'Constantine' director Francis Lawrence has begun "working on some ideas" for 'Constantine 2'.

The 52-year-old filmmaker has revealed he and lead star Keanu Reeves, 59, had to regain "control" over 'Constantine' as there was a TV adaptation and then another project with J.J. Abrams in the pipeline.

They managed to "wrangle some control" but there was also the Hollywood writer's strike which put a pause on the development of the sequel to the 2005 horror superhero film, but now they are back and raring to go.

Speaking to The Wrap, Francis said: "But luckily, we managed to wrangle some control and started working on some ideas for Constantine 2, which we’re really excited about. It’s still the very beginning, as the strike put it on hold for a little bit. So we’re probably going to start getting back together after Thanksgiving, and dig back in to try and crack it.”

Keanu has always wished to reprise his role as the titular exorcist John Constantine and explained that he begged Warner Bros. to make the sequel.

He told Total Film magazine: "I don't know if it was unfinished business but it was definitely a role that I loved, and I thought that Francis Lawrence, the director, did such amazing work. I loved playing that character, and I really enjoyed the film.

"I was like, (adopts 'Oliver Twist' voice) 'Can I please have some more?'... I kept asking almost every year. I'd be like, 'Can I please?' (and) they'd be like, 'No, no!'"

'The Matrix' star continued: "It's exciting. It's almost like an open playground that we can hopefully cook something up and play in, and I guess get out of the playground and prepare a meal, but I'm looking forward to it, and hopefully it can happen.

"You don't know how these things go. But I'm definitely going to try my darnedest to try and realise that dream."