We’ve all come to love and accept Keanu Reeves as a killing machine on the big screen, but his action prowess does not end with the “John Wick” franchise. This past week, Reeves also stopped by Comic-Con to discuss his ambitions for “BRZRKR,” the popular comic book series he co-authored that he is prepping as both a Netflix film and anime series.
Back in 2020, it was announced that Boom! Studios would be partnering with the “John Wick” star on a limited comic book series about an immortal warrior with a penchant for violence and a wish for death. Shortly thereafter, Boom! Studios took “BRZRKR” to Kickstarter, raising more than $1.4M for the limited 12-issue run. Now Reeves and Netflix are focusing on the movie and anime series – and the latter, according to coverage by IGN, is expected to be picked up for two seasons.
During the panel discussion, Reeves also explained that the series is due in part to his relationship with the Wachowksis. “I was watching anime on channel 79, and I didn’t even know what it was,” Reeves told the Comic-Con crowd (per The Hollywood Reporter). “And then when I worked with the Wachowskis on ‘The Matrix,’ they were like, ‘You need to watch these.’ So it was ‘Akira,’ ‘Ghost in the Shell‘, and that’s pretty much the start of it. I’m not really up-to-date on current anime. A couple of my friends have some kids who can just spit anime, and I’m like, ‘That sounds amazing.’”
Here’s the full description of the “BRZRKR” series, courtesy of Boom! Studios:
The man known only as B. is half-mortal and half-God, cursed and compelled to violence…even at the sacrifice of his sanity. But after wandering the world for centuries, B. may have finally found a refuge – working for the U.S. government to fight the battles too violent and too dangerous for anyone else. In exchange, B. will be granted the one thing he desires – the truth about his endless blood-soaked existence…and how to end it.
During the panel, it was also announced that Reeves would be working on a novel about the character, bringing the final creative tally for “BRZRKR” to book, show, comic, and movie. The final issue of “BZRKR” is scheduled to release in 2023.