This summer’s looking to be one of the best of Keanu Reeves’ career. Bouncing back entirely from the dump truck that was Replicas, he jumpstarted the season with John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, the best of the action-packed franchise. Then, on top of providing his voice to Toy Story 4, making a hilarious cameo in Netflix’s Always Be My Maybe, and turning up in Cyberpunk 2077, his respectful demeanor’s earning him a spot as a peoples’ champion.
And with all this buzz around The Matrix star, it’s amazing to think that there was another role he could’ve taken that’d possibly make him even more popular: Dr. Manhattan from Zack Snyder’s Watchmen.
Immediately, the idea rolls off the tongue. Though Billy Crudup’s name ended up on the project, Manhattan’s cerebral nature and all-around lack of emotion fall perfectly in line with some of Reeves’ best work as an actor. So it makes sense that Snyder considered him for the part.
Reeves obviously turned it down, most likely due to scheduling conflicts with 20th Century Fox blockbuster The Day The Earth Stood Still. But it’s interesting to think about what Watchmen could’ve done for his career. Had the two had a successful collaboration, it’d be possible that Snyder and Reeves would’ve crossed paths again in the future. And given Reeves’ very public interest in playing the Dark Knight, maybe he would’ve had his chance in Batman V Superman.
With that said, there’s no point in lamenting in the endless “what if’s.” It’s not as if Keanu’s had a bad run or a lack of choice in his filmography. I mean, we know he’s shied away from several Marvel movies, so it’s not like he doesn’t have any wiggle room.
But what are your thoughts? Would you’ve liked Keanu Reeves as Dr. Manhattan, or is Watchmen perfect just the way it is? Go ahead and let us know by leaving a note below.
Published: Jun 25, 2019 05:32 pm