There's no question that Djimon Hounsou wanted the pivotal role of Papa Midnite in supernatural thriller "Constantine," otherwise he simply wouldn't have signed on for the film.

But when it came time for the celebrated actor to prepare for his part of a former faith healer and witch doctor at odds with Keanu Reeve's renegade exorcist in the film, Hounsou decided to leave the devilish details alone.

"This is one movie I didn't do any research on because of the nature of the subject," Hounsou told me in a recent @ The Movies interview. "I didn't really want to tap into the devil -- it's freaky. I just stood away from the subject matter, let my imagination take me there and just let the rest of the story take its course.

"I wouldn't mind visiting heaven," Hounsou added with an optimistic tone. "But I'm not even ready for heaven yet, because I don't think you just visit. You either go there or you don't."

And, Hounsou said, he's "certainly not" keen on a trip to hell.

"I'll do everything in this life experience to avoid going there," he said.

Based on DC Comics/Vertigo's "Hellblazer" graphic novels, "Constantine" follows uncertain path of John Constantine (Reeves) whose torment over the ability to see "half-breeds" - half-angelic or half-demonic souls "wrapped up in human skin" sent back to earth by God and the devil -- forced him to attempt suicide.

However, he was resuscitated by God against his will and was sent back to earth to protect the borders of heaven and hell. Constantine feels that if he does his job and he boots enough half-breed demons back to hell, he'll be able to "buy" his way into heaven.

The problem is, the clock is ticking on his life and there's a full-demon that wants to break through into the physical world -- and that's big trouble.

Accompanied by his apprentice (Shia LeBeouf) and a detective (Rachel Weisz) plagued by her twin sister's mysterious suicide, Constantine seeks the help of a former comrade in Midnite -- who now maintains a balance between his previous occupations by running a club where half-breed angels and demons can find sanctuary. But convincing Midnite to interrupt balance is one hell of an issue.

Fans of "Hellblazer" will definitely see some differences from the comic to the film adaptation, most notably that the character of Constantine has turned from a blonde-headed Briton into a dark-haired American. But Hounsou is convinced the fans of the comic book will not be disappointed, so long as they are open to director Francis Lawrence's interpretation of the story.

"We can all read the story and have a completely different interpretation it," Hounsou explained. "That's the trouble here, that all the fans of 'Hellblazer' have their own take on John Constantine. The fact that we were not shooting it England and shot it here and that it stars Keanu Reeves -- somebody eventually is going to be disappointed. You can't please everybody at one time. You have to just trust your own instinct and ride with it."

Any potential fan disappointments aside, Hounsou is confident that Reeves was the perfect choice for Constantine.

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"I had a really, really cool with connection with Keanu and it was there with Constantine and Papa Midnite," Hounsou said. "They have a beautiful rapport -- you can watch the film and get the feeling that they had a history together."

Since moving from Benin, West Africa -- via a temporary detour through Paris for a gig as a model -- Hounsou has had the wonderful opportunity of creating a history of his own as an actor in American film.

From the slave ship drama "Amistad" to the Oscar-winning Roman epic "Gladiator," and his Oscar-nominated role in the immigrant drama "Amistad" to the fine line between heaven and hell in "Constantine," Hounsou revels in the unique opportunity that he's had to experience several different areas of the cinematic landscape.

Part of it is by design, he said, part is by happy accident. And so far he's thrilled with the results.

"It's a conscious desire of mine to try different things, but the outcome is not always necessarily up to you. It also has been what's available out there for you to choose from, " said Hounsou, in observation of his career. "I'm just happy that I've been blessed with some nice choices that were presented to me."