Actor Bill Skarsgård is altering how he selects film roles following the rushed production and commercial failure of his 2024 reboot of The Crow. Speaking on Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast in early November 2026 while promoting his upcoming Netflix World War II drama The Mosquito Bowl, the Swedish actor revealed that he will no longer commit to a movie without a completed screenplay in hand. During the same conversation, Skarsgård also expressed an interest in returning to the comic book genre to portray DC occult detective John Constantine alongside his frequent collaborator, director Andy Muschietti.

A Rushed Process Behind 'The Crow' Reboot

Starring as Eric Draven—the vengeful role originally made famous by the late Brandon Lee—proved to be a challenging production experience for Skarsgård. According to Yahoo Entertainment, the actor admitted on the podcast that he signed on to the Lionsgate project before a finalized script existed, a gamble that reshaped his approach to studio filmmaking.

"I think the lesson was I'm not signing on to anything without a finished script," Skarsgård told Horowitz. "It's surprising how common it is, that something gets greenlit and then you're struggling with finishing the script, because the dates are already set and the studio's already locked … everything's already up in motion."

Before director Rupert Sanders boarded the project in 2022, a new adaptation of James O'Barr's comic series had languished in development since Relativity Media first attached writer-director Stephen Norrington in 2008, according to The A.V. Club. A legal dispute between Relativity and The Weinstein Company kept the property in limbo until Relativity filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2015, after which various iterations briefly attached actors such as Bradley Cooper, Jason Momoa, Norman Reedus, Jack Huston, and Tom Hiddleston.

Even after years of stalled attempts, Sanders' version locked in production dates before the writing was settled.

"[Director Rupert Sanders] and I, we just struggled with it … We were like, 'Okay…' The script came in, the first script, was two months before we started to shoot … It was an insanely rushed process in that regard," Skarsgård explained.

The resulting film struggled with both critics and audiences upon its 2024 theatrical release. While ComicBookMovie highlights the reboot's $4.6 million domestic opening weekend, Entertainment Weekly and Yahoo Entertainment report that The Crow ultimately grossed $24.1 million worldwide against a $50 million production budget, alongside a 22% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. While that budget comparison does not account for additional marketing or distribution expenses, the theatrical turnout marked a clear box-office disappointment. Despite the reception, Skarsgård maintained a measured perspective on his filmography: "I don't regret any of the roles that I've done.

I think that they could be good experiences, they could be bad experiences, but how you learn from them is really what it's about."

Pitching a Horror-Driven 'Constantine' With Andy Muschietti

Despite the hurdles on The Crow and a previous brief appearance in Deadpool 2, Skarsgård remains open to comic book adaptations. Although superhero fans have frequently campaigned for the actor to play the DC Universe's Joker—given his prominent turn as Pennywise the Dancing Clown in the It franchise—Skarsgård has a different character in mind. According to CBR, the actor noted that while he is not deeply versed in comic book lore, he previously discussed the possibility of headlining a Constantine movie with It and It: Welcome to Derry director Andy Muschietti.

"I thought the Constantine [character] was cool. I had an idea that me and Andy Muschietti should do a Constantine [movie]," Skarsgård shared on the podcast.

"I mean, [Keanu Reeves] did a great one, but is he still [playing the role]? I don't know. I just thought it was [interesting], blending truly visual horror and superhero."

Created as the cynical, trench-coat-wearing English occult investigator at the center of the Hellblazer comics, John Constantine has seen multiple live-action incarnations. Keanu Reeves starred as an Americanized version of the demon hunter in director Francis Lawrence's 2005 film Constantine, while Welsh actor Matt Ryan portrayed a more comic-accurate version on NBC's short-lived Constantine television series, CW's Legends of Tomorrow, and in animated DC features, as noted by ComicBook.com.

Where 'Constantine' Fits in the Current DC Studios Slate

While some coverage frames Skarsgård's comments as an active bid for the role, his remarks represent a personal creative pitch rather than an official DC Studios casting discussion or a confirmed commitment from Muschietti.

Muschietti, who directed 2023's The Flash, is currently attached to helm the DCU's Batman feature The Brave and the Bold.

Meanwhile, the future of John Constantine on the big screen is already moving along a separate track. According to The Playlist, a new Constantine film script from Evil Dead Wrath filmmaker Francis Galluppi is currently in early development at DC Studios and Warner Bros. That project could potentially supersede the long-discussed sequel to the 2005 film that Reeves and Lawrence have attempted to mount for years. Additionally, James Mangold is set to direct a Swamp Thing feature for DC Studios—a corner of DC comic book history closely tied to Constantine—though studio executives have yet to announce whether Galluppi's project will integrate into the main DCU continuity or operate as a standalone Elseworlds title.

For audiences following Skarsgård's career, the actor has a packed slate of non-superhero projects arriving in the immediate future.

He stars in director Peter Berg's World War II sports drama The Mosquito Bowl, which debuts exclusively on Netflix on November 25, 2026. Following that release, Skarsgård will play the son of Nicolas Cage's character in the theatrical sequel Lords of War on January 22, 2027, and portray King Philip II of Spain in the historical drama Emperor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Bill Skarsgård sign on to 'The Crow' without a finished script?

Yes. Skarsgård stated that the production dates were locked before the screenplay was ready, noting that he and director Rupert Sanders received the first script roughly two months before principal photography began. The reported comments do not specify what draft or pitch material he initially reviewed when agreeing to the role.

Is Bill Skarsgård officially cast as DC's John Constantine?

No. Skarsgård's mention of making a Constantine movie with director Andy Muschietti was shared as a personal idea he had considered. Neither DC Studios nor Muschietti has announced or confirmed any involvement with Skarsgård for the role, and filmmaker Francis Galluppi is separately developing a Constantine script for the studio.

Would a new 'Constantine' movie take place in the main DC Universe?

DC Studios has not publicly confirmed whether its developing Constantine project will be set within the core DCU continuity or released under the standalone DC Elseworlds banner. Skarsgård's informal pitch also did not specify a franchise continuity.

Sources