Fans of the 2005 cult classic Constantine finally got their wish in September, when Warner Bros. finally gave the green light for a sequel, which apparently is due to star Keanu Reeves‘ own persistence.

The film, based on the beloved DC Comics character, earned $230.8 million worldwide from a $100 million budget, though for years the studio seemingly didn’t think it was successful enough to warrant a sequel.

During a new interview with Total Film, the 58-year-old actor admitted he ‘pestered’ Warner Bros. executives practically every year about making a sequel until they finally relented, 17 years later.

Persistence: Fans of the 2005 cult classic Constantine finally got their wish in September, when Warner Bros. finally gave the green light for a sequel , which apparently is due to star Keanu Reeves’ own persistence

Keanu as John: The film, based on the beloved DC Comics character, earned $230.8 million worldwide from a $100 million budget, though for years the studio seemingly didn’t think it was successful enough to warrant a sequel

Constantine is based on the character created by the legendary Alan Moore, along with Stephen R. Bissette, Rick Veitch and John Totelben, which debuted in Swamp Thing #37 in June 1985.

The chain-smoking character – a working-class warlock and occult detective – ultimately earned his own comic book called Hellblazer in 1988, which is considered the most popular comic from DC’s Vertigo imprint.

Reeves was tapped to star in the Constantine adaptation, written by Kevin Brodbin and Frank A. Cappello, with prolific music video director Francis Lawrence making his feature film debut, before he went on to direct The Hunger Games films and more.

Adaptation: Reeves was tapped to star in the Constantine adaptation, written by Kevin Brodbin and Frank A. Cappello, with prolific music video director Francis Lawrence making his feature film debut, before he went on to direct The Hunger Games films and more

While the film wasn’t a massive hit at the box office, or with critics (46% on Rotten Tomatoes), Reeves loved playing the character so much that it became an annual tradition that he’d ask Warner Bros. to make a sequel.

‘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?”‘ Reeves joked.

He added, ‘I kept asking almost every year. I’d be like, “Can I please?” [and] they’d be like, “No, no!”‘

Box office: While the film wasn’t a massive hit at the box office, or with critics (46% on Rotten Tomatoes), Reeves loved playing the character so much that it became an annual tradition that he’d ask Warner Bros. to make a sequel

Eventually, Reeves’ persistence paid off, with Warner Bros. bringing back Lawrence to direct with Akiva Goldsman (The Dark Tower, Star Trek: Picard) writing the script and producing alongside J.J. Abrams.

‘So 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,’ Reeves added.

‘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 darndest to try and realize that dream,’ Reeves revealed.

There is no word yet if others from the original film such as Rachel Weisz (Angela Dodson), Djimon Hounsou (Papa Midnight), Shia LaBeouf (Chas), Tilda Swinton (Gabriel) and Peter Stormare (Satan) will reprise their roles for the sequel.

The John Constantine character did briefly debut on the small screen, with Matt Ryan playing the character in the short-lived NBC series that debuted in 2014 but lasted just one season.

Ryan ultimately reprised his role in The CW’s Arrowverse shows such as Arrow, The Flash and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, plus he voiced Constantine in the animated Harley Quinn series last year.

Small screen: The John Constantine character did briefly debut on the small screen, with Matt Ryan playing the character in the short-lived NBC series that debuted in 2014 but lasted just one season