DC is apparently planning a new Constantine movie: The director of Evil Dead is set to write the screenplay
There is no start date yet
"Clayface", a bona fide horror film from the DCU, is currently playing in German theaters – and it seems the people behind the scenes have gotten a taste for it: As reported by Deadline magazine, a new "Constantine" project is in the works, to be written by an "Evil Dead" director.
We're talking about Francis Galluppi, who will bring "Evil Dead: Wrath" to the big screen in 2028. The new "Constantine" movie, however, is still in a very early stage of development. Currently, neither a lead actor nor a potential release date has been confirmed. DC Studios itself has also declined to comment on the reports so far.
Who is John Constantine?
John Constantine is one of the more unusual heroes from the DC Universe. The character made his first appearance in 1985 in the comic series "The Saga of the Swamp Thing" #37. The so-called Hellblazer was created by writer Alan Moore and artists Steve Bissette and John Totleben. Unlike classic superheroes, Constantine is a working-class British private investigator who specializes in magic, demonology, and supernatural phenomena. He often achieves his goals through questionable tricks, manipulation, and a healthy dose of cunning.
In 2005, Keanu Reeves took on the role of the occultist for the first time in Francis Lawrence's "Constantine". Unlike in the comics, the story was relocated to Los Angeles for the film. Although the movie received mixed reviews upon its release, it has managed to achieve a certain cult status over the years. A sequel starring Reeves has been in the works for quite some time, but concrete progress has been slow to materialize.
Another well-known portrayal of the character came from Matt Ryan, who played Constantine starting in 2014 in the NBC series of the same name. However, the series was canceled after just one season. Before Constantine begins his investigations, we can look forward next year to the Superman sequel "Man of Tomorrow", in which David Corenswet will once again star as the Man of Steel.
A New Foe for Superman
In "Man of Tomorrow", Clark Kent, aka Superman, must team up with his archenemy Lex Luthor. The reason: This time, the DC superhero faces a new, overwhelming threat – the highly intelligent android Brainiac. German actor Lars Eidinger will take on the role of the villain. A few months ago, Gunn commented on what we can expect from the new antagonist. He posted a sketch of the character on social media and explained:
"Brainiac is what happens when intelligence loses ALL connection to humanity. And Superman is as human as anyone, so… I get why they have beef."
In fact, Gunn's interpretation of Superman is one of the most human we've seen on screen so far. In his film adaptation, the hero – played by David Corenswet – was, of course, still endowed with superhuman abilities. But Superman also showed weaknesses, was vulnerable, and revealed in a memorable discussion with his great love, Lois Lane, that he can be quite thin-skinned at times.
High Pressure for the Man of Tomorrow
This resonated with critics – and with audiences as well: The blockbuster grossed $618 million at the global box office. Nevertheless, there's likely to be enormous pressure on the sequel, "Man of Tomorrow". After all, another film from the DC Universe – Craig Gillespie's "Supergirl" – recently hit theaters. And that turned out to be a colossal box office flop. It all started with a weak opening: On its opening weekend, the superhero film – starring Milly Alcock as Superman's cousin – grossed a mere $62 million at the global box office. In the end, it grossed a mere $126 million – not even enough to recoup the production budget. To find out whether the film stands on its own in terms of quality, check out our META review of "Supergirl".
Superman fans, however, have more than just "Man of Tomorrow" to look forward to. A spin-off of Gunn's "Superman" film adaptation, titled "The People v. Gorilla Grodd", was recently officially commissioned. As in the film, Skyler Gisondo will once again take on the role of Jimmy Olsen, who works at the Daily Planet alongside Clark Kent. The premise of the new DC series is unusual: "The People v. Gorilla Grodd" is a mockumentary. The pseudo-documentary centers on a highly intelligent ape who is found guilty of murder. The victim: his father, the King of Gorilla City. And that's where Jimmy Olsen comes in, as he reopens the case. It certainly sounds like a crime series with a twist.
