In 2000, Keanu Reeves took on the role of a replacement quarterback, Shane Falco, in the movie The Replacements, directed by Howard Deutch. Widely known for his action-packed roles and proficiency in Martial Arts, the John Wick actor disclosed that filming the sports movie brought about a different kind of physical pain.

Keanu Reeves as Shane Falco in The Replacements 2000
Alongside Reeves, the film boasts an ensemble cast including Gene Hackman, Orlando Jones, Brooke Langton, and Jon Favreau. The movie faced both critical and commercial failure, amassing a modest $50 million at the box office.

How Did Keanu Reeves Prepare For The Role?

Keanu Reeves
To portray the character authentically, Keanu Reeves devoted two months to learning football. Despite his background as a hockey player—formerly a skilled goalie for his high school team, earning the nickname “Wall”—Reeves admitted he was unfamiliar with the role of a quarterback in a football team, or any other position for that matter.

The Constantine actor attended a training camp, where he familiarized himself with team dynamics, player positions, taping procedures, and warm-up routines. Reeves disclosed that he underwent a significant transformation to embody the physique of a football player. The 47 Ronin actor recounted:

“[During the ‘Replacements’ training] I had six ice packs in my freezer. At the end of the day, I’d sit down and wrap my arm, my knees, sometimes my feet. I had 240-pound linesmen in cleats stepping on me.”
Notably, Keanu Reeves undertook this movie following the release of the first Matrix film. Simultaneously, he had to film both Matrix sequels after completing The Replacements. This meant he went through a lot of hardships and challenges for this particular movie.

Why Did Keanu Reeves Commit To The Replacements?

Keanu Reeves in The Matrix
Keanu Reeves was willing to endure such struggles for a cliched storyline prompting one to question his choice. The Devil’s Advocate actor admitted that while the movie’s premise of the underdog emerging victorious may be clichéd, there was something more to the film’s theme:
“I thought that all the characters in this film had heart; these people felt real. They all felt like they came from a situation of loss. They had a reality to them that I related to.”
However, the Exposed actor reportedly earned a whopping $12M for his role, which is nearly a fifth of the movie’s budget. Despite this huge remuneration, Reeves emphasized that he did not equate enjoyment with money and actively sought opportunities where he could fully realize the role and contribute to delivering quality films.