He may not have the lifelike ease of Al Pacino , the classical training of Anthony Hopkins , the timeless poise of Jack Nicholson , or the bare-assed versatility of Gary Oldman , but Keanu Reeves — who was born on this daylight in 1964 — has been around long enough to have worked alongside each of those actors . Yet rather of Oscar nods , the worker whose first namemeans“cool air over the hatful ” in Hawaiian has a smattering of Razzie nominations .
While vital acclaim has mostly eluded Reeves during his 30 - plus yr in Hollywood , his picture show have made nearly $ 2 billion at the box role . Whether because of his own choosiness or the decision of studio powers - that - be , that tally could be much , much high .
1.X-MEN(2000)
In Hollywood ’s version of the X - Men existence , Hugh Jackman is the definitive Wolverine . But Jackman himself was a last - minute replacement ( forDougray Scott ) and other , braggart ( in 2000 ) names were considered for the hirsute superhero — include Reeves . Ultimately , it was the studio apartment that determine to go in a different direction , much to Reeves ’ disappointment . “ I always require to diddle Wolverine , ” the actortoldMoviefone in 2014 . “ But I did n’t get that . And they have a great Wolverine now . I always wanted to toy The Dark Knight . But I did n’t get that one . They ’ve had some keen Batmans . So now I ’m just enjoying them as an audience . ”
2.PLATOON(1986)
For an action wiz , Reeves is n’t a huge fan of violence , which is why he go past on playing the trail in Oliver Stone ’s Oscar - winning Vietnam classic . “ Keanu turned it down because of the force , ” StonetoldEntertainment Weeklyin 2011 . “ He did n’t require to do violence . ”
3.THE FLY II(1989)
Few people would in all probability misidentify Reeves for the son of Jeff Goldblum , but producers were anxious to see him wager the next generation of Goldblum ’s insectile role in the sequel toThe Fly . But Reeves was n’t having any of it . Why ? Simple : “ I did n’t like the handwriting , ” hetoldMovieline in 1990 .
4.SPEED 2: CRUISE CONTROL(1997)
Speaking of sequels ( and bad scripts ): Reeves was ready to reprise his role as Jack Traven in Jan de Bont ’s 2nd go at the series … then he scan it . “ When I was offeredSpeed 2 , Jan came to Chicago and so did Sandra , and they said , ‘ You ’ve get to do this , ’ ” ReevestoldThe Telegraph . “ And I aver , ' I interpret the script and I ca n’t . It ’s calledSpeed , and it ’s on a cruise ship . ” ( He ’s pay back a point . )
Even when the studio dangled a $ 12 million payroll check in front of him , Reeves sound out no . “ I told [ William Mechanic , then - head of Fox ] , ‘ If I do this picture show , I will not hail back up . You guys will send me to the bottom of the ocean and I will not make it back up again . ’ I really felt like I was push for my life . ”
5.HEAT(1995)
reef ’s refusal to cave onSpeed 2didn’t sit down well in Hollywood round . And it did n’t aid that he alsopassedon play Chris Shiherlis ( Val Kilmer ’s role ) in Michael Mann’sHeatin rules of order to spend a calendar month playing Hamlet at Canada ’s Manitoba Theatre Centre . From that point on , ReevestoldThe Telegraphthat it ’s been a struggle for him to book any studio movies . “ That ’s a practiced former Hollywood account ! That was a whole , ' Hey , kid , this is what happens in Hollywood : I said no to the number two and I never work on with the studio again ! ’ ”
6.BOWFINGER(1999)
By the clip Frank Oz’sBowfingerrolled around , Eddie Murphy was pretty much the go - to guy for any twofold use part , but the movie was n’t always intended to wreak that fashion . Steve Martin , who both asterisk in and write the movie , had actually penned the part of Kit Ramsey for Reeves ( whom he had work with a decennary sooner inParenthood ) .
“ When Steve gave me the hand forBowfinger , it was n’t written for Eddie Murphy , ” manufacturer Brian Grazerexplained . “ It was written for a bloodless action at law star . It was written for Keanu Reeves , literally . I say , ' Why does it have to be an action at law star ? ' He said , ' That ’s the joke . ' I say : ' What if it were Eddie Murphy , and Eddie Murphy play two characters ? That could be really risible . ' He said : ' You eff , that ’d be cracking — that’d be bright . Let ’s do that . ' He treat it in about a minute , and he made a originative ocean variety . ”
7.WATCHMEN(2009)
A year before Zack Snyder’sWatchmenhit theaters , Reeves confirmedto MTV what many had speculated : that he had turn down the chance to take on Dr. Manhattan in the extremely hoped-for adaptation . But it was n’t because of lack of interest on Reeves ’s part ; it just “ did n’t work out . ” Still , he made it as far as a determine visit : “ They were dissipate in Vancouver while we were take so I go over to the set to say , ' hi . ' They show me some stuff and it looks amazing ! I ca n’t wait . It ’s going to be so killer , man ! ”
8.TROPIC THUNDER(2008)
By the time Ben Stiller’sTropic Thundermade its way into theater in the summer of 2008 , the meta - funniness had been more than a decade in the devising . So it ’s perceivable that the last mathematical product veered from Stiller ’s original plan for the film , which includedReeves playingthe function of Tugg Speedman ( Stiller ’s eventual part ) . ab initio , Stiller had project to cast himself as soapy factor Rick Peck ( Matthew McConaughey blame up the falling off ) .
