Keanu Reeves went over to China to direct his first film, the underrated (and quite absurd) MAN OF TAI CHI, and it looks like he’s going back.
He’s in talks to headline RALLY CAR, a CANNONBALL RUN-esque race film about a race across China that Jerry bruckheimer is producing for Sony. They’re looking for a director to shoot Jeremy Lott’s script, and will probably shoot immediately before or after the upcoming JOHN WICK 2.
Keanu’s the perfect guy to mount this Chinese co-production. He always seems to get cast as dudes either living in Asia, living heavily Asian-influenced lifestyles (“Good noodles.”), or have straight up Asian blood (47 RONIN), with nary a complaint. Remember when he was going to play Spike in COWBOY BEBOP (which I’m still bummed never happened)? Plus, as you can see in the above pic, he has a real-life interest in stock car racing, and is at least partially responsible for some of the crazy car stunts we saw in JOHN WICK.
I wouldn’t bet on them using the same loosey-goosey, “let’s all just have a good time” vibe of the CANNONBALL RUNS, but I also don’t think this will be all brooding faux-intensity like NEED FOR SPEED. Probably something in the middle, like GONE IN 60 SECONDS ’00 (which was, of course, produced by Brucks). Either way, with this latter-day Keanu headlining in his post-JOHN WICK glory, I have to say they have me curious.
Now, let’s see who they get to direct. Brian Trenchard-Smith? Leitch/Stahelski? Hell, why not George Miller if they can steal him from WB (which they probably can’t)?
