Keanu Reeves established himself as an action hero in Hollywood, with lucrative roles that would make any other actors jealous. Reeves’ first step in this direction was the 1991 film, Point Break. The lead role in Kathryn Bigelow’s film was offered to different actors, including Johnny Depp, Val Kilmer, and Charlie Sheen. However, Reeves owes a debt of gratitude to Bigelow, who fought with the producers to cast him in the role.
In the film, the John Wick actor plays an FBI agent who goes undercover as a surfer to identify a gang of bank robbers. Reeves credits the film for providing him with a gateway to more action-oriented roles, leading to projects like Speed, The Matrix films, and eventually the John Wick franchise.
Keanu Reeves Credited Kathryn Bigelow For Launching Him As An Action Star
Point Break was a theatrical hit upon its release, grossing $103.5 million, and has since gained a cult following. The film not only served as a reference for later cop movies but also launched Keanu Reeves as an action hero. However, Reeves was not a favorite among producers to play the role. The Knock Knock actor was new to the genre and Kathryn Bigelow had to go to extreme lengths to confirm him as her lead.
During his appearance on the Nerdist Podcast, Keanu Reeves lauded the Oscar-winning director for her belief in him. Reeves was discussing collaborative efforts in films with host Chris Hardwick when he expressed his gratitude to Bigelow for helping him launch his action movie career. Reeves stated, “Thank you again, Kathryn, because that changed my life.”
Reeves further explained how The Hurt Locker director stood firm against the producers’ skepticism about casting him. When the producers pointed out the 47 Ronin actor’s inexperience, Bigelow had a short yet firm reply, “He’s the guy.” The Devil’s Advocate actor shared with Nerdist Podcast:
“For me, specifically on that, I hadn’t been in an action genre picture. So Kathryn Bigelow, as the story’s told, really had to fight to have me play that role. The studio went, ‘Keanu Reeves? Johnny Utah? Action movie?’ Kathryn went, ‘Yes.’ They were like, ‘What are you thinking?’ ‘He’s the guy.’”
After being cast, Keanu Reeves, along with co-stars Patrick Swayze and Lori Petty, underwent two months of training for the surfing scenes. Reeves, who found the activity enjoyable, made it a regular hobby.
Keanu Reeves Shared That He Was A Bad Actor Without The Right Collaborations
Keanu Reeves was paid $205 million for his role as Neo in The Matrix sequels. Although he had several declining graphs in his long career, Reeves found his rhythm again with the John Wick franchise. Apart from the fame from films, the Constantine actor is also famous for his off-screen persona, famously known as ‘the internet’s boyfriend’. Despite all these achievements, Reeves considered himself a bad actor if not presented with the right opportunities.
Reeves revealed that it was the collaborations and meetings with filmmakers that shaped his stardom. However, he also addressed the fact that, with his level of experience, certain opportunities present themselves. Reeves shared with Chris Hardwick:
“In terms of the acting capacity, I’m a beggar. I can’t do it by myself. It’s a collaboration, it’s a collaborative art form. And so it’s not quite like I just order it up. I got to develop work or I’ve got to take meetings but I’m also not saying that there aren’t opportunities.”
Fans can now enjoy Reeves’ performance as Johnny Utah in Point Break, now streaming on Peacock.
