“It just didn’t feel right creatively”: Dwayne Johnson Wanted Keanu Reeves for Major Role in $760M Hobbs & Shaw That Went to Ryan Reynolds

dwayne johnson, ryan reynolds and keanu reeves
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With the Fast & Furious franchise expanding way beyond its horizons, Keanu Reeves was also almost a part of the family! Talking about the spin-off that Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham starred in, the John Wick actor was in talks to lead the film as the film’s antagonist, the director of the company.

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The role was almost given to him but Dwayne Johnson and Keanu Reeves came to a distasteful agreement. With Reeves stating that the role wasn’t meant for him, Johnson backed out respectfully and gestured that he completely understood the Constantine actor’s side. Years later, the two would meet to promote the DC film DC’s League of Super-Pets and talk about the day when Reeves almost joined the Fast & Furious family.

John Wick: Chapter 4
Keanu Reeves in John Wick: Chapter 4

When Keanu Reeves Almost Joined The Fast & Furious Family!

With a very notable and distinct Hollywood career to his name, Keanu Reeves has been admired all over the world not only for his acting but also for his humbleness. Being the face of Neo in The Matrix franchise and John Wick in the John Wick franchise, Reeves has become a famous actor that would draw audiences masses.

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Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham in Hobbs & Shaw
Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham in Hobbs & Shaw.

Also read: Keanu Reeves Earns $40,000 For Speaking One Word in His Potential Final John Wick Movie

This was a similar case when Dwayne Johnson wanted to make a spin-off of his character Hobbs and Jason Statham’s Shaw in the movie Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw. During the promotion of DC’s League of Super-Pets, Johnson talked about the deal that went awry alongside Keanu Reeves. Reeves stated that the character felt as if it wasn’t made for him particularly and that is why he passed up on it which The Rock completely understood.

“And then what we also did at the end was we left the ominous voice faceless. So, for some time, I think you guys have heard the rumor that it was going to be a bit of a John Wick, all disguised. But then we left it there [with] a few people in mind. Originally, Keanu was the goal. We were talking, and it just didn’t feel right creatively. …He and I talked, and I totally got it. And it wound up being the best thing, so now we leave that open for the future.”

However, it wasn’t just random words that meant nothing since Dwayne Johnson revealed that he had massive respect for Reeves when they joined hands for the 2022 animated DC movie.

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Dwayne Johnson Has Nothing But Praise For Keanu Reeves

Keanu Reeves
Keanu Reeves.

Related: Keanu Reeves is Interested to Play One Marvel Superhero and It Might Never Happen

Unfortunately, the deal did not happen. It would’ve been fun to see Keanu Reeves join the franchise and give it a gentlemanly look that might have been missing for some time. Dwayne Johnson, however, had not lost any respect for the John Wick actor since he had nothing but praise for Keanu Reeves when they met.

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“When I got the call that Keanu was really interested in this and that’s always the challenge of the animated movie bringing these characters to life, man, he’s being very humble now about him being. But his Batman and his Batman’s voice it’s iconic.”

The duo voiced together in the 2022 movie DC’s League of Super-Pets and then parted ways to pursue their own distinct cinematic universes. Keanu Reeves’ latest movie John Wick: Chapter 4 has been making rounds around the internet for being one of the greatest movies to ever exist. John Wick: Chapter 4 is currently screening in select theaters across the U.S.

Source: The Things

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Written by Visarg Acharya

Articles Published: 2017

Visarg Acharya, Associate Content Writer, has been heavily involved in movies, series, and history. Having an experience of 2 years in the field of content writing, Visarg is a seasoned writer. Having a degree in Physics, Visarg Acharya has published a dissertation alongside a plethora of poems and short stories along the way.