At the beginning of his career, Keanu Reeves had a philosophy that ironically made him reject this role

Although it may sound crazy, Keanu Reeves refused to participate in a war movie from the 80s because he considered it too violent.

In 1986, one of Oliver Stone’s most ambitious projects was released. Although Charlie Sheen was the lucky protagonist, many actors showed interest in taking on the role of Chris Taylor, from Johnny Depp and Kyle MacLachlan, to Keanu Reeves. However, and according to the director’s own statements, The Canadian actor refused to use violenceso he discarded what could have been a great platform to boost his career.

Indeed, Platoon (1986) It is a highly violent film. Its protagonist is immersed in what can be classified as a clear exposition of the brutality of war. However, Reeves’s position is unusual, considering that his most iconic characters belong to productions that are not precisely characterized by being very peaceful.

A pacifist perspective that could have cost him his career

Had he not changed his philosophy, the John Wick we know would probably never have existed.

Those who have been lucky enough to share projects with Keanu Reeves agree on his affable and compassionate personality. Although, according to his own words, he does not follow a secular religion, he considers himself a spiritual person and a strong defender of morality. This profile fits very well in your pragmatic stance towards pacifism during the first steps in the industry of cinema, but it raises doubts regarding his subsequent decisions.

Probably, the actor’s refusal was associated with his youth and inexperience, after all, at that time, he was only a little over 20 years old. A valid hypothesis if we consider that the violence represented in Platoon It is very well justified. We are talking about a film that shows the horrors of the Vietnam War, which is why it is considered one of the best war films of all time, realism and rawness were necessary to describe the tragedy.

In this way, it could be stated that the way of exposing violence fits his vision of pacifism, and refusal to participate deprived him of a great opportunity to see his name in front of the cast of a high-profile, blockbuster movie.

An icon of R-rated productions

Finally, Keanu Reeves ended up making numerous productions with a significant dose of violence

Fortunately, the idea of ​​avoiding violent roles gradually faded away. In a short time it began to stop being so restrictive and He understood that this approach would only limit his rise to the top. Thanks to this, he has managed to become a Hollywood icon.

It’s not a secret, the films that have launched his career are rated Rwhich makes the refusal to be part of Platoon. While we can witness his talent in The Amazing Adventures of Bill and Ted (1989)the outstanding role of Theodore Logan has no point of comparison with the great Neo in Matrixone of HBO Max’s best sci-fi movies, and even less violent roles, including Jack Traven in Speed: Maximum power in 1994.

Another character that shows the ease with which Reeves adapts to the genre is John Wick in the eponymous franchise. Although several years have passed since the release of the first installment, he is still part of Netflix’s featured action films.

Both the saga of Matrix like the John Wick They are known for being rated R, which means they are full of violent sequences and a lot of adrenaline. Despite this, as interesting as the idea of ​​replacing Sheen with Reeves may sound in Platoon, everything ended in the actor’s favor. His professional success did not take long to arrive, demonstrating that even decisions that may seem unwise end up becoming opportunities.

In short, taking into account the type of projects in which the Canadian actor has demonstrated his talent, it is difficult to imagine a refusal to participate in Platoon for considering the level of violence excessive. Fortunately, Reeves changed his philosophy regarding this type of filmsalthough we cannot assure that the decision marked the course of his career, it is undeniable that his most recognized characters are protagonists of R-rated productions.

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