We all know and love Keanu Reeves as the established actor who has earned the image of Hollywood’s ‘nice guy’. The unassuming and down-to-earth characters that the Canadian actor-musician portrays on screen have won the hearts of millions of people worldwide. He might not have maintained his reputation as the personification of goodness, if destiny had taken a different course.

Well, the Speed star has frequently been cited as having conversations with Marvel about potential roles. There are plenty of roles available for Reeves, but joining the MCU would enable him to add his star power to an already successful film universe. However, he was once considered for a role that might have damaged his reputation as a ‘good guy’ in the entertainment industry.

So what role did Reeves ultimately play in the Marvel film?

Keanu Reeves Was Almost Cast In This Marvel Film

On and off the screen, Keanu Reeves, who is often referred to as the ‘internet’s boyfriend’, has developed a reputation for being a sincere and caring person. The actor, 59, is well-liked for a number of reasons, including his kind gestures of generosity toward his fans and the several iconic hero roles he portrays on screen.
Jude Law as Yon-Rogg
Insider claimed that Reeves and Marvel had serious discussions about casting him in a significant role in Captain Marvel as Yon-Rogg, Carol Danvers’ (Brie Larson) mentor and eventual antagonist. Meanwhile, the Canadian actor would have starred in Samuel L. Jackson’s film if “John Wick 3” had not happened, according to the American comedian-actor, who made this claim on Twitter in 2019:

If not for John Wick 3, he’d have been Yon-Rogg. He was set to take the role and then, when he had to drop out, they moved SUPER QUICK on Jude Law. https://t.co/n73WZML7li

— Charles Murphy (@_CharlesMurphy) February 3, 2019
Given the widespread perception of Reeves as a good guy, many fans may have found it difficult to imagine him playing a villain.

Jude Law was consequently given the role of Yon-Rogg in the Brie Larson-starring movie. The movie broke the $1.1 billion mark in box office revenue, becoming the first superhero film with a female lead to do so.

Kevin Feige Wanted to Find the Right Time to Bring Keanu Reeves Into the MCU

Keanu Reeves in and as Constantine
Kevin Feige, the head of Marvel Studios, reportedly keeps in touch with the Constantine actor about a potential role, according to ComicBook.com:
“We talk to him for almost every film we make. I don’t know when, if, or ever he’ll join the MCU, but we very much want to figure out the right way to do it.”
Feige compared Reeves to Jake Gyllenhaal and said they spoke with the Spider-Man: Far From Home actor “multiple times” before the perfect role (Mysterio) came along. They were hoping that Revees would experience a similar circumstance and would eventually join the Marvel universe.

Also, there was a time when Reeves was in discussions to make his MCU appearance in the Chloe Zhao-helmed MCU film Eternals after being linked to the rumor of joining the franchise. But it seemed like things went differently.
Keanu Reeves in a still from John Wick: Chapter 4
However, the actor is having a fantastic year right now. The John Wick franchise is still going strong after John Wick: Chapter 4, which has been its biggest success. The movie, which earned over $432 million worldwide and was well-received by critics, is now the franchise’s highest-grossing entry. Ballerina, a spin-off, will be released on June 7, 2024, and a fifth movie is currently in production.

Ballerina also stars Ana de Armas, Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, Lance Reddick, Ian McShane, Norman Reedus, and Catalina Sandino Moreno.

John Wick: Chapter 4 is streaming on Starz Apple TV Channel.