Keanu Reeves is one of the biggest names in Hollywood, and a popular fancast to the DCU, but he's already playing the perfect DC character. While the DCU is steadily building a new rebooted universe under the careful guidance of James Gunn and Peter Safran, DC has been telling their stories on the big screen for many years already. Of course, the most recent DCEU struggled to stay the course due to numerous issues, but even earlier, DC adapted stories like Christopher Reeves' Superman, and several Batman movies.
In the 2000s, DC revisited several characters like Batman and Superman to deliver brand-new movies. But at the same time, the studio also looked at lesser-known stories and began to adapt them to varying degrees of success. This led to the wide release of Watchmen and The League of Extraordinary Gentleman, to name a few. However, there was one movie that came out in 2005 starring Keanu Reeves that set the action star up in his perfect DC role.
Keanu Reeves' Constantine Is Perfect For The DCU
Constantine's Story Was left Open-Ended
Keanu Reeves went from strength to strength in the 1990s, and by the time the 2000s came around, he was already an established action star. On the back of the incredible success and popularity of The Matrix, he was tagged by DC to play Constantine in a movie based on the comic series of the same name. And while the movie didn't turn into a massive hit that DC may have wanted it to be, it did pave the way for Reeves to the modern DCU.
Was Keanu Reeves' Constantine a good adaptation of the DC/Vertigo hero?
Keanu Reeves recently provided an update on the long-gestating Constantine 2, confirming that the script was still being written, prompting many to revisit the original DC/Vertigo adaptation. Though it's built a cult following over the past 19 years, debate still rages of whether the first Constantine was a good adaptation of the comics, namely in regard to Reeves' American, dark haired portrayal in comparison to his blonde British namesake. Despite these few changes, I think the original movie was a great adaptation of the character, understanding his being a melancholic character with a darkly comedic side bubbling underneath.
The thing is, Constantine is a dark, gritty, and tough character. He deals with supernatural beings, fighting demons, and communicating with god and the devil. Interestingly, the first stage of the DCU's connected story has been referred to as Chapter One: Gods & Monsters, which just so happens to align with the character of Constantine perfectly. As a character, this is the world that John Constantine belongs in, and seeing how the DCU has set up stories like Creature Commandos, Peacemaker season 2, and the Clayface horror film, it seems like a Constantine sequel would make a perfect addition in the lineup.
Keanu Reeves Could Easily Play A Range Of DC Heroes
Keanu Reeves Is A Versatile Action And Comedy Star
Keanu Reeves is an outstanding talent. Over the run of his career, he has played epic sci-fi superheroes, monstrous villains, elite assassins, and action heroes. In addition, Reeves is a comedy star who found some of his earliest success in films like Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. Clearly, Reeves would have no problem playing a hero, and he could be a great fit in a variety of DC roles.
However, considering he is already familiar with the character and story of Constantine, and that appears to align with the current DCU, it would make a lot of sense to just bring him back as the exorcist. Otherwise, it's possible for Reeves to tackle a role like Vandal Savage, Doctor Fate, or something a little more obscure. He could confidently own any of these parts.
DCU's Chapter One: Gods & Monsters Is Building Towards Something Epic That Constantine Would Be Great For
Constantine 2 Would Be Perfect For The DCU
So far, the DCU has only confirmed a handful of projects, with several more still under wraps. Despite this, the debut era of the DCU has been confidently titled "Gods & Monsters," which suggests they are building towards something epic. In comparison to the MCU's Infinity Saga, which only really began taking shape after a few years, the DCU has let slip what they are trying to work towards with this title, and it feels like the concluding events of Chapter One will be big.
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And in an era that is defined by introducing gods and monsters, and drawing clear lines between the two, it would make sense to tell a new Constantine story. Especially since the first Constantine movie left John alive, but still being closely followed and watched by the devil himself. Constantine would be a great character to tie the themes together, and bringing Keanu Reeves back to tackle this incredible role would surely help to bolster the new DCU.
Constantine
- Release Date
- February 18, 2005
- Runtime
- 121 minutes
- Director
- Francis Lawrence
Cast
John Constantine
Rachel WeiszAngela Dodson / Isabel Dodson
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- Frank A. Cappello
- Producers
- Akiva Goldsman, Benjamin Melniker, Erwin Stoff, Lauren Shuler Donner, Lorenzo di Bonaventura
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