Netflix has secured the rights to BRZRKR, The bang! Comic strip published by the studios, created by Keanu Reeves. Reeves will produce and star in the adaptations for the screen that will start with the story receiving the feature film treatment followed by an anime spinoff series.
BRZRKR, based on an original idea by Reeves, is co-written by John Wick New York Times bestselling star and writer Matt Kindt and illustrated by Marvel artist Ron Garney with colors by Bill Crabtree, letters by Clem Robins and character designs and covers by Rafael Grampá.
The first edition of the 12-edition limited series was launched on March 3 and has sold more than 615,000 units. The story is about an immortal warrior’s 80,000-year struggle through the ages. The man known only as “B” is half mortal and half god, cursed and compelled to violence … even with the sacrifice of his sanity. But after wandering the land for centuries, B may finally have found refuge – working for the U.S. government to fight battles that are too violent and too dangerous for anyone else. In return, B will receive the only thing he wants – the truth about his blood-soaked infinite existence … and how to end it.
The series will expand the BRZRKR exploring different elements of the story with Reeves reprising his role and his character’s voice.
Reeves is producing alongside Ross Richie and Stephen Christy for BOOM! Studios, which has an initial contract for animation and live-action series with Netflix, as well as Stephen Hamel for Company Films. Adam Yoelin, from BOOM!, Will be the executive producer.
Reeves, who recently completed the production of Matrix 4 and will start production in John Wick 4 this spring, he is represented by WME, Sugar23 & Ziffren.