Keanu Reeves To Bring Emotional Weight to ‘Jekyll’

Posted by Dr. Cole Abaius (cole.abaius@filmschoolrejects.com) on May 8, 2009

keanureevesjekyll

I get a lot of flack for making fun of Keanu Reeves. People ask why I do it, although the answer seems fairly obvious. I think he’s a terrible actor.

I have no idea how the guy who air-guitared with three brain cells as Ted sneaked his way into becoming a viable movie star, especially since every performance he gives is the same Xanax-infused delivery. So, of course I’m going to lament whenever he’s cast in anything that might be good. Like an adaptation of “Cowboy Bebop” or like this upcoming project – the 400th adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.”

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Universal has hired Keanu to star in the project (simply-titled Jekyll) written by Revolutionary Road screenwriter Justin Haythe.

Forgive me for lacking the vision, but I just can’t see Keanu summoning up the intensity to play the embodiment of evil. Mr. Hyde is an iconic literary character that represents the id, represents the darkest parts of mankind, represents the culmination of every twisted thought that doesn’t get acted upon. I’m not sure the manifested dark thoughts of men can be fully brought to life with a “Whoa.”

Luckily, Universal is also planning another Jekyll project with Guillermo del Toro that will most likely get started after the director tackles his huge list of current projects.

Maybe I’m wrong. Justin Haythe is a strong writer, and maybe his writing will be foundation enough for even a lackluster actor to give the character life. Plus, the project is trying to get fantastic Danish director Nicholas Winding Refn to helm which would definitely be a win.

What do you think? Should I be giving this more of a chance? Should I be giving peace a chance?


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  • I thought he did a good job in Thumbsucker.
  • I think so too.
  • Sick thrilla
    You suck. Keanu rules.
  • HGMIV
    No, you really shouldn't give Reeves a chance. The most emotionally charged I've seen him was Devil's Advocate, and he was only decent in that. This is a very, very poor choice by Universal.
  • You can bet your ass this won't be better than the British miniseries Jekyll. You should watch that. By the way, I think Revolutionary Road is one of the worst films of last year. It's boring as hell. After watching it for an hour, I gave up and just read the Wikipedia page to find out what happened.
  • Stevenson
    I'd rather see Keanu play Dr. Jekyll rather than, say... Nicholas Cage.
  • That is a fantastic point. I find myself completely unable to argue against it.

    You win this round, Stevenson! Curses!
  • I totally agree, Keanu Reeves can not act at all. The only movies he can do well in are The Matrix, and Constantine, anything other then that usually bombs at the box office, so let's tell Keanu and anyone hiring him for movies with emotion, or serious acting that he CAN'T. They really need to start making Constantine 2, and put Keanu where he belongs, I can't believe he thinks he's a great actor.
  • Mark
    I don't understand why they haven't cast him as a robot yet... it's the part he was born to play
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