If the recent release — and success — of DC Studios’ Clayface has shown us anything, then it’s that when it comes to Detective Comics comic book movies, many fans like it darker. Now if only there were a character, say a blonde, Scouse sorcerer-cum-conman who doubles up as a literal demon hunter, that James Gunn and co could turn to for more potentially r-rated DCU hijinks, eh? Oh, wait! There is. His name’s John Constantine, and according to Deadline, DC Studios has just tapped Evil Dead Wrath filmmaker Francis Galluppi to pen a new movie for him.
Previously brought to screens in Keanu Reeves form in Francis Lawrence’s much-maligned but recently reclaimed 2005 adaptation Constantine, and later in a Matt Ryan led TV series and assorted animated off-shoots, John Constantine — also known as Hellblazer — is the brainchild of Alan Moore. A hard-drinking, chain-smoking antihero and occult detective whose morality rests firmly in the grey, Constantine is a fascinating character, and one who — if Clayface is anything to go by — could absolutely work within the parameters James Gunn has already set out for his DC Universe. Where his DCU debut may leave that long-mooted Keanu Reeves Constantine sequel however is anyone’s guess (perhaps that could be an Elseworlds project, right? Right?)
At this stage, Deadline notes that the DCU’s Constantine movie is in very early development, with nobody else attached as of yet and Galluppi still fully focused on the upcoming release of his major Hollywood feature debut with Evil Dead Wrath. Even so, with the MCU looking to be heading into occult territory with its freshly announced Ghost Rider movie, and James Watkins’ Clayface still scaring up a storm in multiplexes, the future is looking bright for the darker side of comic book cinema and we are absolutely here for it. Trench coats at the ready, folks… we’re going demon hunting!
