Why Francis Lawrence Is Suddenly Feeling Hopeful About ‘Constantine 2’
The original ‘Constantine’ arrived more than 20 years ago, and a sequel has been one of Hollywood’s most persistent “will they or won’t they” questions ever since. Few cult favorites have stayed this stubbornly alive in the conversation without ever reaching a camera.
Development on a follow-up began in 2022, with Keanu Reeves and director Francis Lawrence set to return. Progress has been slow, though, and the project has never quite broken free of the studio politics around it.
In 2025, Reeves told Inverse that he and Lawrence had been trying to make the film for over a decade. He said they pitched a story to DC Studios and got a go-ahead to try writing a script. James Gunn also addressed the sequel that year on the ‘BobaTalks’ podcast, saying he had discussed it on and off. That lukewarm “on and off” energy now looks like a bigger deal than it did at the time.
Then the ground shifted. On Nov. 9, Skydance announced that Gunn and Peter Safran were stepping down as co-heads of DC Studios, with Jeremy Latcham taking over as president and chief creative officer on Dec. 1. Lawrence was asked about it almost immediately.
Speaking to Collider, the director said he is “more hopeful” that ‘Constantine 2’ will finally happen now that Gunn and Safran are out, as shared by DiscussingFilm on X. He said the people who were at DC had been an impediment to getting the movie made. He also admitted the timing of the news gave him a boost, saying the team is “now more hopeful as of yesterday’s news.”
Lawrence was careful to say he isn’t celebrating anyone’s misfortune. He said he doesn’t want anybody to lose their job and that this isn’t a gloating moment, but noted the team has tried to make the sequel for 20-something years and has an idea and a script ready. He added that everyone involved wants to do it, including Reeves, producer Akiva Goldsman and J.J. Abrams.
The comments land at an awkward moment for the DC brass. Just days before Gunn and Safran stepped down, it was announced that DC Studios was in the early stages of developing a separate John Constantine movie and had tapped Francis Galluppi to write it. That report made no mention of the Reeves project. For fans, it raised the uncomfortable possibility that the Lawrence-Reeves version was being left behind.
Gunn, for his part, has framed the exit in personal terms. He wrote on Instagram this week that he was “incredibly relieved” to be out at DC Studios. He and Safran remain on as producers on ‘Man of Tomorrow.’
Before anyone starts planning a premiere, it’s worth keeping expectations in check. Lawrence feels more hopeful than before, but that doesn’t necessarily move ‘Constantine 2’ any closer to production. Lawrence himself said it will come down to Paramount, Warner and whoever runs DC now getting everyone on board.
That leaves the sequel in a familiar spot: wanted by its creators, loved by fans and waiting on a decision from someone new. Cosmic Book News has also reported, citing insiders, that more is planned with Reeves now that Gunn is out. That claim is unconfirmed, but with Latcham arriving Dec. 1, the question of whether Reeves’ John Constantine gets another round has at least reopened.
