Rumor: John Constantine to return to the big-screen in live-action reboot

Is John Constantine about to make a return to the big screen in a new DC movie?

It sounds like everyone’s favorite DC Comics demon hunter, John Constantine, could be returning to the big screen in a potential DCEU project.

A report from The Direct suggests that a live-action Constantine movie is in development at Warner Bros. Pictures – with J.J. Abrams attached as a producer through his production company Bad Robot. Rumor has it that this Constantine film will be in the same tone as Justice League Dark.

While this rumor could always be verified at the upcoming DC Fandome virtual event on August 22, it’s still very much a rumor at this stage, so it would be best to take this report with a pinch of salt.

It is neither clear whether this adaptation of John Constantine would have John Wick star Keanu Reeves reprise his role as the occult detective from his 2005 film or if the potential film would serve as a hard/soft reboot for the franchise.

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Reeves initially portrayed the role in 2005’s Constantine – a film that divided audiences but has since become something of a cult classic. Meanwhile, a much more comic-accurate version of the character has been played by Matt Ryan on the small screen since 2014.

Ryan initially portrayed the role in the well-received but short-lived Constantine series on NBC helmed by David S. Goyer. After its abrupt cancellation, he was welcomed into The CW’s Arrowverse, making a guest appearance on Arrow before becoming a series regular on DC’s Legends of Tomorrow.

Ryan’s interpretation of Constantine has since been a mainstay of the Arrowverse franchise. His performance has received critical acclaim and he’s now so closely associated with the character that he also voiced the occult anti-hero in several animated films, most recent of which includes Justice League Dark: Apokolips War.

There have also been rumors of a standalone Zatanna movie being in development at Warner Bros. for quite some time, so whether or not Zatanna will share continuity with the potential Constantine film (and the upcoming HBO Max Justice League Dark show which could feature both characters) is not yet known.

So what are your thoughts on J.J. Abrams and Bad Robot potentially producing a Constantine film? Who do you think should play the iconic warlock? Let us know in the comments below!