2005’s Constantine was a massive movie when it first released, and like most mic book movies, it laid the seeds for a sequel. The follow-up didn’t happen for a multitude of reasons, but it still left an intriguing tease behind. The film’s post-credits sequence involves Constantine’s friend, Chas (Shia Labeouf), rising from the grave as an angel and taking flight. It’s a striking moment, mostly because of the tragic nature of Chas’s death and the way it lays out out the potential for a sequel.
Constantine did well upon its release, grossing $230 million on a $100 million budget, and has since gained a strong cult following. The seeds for a sequel exist in decades’ worth of comics, and star Keanu Reeves has indicated an interest in reprising the role. Yet, despite all that, a follow-up has never come together and Constantine has become the subject of a TV show in the interim, entirely separate from the Reeves’ version.
Regardless, rumors of a Constantine sequel have remained in the news cycle, meaning Chas’ story could be far from finished. In the 2005 film, Chas is portrayed as Constantine’s biggest fan — someone keenly interested in the occult world and happy to serve as John’s gopher in order to learn what he knows. John treats him dismissively throughout most of the movie, only to see the ostensible sidekick prove his worth during a climactic showdown with the legions of Hell. Chas blesses the water in the building’s sprinkler system, allowing them to vanquish the entire horde in one pass, then arrives in time to save John from the last demon standing. However, as he and Constantine perform an exorcism on Rachel, he’s slain by the invisible archangel Gabriel, who plans to unleash Armageddon.
Constantine’s previous low opinion of Chas heightens the tragedy of the moment. Having finally won his mentor’s confidence and proven that he can survive in the occult world, Chas is cut down, leaving John to lament his previous lack of faith in his loyal friend. After Rachel, Chas was the only character with whom John had a firm connection, and without him as a partner, he’s left more alone in a world where his fate is far from secure.
Unbeknownst to Constantine, however, Chas is resurrected as an angel in the film’s after-credits scene. In the moment, Chas is dressed in a manner identical to Gabriel when he rises — off-white undershirts in a curiously timeless cut — which suggests he might be a direct replacement for the creature who killed him. Gabriel himself was smitten by God in his efforts to end the world, and now, Chas will make a suitable karmic replacement.
Chas’ character is one of the things that makes the prospect of a sequel so interesting. Gabriel served as God’s intermediary for John on Earth, and while God himself never appears in the film, and Gabriel made a fitting mouthpiece. Chas would likely fill that role in a sequel, even if he’s not formally anointed as his murder’s successor. That dynamic would mean Chas would rekindle his friendship with John on different terms, as he would essentially be God’s lackey, not John’s.
The characters’ previous connection makes for far better drama than establishing a new angel to speak on God’s behalf, and such a character is necessary for Constantine’s mythos to work. A sequel hasn’t happened, and maybe it never will, but Reeves’ interest in the character and the tease of Chas’ rebirth keep hope alive.
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