Keanu Reeves was almost part of the Death Stranding cast
Instead, he went on to star in Cyberpunk 2077, because Kojima wanted Mads Mikkelsen instead.
When we first found out Keanu Reeves was in Cyberpunk 2077, we lost our collective minds. But what if he had been in Death Stranding instead?
It would have been crazy, that's what. During San Diego Comic-Con, Hideo Kojima took to the stage to speak on how originally he was suggested Keanu Reeves to appear in his game, but he wanted Mads Mikkelsen instead. The recommendation came from his friend (and fellow Death Stranding cast member) director Nicolas Winding Refn, who portrays Heartman in the game.
Kojima has spent hours waxing poetic about how awesome Mikkelsen is, and frequently talks about how cool he finds the actor. So it's good that the pair were able to connect, but the idea that Keanu could have instead been in Death Stranding makes us say "whoa," that's for sure. Instead, he's gotten an important role in CD Projekt RED's upcoming Cyberpunk 2077, and has been called breathtaking more than a few times on the internet.
We can't wait to see him come to life as Johnny Silverhand in the game when it finally debuts, but we'll get to play Death Stranding first when it debuts later this November. Still, we can't help but wonder what could have been.
It wouldn't have made much sense for lovable Keanu to be a bad guy, though – perhaps he could have instead played a proagonist by way of Norman Reedus's role? Hey, there's always next game, right? Kojima Productions is alive and kicking, after all. There's plenty of room fo our favorite friendly actor to sidle up in Kojima's mentions and let him know there's room for a potential bromance there, too – at least, we hope so. Please?
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Brittany Vincent posted a new article, Keanu Reeves was almost part of the Death Stranding cast