Keanu Reeves Discusses Mortality and His Role in Co-Creating The Book of Elsewhere with China Miéville
Fiona Nanna, ForeMedia News
7 minutes read. Updated 5:51PM GMT Tues, 23July, 2024
Many of us avoid contemplating our mortality, but for Keanu Reeves, it’s a constant presence. “I’m 59, so I’m thinking about death all the time,” the Hollywood megastar revealed to BBC News. This introspection, he asserts, is beneficial. “Hopefully, it’s not crippling, but it sensitizes us to an appreciation of the breath we have and the relationships we have the potential to cultivate.”
Reeves’ musings on life and mortality aren’t prompted by another blockbuster film. Instead, it’s his debut novel, The Book of Elsewhere, written in collaboration with British science fiction author China Miéville, that brings us together. The novel follows an immortal warrior who yearns for the ability to die.
We meet Reeves and Miéville in a dimly lit hotel bar in central London. The Canadian actor, now based in Hollywood, carves out time to speak with us between gigs with his band, Dogstar. The previous night, they played in Manchester, and Reeves looks slightly fatigued as we begin our 30-minute conversation. Despite this, his enthusiasm for his novel shines through.
The Book of Elsewhere stems from the hugely successful BRZRKR comic book series created by Reeves. Released in 2021, BRZRKR – pronounced “berserker” – is also set to be adapted into a live-action Netflix film starring Reeves, alongside an anime series. For Reeves, comic books hold a unique charm. “I love the images,” he says. “I love words and storytelling, and I love how you can engage with the art and follow the story.”
Reeves humbly downplays his role in the novel’s creation, insisting, “I didn’t write a novel. China wrote a novel.” However, Miéville interjects, “That’s putting it too far. It wouldn’t exist in its form without a lot of thoughtful and careful work with Keanu.”
The central character, known only as “B,” shares physical similarities with Reeves, particularly his long dark hair. Fans noted thematic parallels between B and Reeves, including a challenging personal life. Reeves has endured significant loss, including his girlfriend, their stillborn daughter, and his best friend. However, the similarities end there. B is an 80,000-year-old half-mortal, half-god with a “curse of violence,” a stark contrast to Reeves’ gentle, mild-mannered persona, often described as the nicest man in Hollywood. B, on the other hand, is capable of extreme violence, as Reeves explains, “He can punch through people’s chests, rip their arms off, rip their heads off.”
Reeves admits the violence in BRZRKR was influenced by his action film roles, including the Speed and John Wick franchises. The comic book received broadly positive reviews upon release, with Calum Petrie of Flickering Myth awarding it seven out of ten stars, calling it “enjoyable” but “a bit more on the gory side than I am used to in a lot of comics.” Justin Harrison of AIPT Comics gave it 9.5 stars, praising it as “excellent” and “intriguing” while cautioning readers about the depicted violence.
The novel’s opening pages describe a shooting followed by “the tough bloody business of the clean-up.” We ask Reeves about the debated link between violence in media and real-world violence. Momentarily defensive, he responds, “I hope if they read BRZRKR, they don’t go out and start ripping people’s arms off and chopping their heads off. Because there’s also a love story in it. But if you do read it, I hope maybe you can find love if you don’t have it.”
Miéville also rebuffs the connection between depicted and real violence. “I get quite irritated about how this question is posed,” he says. “It’s so clearly a kind of cultural scapegoating. The idea of blaming video games and movies is just a way to exonerate those who truly profit from violence.”
Creating a fantasy world might be Reeves’ way of escaping reality. “Maybe ultimately, the fantasy of building another world brings some comfort,” he admits. “There’s something about the creative gesture that comes from pain. Creating stuff is great. Just creating, sharing, and hopefully, people like the stories we tell.”
If The Book of Elsewhere succeeds, what will Reeves do with the proceeds? Known for his generosity, much has been written about his aversion to owning things. But as our interview concludes, Reeves clarifies, “I love owning things. I love having stuff. I’m certainly not going to present myself as someone who gives everything away.”
The Book of Elsewhere is published on 23 July by Penguin.
