When you hear the name ‘Keanu’, there’s just one face that comes to mind.
In recent decades, Keanu Reeves has become a brand in and of himself.
The actor, who is famously known for being incredibly nice, musters up just as much 90s nostalgia as his Dracula co-star Winona Ryder.
But this year alone, the 54-year-old appears to be experiencing what can only be described as a reawakening.
Watch the trailer for Always Be My Maybe, starring Keanu Reeves, right here. Post continues after video.
From the wildly popular third instalment of John Wick to a brief but brilliant cameo in Netflix’s Always Be My Maybe to his voice role as motorcycle-riding stuntman Duke Caboom in Toy Story 4, 2019 really is the year of Keanu Reeves.
In fact, when the John Wick actor stepped on stage in front of thousands at the world’s biggest gaming convention E3 in June to announce his appearance in upcoming game Cyberpunk 2077, Reeves was met with cheers, screams and an outburst of heckling from an over-excited audience member who yelled out “You’re breathtaking”.
Reeves has also been deemed a "respectful king" among fans after a Twitter user noticed that the actor doesn't touch women in photos.
Sharing photos of the star alongside a number of female fans as well as Dolly Parton, the fan pointed out that Reeves' hands simply hover above the waists and arms of the women he posed with.
"This should be how it's done unless you know the woman doesn't mind being touched," one fan responded.
"It's not about taking chances. It's about being considerate and respectful, qualities that Keanu carries in spades," another wrote.
In November, Reeves – for the first time in decades – brought a date to an event.
Attending the LACMA Art + Film Gala in Los Angeles, the 55-year-old actor appeared alongside his business collaborator Alexandra Grant.
The pair, who were seen holding hands as they posed for the cameras, have been friends and collaborators for years, with 46-year-old artist Grant collaborating together on Reeves' books – Ode to Happiness and Shadows.
Following their joint appearance, the longtime friends are rumoured to be dating.
With the release of new Netflix film Always Be My Maybe earlier this year, the world's collective love and adoration for the 54-year-old Canadian has grown even stronger.
The film, starring Ali Wong as Sasha and Randall Park as Marcus, follows two childhood friends and one-time college lovers who reconnect later in life. As their feelings for each other return and grow after meeting again as adults, the pair come across a number of obstacles – including none other than Keanu Reeves, who plays himself in the film.
From weeping over his meal at the dinner table to requesting a dish that “plays with time”, the actor's short but sweet cameo in the film presented a hilariously heightened caricature of Keanu Reeves.
“He immediately got it. He read the script and wanted to meet with us, so we had a meeting with him before he agreed to sign on,” Always Be My Maybe director Nahnatchka Khan said. “We were talking about the character, and he just had so many funny ideas and pitches that we went back and revised the script with those in mind.”
After working with Reeves on the movie, Ali Wong described the actor as "very considerate" and "super thoughtful".
“Throughout the process, he was very much like, ‘This is Marcus and Sasha’s story, and I don’t want me to get in the way of their story," she said.
“Even on the red carpet [at the premiere], he kept on moving to the fringe when we took group shots,” Wong said. “It’s Keanu, and everyone’s so excited about him, and everyone else looks like garbage when they’re next to him, so I think he just wanted to be considerate and tried to keep the focus on us.”
Despite only being in two scenes in the movie, it's Reeves' ability to be self deprecating which makes the actor's appearance in the film – and his overall persona – so damn loveable.
After all, 2019 really is the year of Keanu Reeves – and we couldn't be happier.
For more on this topic:
- Ali Wong’s Netflix movie Always Be My Maybe has been dubbed 2019’s When Harry Met Sally.
- Just 5 stories that prove Hollywood doesn’t deserve Keanu Reeves.
- “Grief never ends.” Within just 18 months, Keanu Reeves lost his baby and the love of his life.
- Let's all just take a moment to appreciate Keanu Reeves in Netflix's Always Be My Maybe.
Top Comments
Nice to know that there seems to be at least one other decent person in Hollywood apart from Hugh Jackman.
And Chris Hemsworth 😁
I credit my superior dodging skills to Keanu - for two years running I was voted the least likely to be hit at our suburban dodge-ball season. I got a trophy and everything.