2019 has undoubtedly been the year of Keanu Reeves. He’s been turned into a cartoon and transported in one of the most iconic animated franchises in history. He’s had the chance to star in another trilogy of films where he is essentially an unkillable demi-god. He’s even become a household name and the quintessential ‘Good guy’ of Hollywood. But the one bandwagon that seemingly everyone in Hollywood has jumped on, Marvel, has yet to come up with the perfect role for the man who is the baddest of asses with the sweetest of hearts.
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Now, Marvel may have not come up with the perfect character to coax Keanu into a multi-film deal, but DC has yet to get Keanu back on their side of the board since his time as John Constantine. Hopefully, Marvel or DC can get their acts together enough to include The One. The only real question is which role is the perfect fit? Let’s find out.
Moon Knight (Marvel)
Reeves has already been quoted several times as saying he’d love to play the Dark Knight and pick up the broken scraps of Gotham City. However, since Robert Pattinson has that role locked down, perhaps Reeves can take a crack out of a similarly complex and brutal character. Enter: Moon Knight.
While doing work on a streaming service may be a bit of a downgrade to the colossal body of work Reeves’ has put forth this year, it could perhaps be artistically challenging enough while opening the door for a much larger place in the MCU’s future.
John Constantine (DC)
Unfortunately for Marvel, DC has already managed to snag Reeves’ on at least one project, 2005’s Constantine. While a sequel to the film seems very unlikely at this point, especially one starring Reeves in the lead role, there was a time when the same could be said about a new Matrix movie.
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While the version of Constantine that Reeves’ brought to life back in 2005 may not have been totally in sync with the version of John Constantine that fans of the comics have known, there are plenty of people – including the folks over at Warner Bros. – that would love to see Reeves’ enter back into the nightmarish hellscape that is Constantine’s life.
Kraven The Hunter (Marvel)
If there is one person on the face of the planet – whether it be in the MCU or whatever disaster of a cinematic universe Sony comes up with – that is capable of hunting Spider-Man himself, it’s Reeves. Let’s just take a second to briefly list the entire empires The One has taken down. The Machines: Total System Failure. Igor Tarasov’s Crime Empire: Putukhshiy. Sandra Bullock’s heart in The Lakehouse: Bullseye.
The point is that Reeves can pretty much hit any target put in front of him, even a superpowered spider-kid with a sixth sense. It’s difficult to imagine another living actor that could portray the monstrous Kraven The Hunter with the same kind of cold, calculating, methodical skills that Reeves could bring to the character.
Maxwell Lord (DC)
Maxwell Lord, like many other villains in general, does not believe he is the bad guy. When he was a teenager he found his father dead of an apparent suicide, which he was convinced was perpetrated by his father’s powerful business associates. It was at this moment that Maxwell decided that absolute power does, in fact, corrupt absolutely. He naturally extended this philosophy to the superheroes that began to pop up in the world.
Maxwell knew that there was something that must be done about theses superheroes who would most definitely abuse the power that they had. Reeves’ is excellent at playing the cold, tactical killer type that Maxwell Lord eventually became. And who doesn’t want to see Reeves’ take on some of DC’s finest?
Namor The Submariner (Marvel)
While MCU fans have already been introduced to one king in the form of Chadwick Boseman’s Black Panther, fans of the comics know that another king being introduced can’t be too far away. Black Panther and Namor The Submariner have quite the history in the comics and as the king of Atlantis, there is a lot that Reeves’ could do with this role.
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Much like T’challa, Namor is a King, and as such he has to be comfortable with making the tough decisions that are required of a king. Namor is incredibly skilled in combat as well as being incredibly arrogant and outgoing, which would give Reeves plenty of opportunities to deliver incredible dialogue as well as the beautiful stunts he has become known for.
Deathstroke (DC)
Speaking of character that would allow Reeves’ to display his definitive martial arts and marksmanship prowess, Deathstroke is someone fans have yet to see come to life on the big screen. He’s also a character that has been sorely missed in the films that DC and Warner Bros. have been putting out.
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In a lot of ways, Deathstroke is the perfect character for Reeves’ to bring to life. He’s cunning, wildly intelligent, and a genius when it comes to physical combat as well as an absolute beast when it comes to anything with a trigger. Deathstroke is probably the perfect role to take for someone coming hot off of the last three John Wick films.
Reed Richards (Marvel)
A lot of the roles mentioned here are physically demanding ones that match the kind of work that Reeves is known for. This character, however, would give Reeves’ a chance to show off just how smart of an actor he is while giving him a chance to break from the “unstoppable combatant” archetype he has recently found himself typecast into.
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Reed Richards, along with the rest of the Fantastic Four, is essentially the first family of Marvel comics. Giving Reeves an essential role to play in the upcoming phases of Marvel’s cinematic universe.
The Question/ Vic Sage (DC)
While it seems likely that Reeves may never get the chance to play Gotham’s greatest detective as he has mentioned in interviews, there is still a chance that he can play another one of DCs greatest detectives, namely Vic Sage aka The Question.
The Question often takes a backseat to some of his more powerful and recognizable detective companions, but his comics are some of the greatest in comics history. Dennis O’Neil’s run is often touted as one of the best runs in The Question’s lengthy history and could serve as great inspiration for a film starring Reeves.
Adam Warlock/ The Magus (Marvel)
The MCU has been teasing Adam Warlock’s entry into their cinematic universe for quite some time no. Ever since Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2, fans have been wondering when the space wizard would make his entry.
However, with Adam Warlock’s entry into the cinematic universe brings the question of just how long it will take for his alter, The Magus, to show up and reap destruction. This character, if done correctly, could give Reeves a complex and varied role to play as both hero and antagonist. Perhaps, it would even allow Marvel to lock him into that multi-film contract they’ve been aiming for.
Mister Miracle/ Scott Free (DC)
With Tom King and Mitch Gerard’s recent venture into the mind of one Scott Free (AKA Mister Miracle), there has been a lot of conversation about a film potentially diving even further into the character’s traumatic life and history. Reeves is not only an incredible match for the likeness of Scott Free, but has spent years playing the type of character that many could associate with struggles similar to Scott’s.
Scott is not only an incredible warrior and hero, but he has the emotional depth of someone that we very rarely see in comics. He is often found contemplating his losses and weaknesses. He knows that sometimes, he just can’t help but to give in to those weaknesses. Reeves’ seems like a perfect fit for this broken and inspiring hero. Let’s make it happen!
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