh settings and moral ambiguity under pressure. Those are useful traits for a chain smoking exorcist who keeps going when the magic runs dry.
Joseph Morgan
Joseph Morgan established supernatural bona fides across ‘The Vampire Diaries’ and ‘The Originals’. He led multi season arcs that mixed romance, violence, and ancient lore while carrying antihero narrative weight.
He has directed episodes, handled effects driven shoots, and navigated character crossovers that mirror shared universe storytelling. That practical experience supports the logistics of playing a recurring DCU figure across films and series.
Keanu Reeves
Keanu Reeves previously played the character in ‘Constantine’, bringing action experience that extends through ‘John Wick’, ‘The Matrix’, and ‘Speed’. His career shows consistent work with stunt teams, wire rigs, and effects heavy productions.
He has balanced deadpan humor with stoic resolve and carried film franchises through tight schedules and complex choreography. Those skills translate cleanly to a modern DCU production that needs a reliable lead across multiple appearances.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Aaron Taylor Johnson’s credits range from ‘Kick Ass’ and ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ to ‘Nocturnal Animals’ and ‘Bullet Train’. He alternates between heightened comic book action and tense psychological drama.
He has experience with ensemble blockbusters and grounded thrillers and has worked across American and British settings. That mix supports a character who trades spells in back alleys one day and faces apocalyptic threats the next.
Callum Turner
Callum Turner moved from British television into studio fantasy with ‘Fantastic Beasts’ while earning strong notices for ‘The Capture’. His projects combine conspiracy plotting, surveillance themes, and old world magic.
He maintains a quiet intensity on screen and adapts to period detail and contemporary tech driven stories. That balance suits a magician detective who can slip through high society and underground scenes without changing pace.
Jack Lowden
Jack Lowden built a reputation through ‘Dunkirk’, ‘Slow Horses’, and ‘Mary Queen of Scots’. He plays analytical operators and stubborn survivors who function under stress without losing focus.
He moves between ensemble war stories, literary adaptations, and espionage drama. Those experiences provide the procedural backbone and moral gray zones that follow Constantine from case to case.
Boyd Holbrook
Boyd Holbrook has played hunters and hunted characters in ‘Narcos’, ‘Logan’, and ‘The Sandman’. His work touches cartel crime, mutant noir, and mythic horror, which maps closely to occult procedural storytelling.
He thrives in roles that require charm at the surface and danger beneath. That track record supports scenes that jump from a barroom interrogation to a supernatural confrontation without breaking tone.
Paul Bettany
Paul Bettany’s range covers intimate drama and superhero spectacle with key roles in ‘A Beautiful Mind’, ‘Master and Commander’, and ‘WandaVision’. His voice work in ‘Iron Man’ and ‘Avengers’ projects adds precision with technical dialogue.
He has handled long form character arcs, complex VFX pipelines, and sardonic banter across film and television. That toolkit supports ritual heavy scenes, gallows humor, and the calm authority that persuades allies to follow a risky plan.
Matt Ryan
Matt Ryan portrayed the character in ‘Constantine’ and reprised the role in ‘Legends of Tomorrow’ and multiple animated projects. His resume includes horror and crime drama that informed his take on exorcisms, curses, and doomed bargains.
He has led a network genre series, handled crossovers, and voiced animated films that kept continuity intact. That background provides a ready made understanding of the character’s lore and the production rhythm of shared universe storytelling.
Share the actors you would add to this list in the comments.