Thanks to J. White from the hellforums for this part of a recent interview:
IS IT TRUE YOU WANT TO TAKE A BREAK FROM ACTING?
KR: Well, they didn't start with me. It's not true. I'm working right now on a project and that project goes on until January. I'm focusing on that right now. It's called Constantine. I play John Constantine. It's awesome. And even though I'm not English, I'm not worried about it, although I'm sure it's going to be an issue. But hopefully I can capture the spirit of the character. Since I'm not blonde and English, I hope people see the essence of the guy.
AND WHAT INTRIGUES YOU ABOUT THAT?
KR: On what level? I've read a few of the comics, but I really like that guy. The character of Constantine, I like his ambivalence. I like his vitality. I like his darkness. I like his anger. I really like his anger, but I also love his kind of underlying grace, his underlying love for humanity. I love him as a figure as someone who is just someone as kind of like the ultimate presentation of the existential kind of like 'God is dead.' It literalizes a kind of heaven and hell and a kind of Catholic background and he's saying, 'The nine deities, the nine devils, all of you get out of here, just leave us alone,' and he's kind of like the ultimate man without, man within without all of the other kind of entities. I love that dialogue because he finds something else out in that quest. He finds something out about himself and his humanity.
CONSTANTINE? TELL ME ABOUT HIM.
KR: He's an exorcist. A man who is trying to unravel a mystery about a kind of hell on earth and he's kind of trapped because he committed suicide as a kid cause he could see through the veil of reality, he could see demons and angels, half-breed, half demons, half angels. He's trying to find a way so when he dies, he doesn't have to go to hell.
Looks like there's going to be some backstory there that doesn't come from the comic....
Also, SuperheroHype.com has some pictures of Keanu and co-star Rachel Weisz running around on set.
I love the way he talks about this character, even that he knows about and addresses the whole "not blond, not English" thing. I like that he likes the anger, and I like the backstory as KR tells it, even if it isn't comic-legit. If this film goes forward as he describes it, if his character turns out as he describes JC, if it isn't ruined in the cutting room...I am going to love this film.
Posted by: bakednudel on October 30, 2003 01:10 PMI think he has a good grip on the essence of John Constantine and I also think that I'm going to love this one.
Posted by: krix on October 30, 2003 05:03 PMThe inner-workings of an increasingly fascinating character ... With great expectations, I so look forward to experiencing Constantine on screen...
Posted by: phoenix IX on October 31, 2003 01:46 AM"I like his vitality. I like his darkness. I like his anger. I really like his anger, but I also love his kind of underlying grace, his underlying love for humanity" Sounds a little like the magnificient one himself (although I do not personally know him).
To have him facing me while describing one of his characters like this, now that would be something.
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