John Constantine is represented inaccurately more often than correctly, which angers fans. This is actually good for the Hellblazer, though.

One of the best things about adaptation is getting to bring the magic of the page to a visual representation that is faithful to the source material. Whether that’s in Robert Downey, Jr.'s Iron Man, Hugh Jackman's Wolverine or Patrick Stewart's Charles Xavier, some of the greatest comic book actors are great because of how faithfully they resemble their comic book counterparts. However, there are many other examples that do not abide by comic book constraints.

One of the foremost (and most critically ill-received) examples of a mismatch from book to screen is that of John Constantine. Played at times by Jenna Coleman and Keanu Reeves, both having little in common with the blonde, supernatural gumshoe, Constantine has been brought accurately to the screen very rarely. However, the adapted versions of Constantine having little in common visually with the morally gray hero is a disparaging takeaway from those unlike versions of him, and cinematic history has borne out evidence that alternative interpretations of stories - and their heroes - prove to be just as good at times as the original versions.

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One well-known example is Baz Luhrmann's 2013 adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. Scholars of the book (or even casual readers) would easily confirm that many of the characterizations and plot points are fully distinct from Fitzgerald's novel. However, the spirit of the novel is maintained. Most pertinently, the adaptation recognizes the limitations of the genre of live-action motion pictures, but also embraces its strengths. It cuts down and streamlines the story while placing emphasis on the bombastic visuals and startling motion that are difficult or impossible to convey fully in prose.

Likewise, live action comic book adaptations have limitations. Especially as regards the stylized visuals of comics and the framing necessary to convey character dynamics, movies will often fail to compete. As such, the medium must answer using audio and deliberate acting, both of which are difficult to convey in the printed medium. For that reason, screen adaptations will generally go with actors who best embody the vibe of the characters and movie. It's actually quite rare that these match up visually with the characters in the comic books.

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The negative fan reaction toward the "incorrect" casting of Keanu Reeves as Constantine ignored the fact that he played the part of Constantine perfectly, embodying both the crassness and the concern of the comic book iteration. Decades after the film's release, calls have gone out for a sequel and an apology, supporting the idea that Constantine is far more than a blonde man in a trench coat. Likewise, Jenna Coleman's Constantine from 2022's The Sandman is dark-haired, put-together, and does not smoke; thus ignoring all the visual cues of the character. However, fans are calling for her to head her own Constantine series, as her days playing the occasionally morally grey character of Clara Oswald in Doctor Who seemingly prepared her for the role as the golden-hearted slayer of demons and angels.

Certainly, Matt Ryan and his resemblance to the character are great to see on-screen. However, superheroes being modern myths comes with reinterpretation. Exact page-to-screen translations are not only impossible, but often ill-informed. More often than not, actors' resemblance to the characters they play needn't be the most important thing. Rather, it's the extent to which they embody the character, and John Constantine's characterizations by Reeves and Coleman are unmatched, in spite of swapping out black hair for blonde.

Benjamin Bishop is a freelance writer for CBR and a linguist. He worked in literary criticism and focuses on the intersections of linguistics and popular culture. He strongly identifies with Pokémon, the Muppets, and any book he manages to get his hands on.

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