Keanu Reeves during a virtual Constantine panel revealed that he never considered going blond or taking on a British accent for the title role of the 2005 movie.
The 55-year-old actor participated in a reunion panel with Constantine director Francis Lawrence, 49, and producer Akiva Goldsman, 58, to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the supernatural film as part of ComicCon@Home.
Panel moderator and Collider editor-in-chief Steven Weintraub in a video posted Saturday asked Keanu if there was every any talk about changing his hair color and accent to fit the DC Comics character John Constantine created by Alan Moore, 66.
Virtual panel: Keanu Reeves during a virtual Constantine panel revealed that he never considered going blond or taking on a British accent for the role in the 2005 movie
‘No,’ replied Keanu shaking his head and smiling.
Francis confirmed that it wasn’t considered.
‘We never talked about it,’ said Francis, who made his feature-length directorial debut with Constantine.
He said the other big change was the switch from the graphic novel character’s tan trench coat to a black one for the movie.
Fictional anti-supehero: John Constantine was created by Alan Moore as an occult detective in London
Film version: Keanu played the title role of Constantine the 2015 movie from Warner Bros
‘We wanted to do what was sort of right for what we were doing,’ said Francis, who went on to direct I Am Legend [2007], Water For Elephants [2011], three of the four films in the Hunger Games film series and the 2018 spy thriller Red Sparrow.
Keanu earlier in the conversation said that he wasn’t familiar with the character when he took on the role, but loved the script based on the London occult detective visually inspired by English singer Sting, 68.
‘I was not hesitant, but I’m not English and I’m not blond, but the character is. So, I had to reconcile that and part of that was, what was the base of the character? What could I bring to the character? Why even do it?,’ Keanu said.
Together again: The 55-year-old actor participated in a reunion panel with Constantine director Francis Lawrence, 49, and producer Akiva Goldsman, 58, to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the supernatural film as part of ComicCon@Home
Keanu said he was drawn to the ‘beautiful character’ who he described as a world-weary humanitarian and cynic and also loved his sense of humor.
‘I love the film and I love the character,’ Keanu said.
The film also was filmed in Los Angeles as part of Keanu’s deal.
English character: ‘I was not hesitant, but I’m not English and I’m not blond, but the character is. So, I had to reconcile that and part of that was, what was the base of the character? What could I bring to the character? Why even do it?,’ Keanu said
‘I love LA and I love filmic LA. I love being on the streets, I like the way the weather changes, I like the early dawn, the deep night, the color of the lights, the people, people on the streets, it’s got a good vibe,’ Keanu said.
Constantine also starred Rachel Weisz, Shia LaBeouf, Tilda Swinton, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Djimon Hounsou, Gavin Rossdale, and Peter Stormare.
The movie earned $230.9 million at the worldwide box office.
Hit movie: Constantine, also starring Rachel Weisz, Shia LaBeouf, Tilda Swinton, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Djimon Hounsou, Gavin Rossdale, and Peter Stormare, earned $230.9 million at the worldwide box office