The next remark from the author Frank Cappello is taken from this YouTube video concerning the film. The remark has only a few likes, so I assumed its a good suggestion 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 assume I am going to inform the story as a result of it is acquired some attention-grabbing twists and turns. Perhaps the followers will like listening to the way it happened.
I acquired the project to rewrite a Constantine script that Warner Brothers had spent two plus years growing. The unique author Brodbin pulled his script from two of the Hellblazer comics, Unique Sins and Harmful Habits. By the point I got here on in 2000 the script was a number of drafts and two writers previous Brodbin. It was a reduce and paste mess, the tone was one thing like Indiana Jones in Chinatown, filled with Swartzenegger one liners and plenty of gun play. Though it could be my first studio writing gig, I assumed it was trash – did not actually need to do it – till they despatched me a few of the graphic novels together with the 2 Brodbin had pulled from. I used to be blown away. This character was a author’s dream – a crass egocentric bastard. However I used to be actually a no person that occurred to have written a script that was a favourite across the trade. So it could be a protracted 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 very completely different means then the movie) and the Exorcist scene utilizing the mirror to suck out the demon from the kid. That acquired me the job. My marching orders have been to do a polish, make their reduce and paste clean and possibly rework the ending. I wished to do good since this was my studio virgin project however I simply could not wrap my head round what they wished to maintain. To be blunt – it was shit. So I did what a author is rarely presupposed to do – I went rouge. I threw out most likely over 1,000,000 {dollars} price of scripts and began over. I did not inform anybody, even my agent. I made a complete new story – invented the dual sister subplot – threw away the usual 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 after which turned it in – pondering “they’re gonna love this!” And the execs hated it. How might I’ve the audacity to throw out 3 writers work with out asking?? I used to be out. The profession was over earlier than it started. I assumed I won’t even receives a commission my steadiness. 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 select up my script and skim it that weekend. On Monday he got here in and he instructed the execs that had stopped speaking to me – “Now THIS is a film.” I’d go on to put in writing nearly 50 drafts over 4 years (on and off work) for 3 completely different administrators and two completely different stars. I wrote so many drafts I began calling it Constantpain. A few of my drafts have been labeled by the TIME – not the date.
One of many final scenes I wrote, once more telling nobody – was nixed by one the foremost producers as a result of he mentioned it was too late so as to add a brand new thought. “But it surely makes the movie higher!” No. So… I went over his head and slipped it to 1 the execs who cherished it and it acquired into the movie. Yeah I acquired some dagger eyes just a few weeks after that. The concept needed to do with how John acquired his skill. It is not within the comics and I do know the followers hated it again then – however I nonetheless believed it could clear up a plot gap for film audiences and the concept got here straight out of a private expertise. Individuals typically ask writers how they provide you with concepts. Effectively right here goes — My Dad was constructing a home and handed out. They found he had blockages in 5 main arteries in order that they acquired him into the hospital and did coronary heart bypass surgical procedure. My sister and my Mother sat within the ready room and the Physician got here out to inform us that once they have been completed they could not restart his coronary heart. They scrambled with the center pump to get it restarted and eventually did. However for 4 minutes my father was clinically lifeless. Now my dad was a robust man, joined the military when he was 17 and fought within the Korean Struggle – however he by no means instructed us what he did within the trenches. I consider as a result of he could have taken just 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?) Earlier than the surgical procedure he was a really outgoing man, excessive in spirits – a prankster at coronary heart. After the surgical procedure he modified. He was quiet – introspective. Brooding. After a yr of this I lastly confronted him – “You’ve got modified – what occurred?” It took him some time to get it out however he mentioned for the reason that surgical procedure he was having essentially 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 fashioned” and thought they have been all quacks. That is what I put into Constantine – his origin. That he had tried to commit suicide and since it was a mortal sin, went to hell- however then they revived him – he was by no means the identical. He might see the demons proper right here and likewise knew precisely the place he was going when he died.
The movie was launched and wasn’t the success Warners wished, so the primary sequel I used to be writing in 2005 by no means acquired greenlit. Through the years the movie has gathered extra followers and lots of have instructed me it is considered one of their favorites. I am additionally shocked that girls often just like the movie greater than males. I feel it has to do with the “steadiness” between Heaven and Hell proper right here on Earth. I acquired one other likelihood to put in writing a sequel in 2010 once I woke from a dream and rapidly wrote 9 pages of what my agent thought could be an amazing sequel opening. it acquired the eye of the producers and the director and when requested – so what’s remainder of the story? “We went to hell within the first – we’ll Heaven on this one.” “Why” To burn it down.’
PS. A sequel is within the works, with Keanu starring in it, Frank is not concerned it appears.
