When one thinks of Keanu Reeves, it’s his work in action and sci-fi franchises like John Wick and The Matrix that come to mind. Also a talented comedy actor, most wouldn’t associate Reeves’ name with popular comic book adaptations. However, back in 2005 and under the guiding eye of director Francis Lawrence, Reeves starred in the DC adaptation Constantine, portraying the titular demon hunter. Tired and on the edge, Reeves’ portrayal was unlike the slick, gritty superheroes of his time. He was joined in the movie by an ensemble including Rachel Weisz, Tilda Swinton, Djimon Hounsou, Shia LaBeouf, and more.
Over twenty years since Constantine‘s debut, the long-rumored sequel now feels closer than ever, although still far away. Reeves himself recently commented on such a prospect, saying, “Fingers crossed. Another draft of the script came in. We’re waiting. We’re gonna take it to the studio and hopefully they like it too.” Reeves’ co-star Peter Stormare also said, “I think he wants to do his character again, Constantine, as grounded as it was in the first one. It took a long time for you to become a cult movie, it really worked, and it will work on the audience again.”
As Constantine‘s road to a sequel continues to gather pace, fans are returning to the original in their millions. At the time of writing, Constantine is one of the most-streamed movies on AMC+ in the U.S. However, its popularity wasn’t always obvious, earning mixed reviews upon arrival, especially from critics. Awarding just 46% on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the critics’ consensus on the site reads, “Despite solid production values and an intriguing premise, Constantine lacks the focus of another spiritual shoot-em-up: The Matrix.”
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Keanu Reeves Is Coming Back to Comedy
Although we await his return to Constantine, one of Reeves’ next feature projects sees him return to comedy, the genre that made him famous. One of two upcoming Jonah Hill projects, Outcome was picked up by Apple TV back in 2023, and will star Reeves alongside Roy Wood Jr., who teased Reeves’ involvement in a previous interview: “I can say that it is an extremely funny film, but to see Keanu Reeves, I don’t think he does one karate punch in the whole film. Yeah, proper comedic Keanu Reeves is back.”
Constantine is a streaming hit on AMC+. Make sure to stay tuned to Collider for the latest streaming stories.
- Release Date
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February 18, 2005
- Runtime
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121 minutes
- Director
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Francis Lawrence
