Quick summary
- Director Francis Lawrence told Collider he has “renewed hope” for Constantine 2 after the DC Studios leadership change.
- James Gunn and Peter Safran are stepping down as co-CEOs, and Jeremy Latcham takes over on 1 December, according to ScreenRant.
- Lawrence says a script and an idea exist, and that Keanu Reeves is on board.
- No studio has announced a greenlight, a start date or a release date.
Constantine 2 may finally have a path forward, though not a confirmed one. Francis Lawrence, who directed the 2005 original, said this week that the sequel’s backers feel “more hopeful” after James Gunn and Peter Safran announced their exit from DC Studios, according to Comic Book Resources. Keanu Reeves would return as John Constantine.
What Francis Lawrence actually said
Speaking to Collider, Lawrence was careful with his words. He said he did not want anyone to lose their job, then explained that the team has been trying to make the sequel for “20-something years”. He added that they have an idea and a script, and that the people previously at DC were “an impediment” to making it.
He named who is attached: not just himself and Reeves, but also Akiva, and J.J. Abrams, who he said is “on it” too. “We all want to do it,” he said, as quoted by ScreenRant.
Lawrence also said he does not mind if DC plans a shared-universe version of the character. In his view, the two could coexist if the studio simply lets his team make the sequel to their version. That distinction matters, as the next section shows.
A different Constantine may also be in the works
ScreenRant notes that before the leadership news, a separate Constantine film unrelated to Reeves’ version was reported to be in early development, with Evil Dead Wrath’s Francis Galluppi working on the script. DC Studios has not commented on that project.
So there are two possible futures: a sequel that continues the 2005 film, or a fresh start inside the new DC continuity. Neither has an official green light. According to ScreenRant, Constantine 2 was also listed as a project still in development under Skydance about a month ago, following Warner Bros. Discovery’s merger with Paramount. The new management has not spoken publicly about it.
The original film, by the numbers
The 2005 original was based on DC and Vertigo’s Hellblazer comics, with a screenplay by Frank Cappello and Kevin Brodbin. Reeves played the occultist and exorcist at the centre of a mystery tied to an apparent suicide.
Critics were lukewarm. MovieWeb reports a 46 per cent Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences were kinder over time. CBR says the film grossed more than $230 million against a budget of around $100 million, and it has since built a loyal following. MovieWeb credits its visuals and Reeves’ performance, along with Peter Stormare as Lucifer and Tilda Swinton as the archangel Gabriel.
Interest has not faded, even after a television series starring Matt Ryan) brought the character to the small screen. Constantine is currently streaming on HBO Max and AMC+, according to CBR.
What Reeves has said so far
Reeves has kept fans updated. In 2025 he said DC Studios had approved a new script, promising that “John Constantine’s going to be tortured even more”, per CBR. In early October he said another draft had come in and that the team planned to take it to the studio. He gave no plot details.
MovieWeb adds that Gunn and Safran had confirmed the sequel was moving into development, a plan first revealed in September 2022, before they became co-CEOs. Their departure now removes the people Lawrence blamed for the delays, but it also adds uncertainty while Skydance settles its structure.
What happens next
Nothing is scheduled. Latcham, who has produced several major Marvel projects, takes charge on 1 December, and the DC slate is still being worked out. ScreenRant points out that DC’s plans beyond 2027’s Man of Tomorrow are unclear, while the Elseworlds banner, which includes Matt Reeves‘ The Batman Part II, may continue separately.
The next real signal will be whether the new leadership says anything about Constantine, either version. For more on the character’s film future, read our earlier report, New Constantine Film Leaves Keanu Reeves Sequel in Doubt, or browse everything we publish on Keanu Reeves and in our Movies section.
Frequently asked questions
Is Constantine 2 officially happening?
No. Francis Lawrence says a script and an idea exist and the team wants to make it, but no studio has announced a greenlight, start date or release date.
Will Keanu Reeves return as John Constantine?
Lawrence says Reeves is among those who want to make the sequel, and Reeves himself has discussed script drafts publicly this year. Casting has not been formally announced by a studio.
Why is James Gunn’s exit relevant to Constantine 2?
Lawrence said the people previously running DC were an obstacle to the sequel, so the leadership change gives the project a fresh chance to be pitched. It does not guarantee approval.
Is there another Constantine movie in development?
ScreenRant reports a separate Constantine film, unrelated to Reeves’ version, was in early development with Francis Galluppi writing. DC Studios has not commented.
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