Netflix has its next big action franchise: an adaptation of the new Keanu Reeves movie BRZRKR comic book series, whose streaming service is turning into a live action movie (produced and starring Reeves) and an anime sequel (with Reeves giving voice to the character), the company announced today.
BRZRKR is a new series of 12 editions from Boom Studios (the first edition was launched in early March) co-written by Reeves himself (in his comic debut) and Matt Kindt (Folklords, Justice League of America) with art by Ron Garney. Appropriately, Reeves will play the title character in the next live-action series and in the anime, although there is no release date announced yet.
The ultraviolent comic follows an immortal berserker – who coincidentally looks almost exactly like Keanu – throughout his 80,000 years of life, culminating in the present day, where he works for the United States government in exchange for help in discovering the secrets of his life and how he can finally die. (It’s a similar concept to that of Netflix The old guard, which is also based on a popular comic book series and is seen as another potential franchise for the streaming service.)
Exciting news! Netflix is developing a live action movie AND a subsequent anime series based on Keanu Reeves’ BRZRKR, a brutally epic saga about an immortal warrior’s 80,000-year struggle through the ages. Reeves will produce and star in the film, and dub the anime. pic.twitter.com/RVWEuBCXTJ
– NX (@NXOnNetflix) March 22, 2021
BRZRKR it was a huge crowdfunding success (helped in part by Reeves’ involvement), raising nearly $ 2 million between Kickstarter and additional funds even before the first edition hit the shelves. The series has sold over 615,000 copies, making it the second best-selling comic in the past decade (after the Marvel book Star Wars Relaunch nº 1 in 2015.)
The next adaptation fits perfectly into Netflix’s current strategy: the streaming service is always looking for more mandatory content, and particularly for the types of shows and movies that can build franchises to rival Disney’s Marvel ones. Star Wars or HBO Max’s War of Thrones universes. The multimedia method for the project is also part of Netflix’s modern approach, mirroring animated expansions of projects like The magician or the next Zack Snyder Army of the Dead which are designed to help keep viewers investing, even after the landmark show or movie is released.
It is also the highest profile project coming from Netflix’s recent initial deal with Boom Studios, which gives the streaming service the first chance to adapt comics from the independent publisher.