Bill Skarsgård has officially shifted the conversation from Gotham’s Clown Prince of Crime to the dark alleys of London’s supernatural underground. During a recent appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast with Josh Horowitz, the actor revealed that his “dream role” within James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Universe is not the Joker, but rather the occult detective John Constantine.
The revelation comes at a pivotal moment for the character. Reports emerged on November 4, 2026, that DC Studios has tapped filmmaker Francis Galluppi, known for Evil Dead Wrath, to write a new John Constantine movie. While the project is in the early stages of development, it remains unclear whether the script is intended for the primary DCU “Gods and Monsters” continuity or as an “Elseworlds” standalone project.
A Pitch for Visual Horror
Skarsgård’s interest in the Hellblazer is rooted in a specific creative vision. He expressed a desire to reunite with director Andy Muschietti, who directed him as Pennywise in the IT franchise. According to Skarsgård, a Constantine project would provide the perfect opportunity to blend “truly visual horror” with the superhero genre, leveraging the darker, supernatural elements that have defined his recent career in films like Nosferatu.
Muschietti is already a key figure in the burgeoning DCU, currently attached to direct the Batman-centric film The Brave and the Bold. Skarsgård’s pitch suggests a potential expansion of that professional relationship into the supernatural corners of the DC universe, a space James Gunn is already building out with projects like Swamp Thing.
This public interest marks a notable shift in Skarsgård’s narrative regarding comic book roles. In late 2024, the actor had acknowledged fan-casting for the Joker, stating at the time that “there’s a cool Joker in me.” However, his recent comments suggest he is looking to distance himself from the clownish archetype in favor of something more grounded in atmospheric horror. During the same podcast appearance, Skarsgård also downplayed persistent rumors linking him to the role of Charles Xavier in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s upcoming X-Men reboot.
The Future of Hellblazer
The development of a new Constantine script by Galluppi raises questions about the long-gestating sequel to the 2005 Constantine film starring Keanu Reeves. Director Francis Lawrence has previously claimed a sequel with Reeves was in development, though the status of that project has remained opaque since the leadership transition at DC Studios.
If DC Studios moves forward with Skarsgård’s preferred horror-centric approach, it would align with the studio’s stated goal of diversifying the tones within its slate. While no official casting has been announced for Galluppi’s project, Skarsgård’s experience with Muschietti and his proven track record in high-concept horror make him a logical candidate for a version of the character that leans into the macabre origins of the source material.