HBO Max announced in February a rebootseries for DC comicHellblazer’sConstantine, developed under J.J. Abrams as part of the Justice League Dark project with intentions to cast a BIPOC actor under the titular role. But who can pick up the mantel after Keanu Reeves and fan-favorite, Matt Ryan? John Constantine, member of the alternatebranch of the Justice League, Justice League Darkand alcoholic detective of supernatural crimes, has had several screen entrances with the 2005 filmConstantinestarring Keanu Reeves and nine years later the short-lived NBC seriesConstantinewith Matt Ryan in 2014.
Following the cancellation of the NBC series, Matt Ryan appeared again in the role as part of the CW seriesArrowthus making Matt Ryan’s version of the character as part of the Arrowverse leading to more appearances in theCW’sLegends of Tomorrowand voicing John Constantine in the animated filmJustice League Darkand the follow-upJustice League Dark: Apokolips Waras well as the CW Seed web seriesConstantine: City of Demons. However, despite Matt Ryan’s long and well-received run in the trench coat, HBO Max is considering a new direction in casting.
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It’s no secret that Hollywood has become more invested in celebrating diversity and the comic genre itself is not unfamiliar with switching up the casting of established characters. DC’s seriesDoom Patrolon HBO Maxdid just this with the casting of Diane Guerrero as “Crazy Jane” (and the very diverse casting of her internal alts) in the on-screen adaptation of “Kay Challis” from the comics.
However fandom has been particular on how, and by whom, John Constantine should be played. While the 2005 Keanu Reeves turn has gained some popularity post Keanu’s resurgence withsleeper hit franchiseJohn Wick, his decidedly not British and very American take along with the film’s overall noir thriller feel put off fans initially. Matt Ryan, blonde and British, won those fans back with the 2014 one-season series on NBC and consequent appearances over the years in the Arrowverse. To say Matt Ryan’s take was well-received by the fandom is an understatement. He’s at times been deemed almost too Constantine to play Constantine. Matt Ryan himself has stated he’d love to keep playing the character and HBO Max’s growing ties to CW programming would seem to make that possible.
But change can be good and a new direction can serve to relate a new and wider audience to an established character. From the initial February announcement, Riz Ahmed ofVenom,NightcrawlerandSound of Metalcame out as the rumored first pick to be the rebooted Constantine. Ahmed’s frame and penetrating stares immediately earned him fan service witha digital design of the actor as the characterby digital artist ‘spdrmnkyiii’.
When Constantine is described as a compassionate humanist struggling to overcome the influence of Heaven and Hell, seriesSkinsalumDev Patel would be a strong choice. Constantine deals in the dark but displays sensitivity and vulnerability, two traits Patel exudes in every role he undertakes fromSlumdog Millionaireto knight of the round table Gawain in the upcoming filmThe Green Knightfrom A24.
If diversity is the goal, a genderswap is a strong and usually controversial direction. In considering the character of John Constantine, Herizen Guardiola ofThe Get DownandAmerican Godsand Sydney Lemmon of theshort-lived Marvel seriesHelstromwould both be fascinating in a female-led version of the role. Guardiola would be, admittedly, a young take on the character but that could give an opportunity to explore what the weight of the darkness Constantine lives in does to the psyche over time. Plus, her turn inAmerican Godshad her moving about the world of Neil Gaiman who’s had a long partnership with DC including writing for Hellblazer trades.
Fear the Walking Dead’s Sydney Lemmon is, frankly, perfectly intimidating and perfectly haunted but unfortunately Sydney Lemmon’s turn as Satana (not to be confused with DC’s Zatanna) inHelstromhas most likely locked her into the MCU whether they bring her character back or not.Marvel has recast characters in the past(once or twice switching actors within the MCU) but with Marvel’s move in developing the supernatural side of their own IP, Lemmon, unfortunately, may be waiting for that recast before she can switch sides to DC.
These are the challenges of casting Constantine. Avoiding an actor connected to another property (especially Marvel) and avoiding alienating the fanbase by moving too far from the source. The aspects that make up Constantine are vulnerability, focus, sarcasm, a singular purpose with a lack of patience for wasting time but not humorless. Basically, John Leguizamo.
Somehow, though he appeared in thesecond season of Disney+ seriesThe Mandolorian, John Leguizamo hasn’t shown up in DC or the MCU. He’s grizzled, he’s older, his range is incredible from Luigi in the cult classicSuper Marios Brosto Chi Chi inTo Wong Foo Thanks For Everything Julie Newmarto Aurelio inJohn Wickto his one-man showFreakin 1998 (filmed live and broadcast on HBO). The intent of the Abrams and HBO MaxConstantineseries is to focus more on the horror than the religious iconography of the Keanu 2005 entry, experience Leguizamo has in his turn in George Romero’sLand of the Deadand infamous tree horror filmThe Happeningfrom M. Night Shyamalan. And Leguizamo looks great in a trench coat.
It’s early in production and, as diehard Constantine fans know, anything can happen in developing the “working-class warlock” to screen.Hopefully, whatever direction HBO Max and J.J. Abrams take, whether it’s sticking with role-veteran Matt Ryan or forging a new path with a completely different casting, it will be a version ofConstantinefans can live with.
