The following remark from the writer Frank Cappello is taken from this YouTube video about the movie. The remark has only a few likes, so I assumed its a good concept to share it extra.
‘Hey I wrote this factor! I really like how they discover a movie and by no means point out the writing. So I suppose I’ll inform the story as a result of it is bought some fascinating twists and turns. Maybe the followers will like listening to how it took place.
I bought the project to rewrite a Constantine script that Warner Brothers had spent two plus years creating. The unique writer Brodbin pulled his script from two of the Hellblazer comics, Original Sins and Dangerous Habits. By the time I got here on in 2000 the script was a number of drafts and two writers previous Brodbin. It was a lower and paste mess, the tone was one thing like Indiana Jones in Chinatown, stuffed with Swartzenegger one liners and plenty of gun play. Even although it could be my first studio writing gig, I assumed it was trash – did not actually wish to do it – till they despatched me a few of the graphic novels together with the two Brodbin had pulled from. I was blown away. This character was a writer’s dream – a crass egocentric bastard. But I was actually a no one that occurred to have written a script that was a favourite round the trade. So it could be a lengthy shot for me to get the job. I needed to do one thing daring. So I sat down and wrote what I assumed could be a worthy opening. That was 9 pages that included discovering the Spear (in a utterly completely different means then the movie) and the Exorcist scene utilizing the mirror to suck out the demon from the youngster. That bought me the job. My marching orders have been to do a polish, make their lower and paste clean and perhaps rework the ending. I needed to do good since this was my studio virgin project however I simply could not wrap my head round what they needed to maintain. To be blunt – it was shit. So I did what a writer is rarely speculated to do – I went rouge. I threw out most likely over a million {dollars} value of scripts and began over. I did not inform anybody, even my agent. I made a entire new story – invented the twin sister subplot – threw away the commonplace pentagram and candles and changed them with a cat and a bucket of water. I spent two months getting my vastly completely different model collectively and then turned it in – pondering “they’re gonna love this!” And the execs hated it. How may I’ve the audacity to throw out 3 writers work with out asking?? I was out. The profession was over earlier than it started. I assumed I won’t even receives a commission my stability. Then one thing occurred that solely occurs to starlets in Hollywood cafes: Two months after turning it in, the president of Warners, Lorenzo Bonaventura, occurred to choose up my script and learn it that weekend. On Monday he got here in and he informed the execs that had stopped speaking to me – “Now THIS is a movie.” I’d go on to put in writing nearly 50 drafts over 4 years (on and off work) for three completely different administrators and two completely different stars. I wrote so many drafts I began calling it Constantpain. Some of my drafts have been labeled by the TIME – not the date.
One of the final scenes I wrote, once more telling nobody – was nixed by one the main producers as a result of he stated it was too late so as to add a new concept. “But it makes the film better!” No. So… I went over his head and slipped it to 1 the execs who beloved it and it bought into the movie. Yeah I bought some dagger eyes a few weeks after that. The concept needed to do with how John bought his skill. It’s not in the comics and I do know the followers hated it again then – however I nonetheless believed it could resolve a plot gap for movie audiences and the concept got here straight out of a private expertise. People typically ask writers how they give you concepts. Well right here goes — My Dad was constructing a home and handed out. They found he had blockages in 5 main arteries so that they bought him into the hospital and did coronary heart bypass surgical procedure. My sister and my Mom sat in the ready room and the Doctor got here out to inform us that after they have been completed they could not restart his coronary heart. They scrambled with the coronary heart pump to get it restarted and lastly did. But for 4 minutes my father was clinically lifeless. Now my dad was a robust man, joined the military when he was 17 and fought in the Korean War – however he by no means informed us what he did in the trenches. I consider as a result of he could have taken a few lives and since he was raised Catholic he was afraid of dying as a result of he knew precisely the place he was going. (Sound acquainted?) Before the surgical procedure he was a very outgoing man, excessive in spirits – a prankster at coronary heart. After the surgical procedure he modified. He was quiet – introspective. Brooding. After a 12 months of this I lastly confronted him – “You’ve changed – what happened?” It took him a whereas to get it out however he stated since the surgical procedure he was having the most disgusting, horrific nightmares. He could not even describe what he noticed. It was effecting his sleep. I attempted to get him to see a psychiatrist however he was “old school” and thought they have been all quacks. This is what I put into Constantine – his origin. That he had tried to commit suicide and as a result of it was a mortal sin, went to hell- however then they revived him – he was by no means the identical. He may see the demons proper right here and additionally knew precisely the place he was going when he died.
The movie was launched and wasn’t the success Warners needed, so the first sequel I was writing in 2005 by no means bought greenlit. Over the years the movie has gathered extra followers and many have informed me it is considered one of their favorites. I’m additionally shocked that ladies normally like the movie greater than males. I feel it has to do with the “balance” between Heaven and Hell proper right here on Earth. I bought one other probability to put in writing a sequel in 2010 after I woke from a dream and rapidly wrote 9 pages of what my agent thought could be a nice sequel opening. it bought the consideration of the producers and the director and when requested – so what’s remainder of the story? “We went to hell in the first – we’re going to Heaven in this one.” “Why” To burn it down.’
PS. A sequel is in the works, with Keanu starring in it, Frank is not concerned it appears.
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