Keanu Reeves is probably one of the biggest action stars working in Hollywood at the moment. He is the star of the popular action franchise John Wick and has been the leading man for all four of the films. He is also known for his popular sci-fi action franchise The Matrix and for Speed.
While Reeves is known for his amazing action films now, he was far from it in the late 80s. In fact, he only became an action star after his appearance in the Kathryn Bigelow directorial Point Break, in which he starred as an undercover surfer named Johnny Utah. The film is credited to have established Reeves as an action star, which was surprising considering the studio initially was not on board with his casting.
Keanu Reeves In Kathryn Bigelow’s Point Break
Keanu Reeves began his career in the early 80s with commercials and small appearances on TV. The actor had his breakthrough in the 1986 sci-fi comedy Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, in which he starred along with Alex Winter. The film was received well by critics and even earned $40 million.
Reeves then starred in its sequel Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey and then starred along with River Phoenix in Gus Van Sant’s coming-of-age drama My Own Private Idaho. The actor was beginning to gain fame as a dramatic actor in indie dramas when he was considered for the role of Johnny Utah by Kathryn Bigelow.
Bigelow was reportedly convinced by Reeves as the perfect candidate to play the rookie undercover agent who has to infiltrate a gang of robbers. However, the studio wanted a more traditional action star such as Johnny Depp, Val Kilmer, or Charlie Sheen. However, Bigelow was adamant about casting Reeves despite the studio’s pushback.
Bigelow was completely right in casting Keanu Reeves as he absolutely delivered with the role of Utah. The film received positive reviews and was a moderate success at the box office, earning over $103 million against a $24 million budget. The film has since gained a cult following and is credited to have been the film that launched Reeves as an action star.
Keanu Reeves Was Grateful For Kathryn Bigelow For His Action Star Status
Until Kathryn Bigelow’s Point Break, Keanu Reeves was known for his roles in coming-of-age dramas and teen comedies. While he was on his path to becoming a serious actor, he became an action star with the film. It became responsible for getting him the action thriller Speed, which is one of his most successful films.
Reeves would go on to star in the revolutionary sci-fi thriller The Matrix and its sequels while also eventually heading the phenomenal John Wick franchise. Now, he is one of the most profitable action stars in the world, and it was possible because The Hurt Locker director believed in him.
Keanu Reeves was grateful to the Oscar-winning director for standing her ground on casting him in the role of Johnny Utah. He reportedly mentioned in the 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’…Thank you again, Kathryn, because that changed my life.”
Kathryn Bigelow reportedly took over direction duties from legendary director Ridley Scott who initially wanted to make the film with Matthew Broderick.
