Latest word on "Constantine," Warner Brothers' latest attempt to make a halfway decent comic book movie (via Dark Horizons):
Constantine: The insanely busy Lauren-Schuler Donner has been doing a few interviews of late with various outlets promoting "Timeline" and spoke about the Keanu Reeves-led Hellblazer adaptation she's involved in. In regards to "Constantine", she told Sci-Fi Wire that "It's not an origin story of the character. It's 'Dangerous Habits,' if you know the Hellblazer [series]. We're filming, we're about a third into it. It's come along great. And it'll be out next year, probably, well, at the moment, September". "We're shooting in L.A. A lot at Warner Brothers. A lot downtown. Two weeks we're in Long Beach. And we're trying to stay as true to the comic as we can, though it's an obscure comic. Not many people know Hellblazer.
Staying "as true to the comic as we can" obviously doesn't include filming in London, where the comic takes place. Donner has dismissed reports of the "Constantine-Mobile," though, so that's something.[1]
...I had quite a lengthy screed written out detailing my utter lack of faith in Keanu Reeves and whether the filmmakers will be able to portray John Constantine as the tormented figure he is. I also sounded off on the news that JC's friend Chas, a 40-something cab-driving family man in the comic, has morphed into a youthful sidekick played by Shia LaBeouf, but the hell with it (no pun intended). It's probably better for all concerned at this point if I just wait until the film is released and praise/scorn it as warranted.
That they're using Garth Ennis' "Dangerous Habits" as the basis for the plot is the best news I've heard about the film yet. "Habits" is arguably the finest storyline of the entire series, and has one of the greatest ending panels of any comic series ever.
Trust me, in the context of the story it's hilarious.
[1] In the comics, Constantine doesn't know how to drive
You're right. I just consider issue 46 to be mostly epilogue, I suppose.
Actually, wasn't that panel from the penultimate issue of DH?
Not that it makes it any less grand, but I'm extra fond of the "Rainy Night in Soho" full-page, myself.
As for the movie ... feh. I always figured it was going to be yet another comics adaptation that won't get my hard-earned cash, until something happens to convince me otherwise...