The role of this cynical, sarcastic, and raggedly charming occult detective became iconic among the fans. Despite deviating from the original comic book and being accused of Americanizing the role, the 2005 movie depiction by Keanu Reeves popularized Constantine and gained a cult following, while Matt Ryan’s portrayal of the character in the 2014 NBC series was more canonical and spot-on British but less known. So who was better suited to play Constantine on screen?
Based on the DC Hellblazer comics created by Alan Moore, Constantine follows the story of John Constantine, a chain-smoking battered-looking magician with a bad attitude and a talent for investigating supernatural crimes and (eventually) defeating the forces of evil. The movie featuring Keanu Reeves focuses on him exorcising demons, protecting Angela Dodson (Rachel Weisz) — a revealed psychic, investigating her sister’s apparent suicide — and confronting the threat to humanity presented by the angel Gabriel.
The NBC series starring Matt Ryan follows the ‘Monster of the Week’ structure and focuses on John Constantine investigating and solving occult cases while trying to prevent demon invasion. Both of the actors gained renown and recognition among the fans, and both have their pros and cons in the depiction of the character. Here’s where Keanu Reeves can be considered a better Constantine and where Matt Ryan has him beaten.
Looks The Part: Matt Ryan
While Keanu Reeves’ gloomy chain-smoking exorcist retains the hearts of many fans, Matt Ryan’s looks more like the original Hellblazer. Blond, British, snarky, and dressed in the distinctive trench coat, his John Constantine stepped straight down from the comic book pages. At the same time, Reeves’ Constantine is often considered too American and takes too many liberties with the source material. Though when it comes to depicting the attitude and a talent for alienating people around him, both Reaves and Ryan did a great job.
Conveys The Inner Darkness: Keanu Reeves
The Hellblazer’s Constantine didn’t have an easy life, and that’s putting it lightly. According to the comic books, he basically strangled his twin brother in the womb and caused the death of his mother (or at least that’s what his father blamed him for) — in an alternate comics version, he burned down his house with his parents inside after making a deal with a demon to gain magical powers — was committed and tortured by the doctors in the asylum for criminally insane, and caused death and eternal damnation of several of his friends. It’s no wonder that the original character harbors a lot of guilt, resentment, loneliness, and self-hatred, and Keanu Reeves did an excellent job portraying this side of Constantine in the movie.
Has Potential For Crossovers: Matt Ryan
Ryan’s portrayal of Constantine was so true to the source material and beloved by the fans that even after the show was canceled after only one season, he reprised his role in the Arrowverse, appearing in Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow, as well as a dedicated animated series. The shows have already brought Ryan’s Constantine face to face with Oliver Queen, Lucifer, Jim Corrigan, and other inhabitants of the DCU, and there’s a vast potential for him to develop as the leader of the Justice League Dark or have a crossover with the Swamp Thing, as seen in the comics.
A Darker Story & Higher Stakes: Keanu Reeves
The NBC series did have a somewhat dark main plot ark revolving around the ‘Rising Darkness’ happening in the background, but it lacked the grandeur and the higher stakes of the movie. After all, Keanu Reeves’ Constantine faced a full-blown apocalypse and potential extinction of the human race, and he approached it with dark determination. And that’s not to mention his memorable defiant standoff with Lucifer (impeccably portrayed by Peter Stormare). While Matt Ryan has previously admitted that he’d love to dig deeper into the character’s darkness, he didn’t really get a chance to do so in the show.
Conclusion: Who Is A Better Constantine?
Unsurprisingly, it looks like a tie. Where Ryan’s sarcastic mystic detective looks more true to the original comic books, Reeves portrays a much darker and more tortured Constantine. Both depictions have loyal fan bases that demand the return of the actors. The movie’s director, Francis Lawrence, has admitted that he, Reeves, and producer Akiva Goldman had privately discussed the idea of a hard-R, darker sequel but were unsure if the studio would pick it up. In a recent interview, Reeves has also mentioned that he’d love to reprise the role of Constantine and return to the DC universe if a chance arises.
In February, HBO Max has announced a reboot of the Constantine series, developed under J.J. Abrams, and while it seems likely that they will be looking to cast a BIPOC actor for the lead role, many fans are rooting for the return of Matt Ryan. With speculations for Constantine’s casting running wild, viewers can only hope that whoever assumes the role will do as great a job as Reeves and Ryan.