Keanu Reeves to star in indie drama 'Um...'

Keanu Reeves has landed an acting gig in an upcoming indie drama titled "Generation Um...," which kicks off filming this week, according to Variety. Mark L. Mann wrote the script and will direct the flick.

The film follows Reeves as he and his buddies waste time messing with sex, drugs and a lack of ideas what to do in the future. The story follows them as they embark on a journey of self-discovery.

Reeves' recent flicks include "The Day the Earth Stood Still" and "The Private Lives of Pippa Lee," and he's got "Henry's Crime" and "Passengers" coming soon. He's got "Cowboy Bepop" in development.

Keanu Reeves heads into space in 'Passengers'

Keanu Reeves is heading into space. The "Matrix" star will be starring in Gabriele Muccino's "Passengers," a big-budget flick currently described as "Adam & Eve in Space," according to the Hollywood Reporter. The story follows a man on his 120-year journey to a distant planet. Waking out of hibernation way too early, he finds himself all alone in a spaceship. A year later, he decided to wake up a fellow female passenger.

Reeves, who starred in "The Private Lives of Pippa Lee" and "The Day the Earth Stood Still" recently, has "Henry's Crime" and "47 Ronin." Muccino helmed "Seven Pounds" and "The Pursuit of Happyness."

Carl Rinsch to direct Reeves in '47 Ronin'

Carl Erik Rinsch is in talks to direct Universal's samurai action flick "47 Ronin," which already stars Keanu Reeves. This big-budget project will mark commercial director Rinsch's feature film debut.

The film follows a gang of samurai swordsmen who seek revenge for the death of their master in 18th century Japan. Reeves will play one of the men. Chris Morgan ("Wanted") wrote the script.

Variety describes the film as follows: The picture mixes the fantastical elements of films like "The Lord of the Rings" with battle scenes of the sort found in "Gladiator" and "300."

Latest Hollywood casting deals: Keanu Reeves joins 'Crime;' Rashida Jones boards 'Monogamy'

Here are some of the latest casting deals out of Hollywood:

• Keanu Reeves ("The Day the Earth Stood Still") will star in and produce Malcolm Venville's "Henry's Crime," a romantic comedy in which the actor plays a good guy falsely accused of robbing a bank. Sacha Gervasi ("Anvil! The Story of Anvil") wrote the screenplay. (Variety)

• Rashida Jones from "I Love You, Man" and Chris Messina from "Julie & Julia" are set to star in "Murderball" co-director Dana Adam Shapiro's "Monogamy." Details are being kept under wraps for now, but the plot follows a couple facing several challenges in their relationship. (The Hollywood Reporter)

Click to read more ...

Keanu Reeves to star in big-screen 'Jekyll' retelling

Keanu Reeves is in talks to star in Universal's reimagining of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic story "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." The Hollywood Reporter says Justin Haythe, whose credits include "Revolutionary Road" and "The Clearing," is writing the script.

The project is currently titled "Jekyll," but plot details are strictly kept under wraps. Nicholas Winding Refn is apparently in talks to direct the film, which follows a doctor whose life takes a strange turn when he creates an evil version of himself. Reeves wast last seen in the disappointing "The Day the Earth Stood Still" remake. 

Keanu Reeves discusses 'Cowboy Bebop'

Keanu Reeves, who's currently onscreen in the remake of "The Day the Earth Stood Still," is very excited about an upcoming project he's been wanting to get off the ground for quite a while.

In an interview with MTV, Reeves says the live-action adaptation of the Japanese anime series "Cowboy Bebop" is moving forward. The actor hopes to play Spike Spiegel, one of a crew of bounty hunters travelling across the universe in 2071.

“It’s got a Western quality, a Western film noir aspect to it,” Reeves told MTV. “It’s got so much style to it, and that’s part of its appeal. That kind of Old West, bordertown, low-tech science fiction aspect.”

The "Matrix" actor also said the project is set up at 20th Century Fox, with Erwin Stoff producing. Rights have been acquired too, and a writer is apparently working on an outline.

For more on this, read what else Reeves had to say about this.

'The Day the Earth Stood Still' web reviews

Remakes are taking over the world of filmmaking! The latest updated version of a classic is Scott Derrickson's "The Day the Earth Stood Still," which stars Keanu Reeves, Jaden Smith and Jennifer Connelly (read my review here). Let's take a look at what the Web's critics say about it:

• Cinematical's William Goss: "As a flashy big-budget distraction, 'Stood Still' is adequate overall -- rarely above, occasionally below -- and often familiar in its spectacle."

• CinemaBlend's Katey Rich: "If it were just a workmanlike disaster movie, 'The Day the Earth Stood Still' might be a guilty pleasure or a fun distraction. But its cowardly treatment of the political issue at its center kills it."

• Brad Brevet at RopeOfSilicon: "In the 2008 version the story is of little consequence as long as things explode and cities are leveled."

Click to read more ...

Review: “The Day the Earth Stood Still"

Seen on: December 12, 2008

The players: Director: Scott Derrickson, Writer: David Scarpa, Cast: Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Kathy Bates, Jon Hamm, Jaden Christopher Smith

Facts of interest: Based on 1951's "The Day the Earth Stood Still" by Robert Wise.

The plot: Keanu Reeves plays an alien tho visits Earth to warn of an ultimate destruction if the human race does not abandon all its violence and starts to take better care of the planet.

Our thoughts: A drastic drop in creativity is the only explanation I have for the massive increase in remakes we’ve seen in Hollywood over the past years. Okay, the studios’ desire to earn big bucks may be another factor, but then again, not every remake scores big at the box office, right? Other than that, I just see no reason why someone would want to rehash a film classic. It’s completely unnecessary.

Click to read more ...

Keanu Reeves boards '47 Ronin'

Keanu Reeves has signed on to star in Universal's upcoming battle epic "47 Ronin," which Variety says is based on a true tale.

The film follows a gang of samurai swordsmen who seek revenge for the death of their master in 18th century Japan. Reeves will play one of the men.

Chris Morgan, who co-wrote "Wanted," is writing the script. His other writing credits include "Cellular," "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift" and the upcoming sequel "Fast & Furious."

Variety describes the flick as "mixing fantasy elements of the sort seen in 'The Lord of the Rings' pics, with gritty battle scenes akin to those in films such as 'Gladiator.'"

Reeves battling people with a big sword? Hey, why not? He'll be back on the big screen next in Scott Derrickson's remake of "The Day the Earth Stood Still," in theater this Friday.

Two new 'Earth Stood Still' clips pop up online

Alright, we're now only one week away from the release of Scott Derrickson's remake "The Day the Earth Stood Stil," and while I agree some footage got me a bit excited about the movie, other clips left me disappointed.

MTV recently got hold of two new clips from the sci-fi thriller, and you can check them out after the jump. In the first one, Keanu Reeves' Klaatu tells Jennifer Connelly he's only stopped by to save the planet, and not humanity.

In the second clip, Jaden Smith tells Connelly he knew his daddy quite well. Or something along those lines. I already forgot what he said because I literally dozed off while wathing this footage.

Still, I'll give this one a fair chance, although I hope the rest of the flick looks a little different than this. From wat I've heard the trailer for "Wolverine" will be attached to "Still," so there's something to look out for. The earth stand still Dec. 12, 2008.

Click to read more ...