The movie adaptation of Keanu Reeves’ BRZRKR comic has found its director. Based on the comic book series that Reeves created in collaboration with Matt Kindt and artist Ron Garney, plans for both a live-action movie and an anime series were announced by Netflix in 2021. Later that year, The Batman Part II screenwriter Mattson Tomlin was tapped to pen the movie’s script, which would also see Reeves portray the leading role. The comic follows an immortal warrior who knows only violence and fights in countless battles over centuries.
Per The Hollywood Reporter, Fast and Furious franchise director Justin Lin has been tapped to helm Netflix’s BRZRKR movie. This move will also mark a reunion between Lin and Reeves, with the actor previously stepping in to help fund Lin’s independent drama Last Days. Lin is also set to produce the film under his Perfect Storm banner. The official logline from Netflix and Boom! Studios reads:
[BRZRKR is a] brutally epic saga about an immortal warrior’s 80,000 year fight through the ages. 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 earth 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.
What BRZRKR’s New Director Means For The Comic Adaptation
Reeves’ Project Already Has Considerable Buzz
With BRZRKR’s first issue selling over 615,000 copies following its initial release, Reeves’ comic has gone on to become one of the highest-selling тιтles in recent years. With this kind of buzz, combined with the considerable interest generated by Reeves’ involvement as both the star and original creator, the movie adaptation was already shaping up to be an exciting project. With Reeves already tied to many hit action franchises, including John Wick and The Matrix, BRZRKR has all the makings of a bona fide hit.
This latest move only seems set to increase anticipation for the project, given Lin’s proven track record for handling fast-paced action films. First joining the Fast and the Furious franchise for 2006’s The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, his apтιтude for stylized, action-heavy fare also saw him return for an additional four movies. Given the adrenaline-fueled energy behind BRZRKR’s premise, Lin seems like a natural fit to bring Reeves’ immortal warrior to life.
Our Take On Justin Lin Helming Netflix’s BRZRKR
Lin’s Involvement May Point To Potential Sequels
With Netflix also planning to follow the live-action BRZRKR movie with a tie-in anime series, it is clear that the streaming service is hoping to turn the comic property into a much larger franchise. While only one live-action film has been announced, it is also possible that Lin’s involvement might suggest hopes for potential sequels as well. As the director behind one of Hollywood’s most lucrative and long-running action franchises, he would be an excellent choice to help transform Reeves’ own creation into an ongoing streaming IP.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
