Keanu Reeves has spent decades becoming one of Hollywood’s most recognizable action stars. But his next major action project is different from simply joining another established franchise.
This time, he’s helping build the world himself.
The project is BRZRKR, a violent supernatural comic universe Reeves co-created with writer Matt Kindt and artist Ron Garney. Netflix announced plans for a live-action movie starring Reeves in 2021, alongside an anime spinoff designed to expand the same universe.
The movie later gained another major piece of its creative team when Justin Lin, the filmmaker known for several Fast & Furious movies, came aboard to direct and produce the adaptation in March 2025. Mattson Tomlin is writing the screenplay, while Reeves remains attached to star and produce.
That makes BRZRKR more than another celebrity-led action movie.
Reeves is connected to the project as its co-creator, lead actor and producer — giving him an unusually direct relationship with the character and the world behind the film.
And the character at the center of BRZRKR could hardly be more suited to the actor’s modern action image.
Key Takeaways
- BRZRKR is an original comic property co-created by Keanu Reeves, writer Matt Kindt and artist Ron Garney.
- Netflix is developing a live-action BRZRKR movie starring Reeves.
- Justin Lin is attached to direct and produce the movie.
- Mattson Tomlin is writing the screenplay.
- Reeves is attached as both lead actor and producer.
- BRZRKR follows an immortal warrior known as B, a half-mortal, half-god figure who has existed for roughly 80,000 years.
- Netflix also announced an anime adaptation designed to expand the BRZRKR universe.
- A confirmed Netflix release date for the live-action movie has not been announced in the sources reviewed for this article.
What Is BRZRKR?
BRZRKR began as an original comic-book concept developed by Keanu Reeves before becoming a 12-issue series published by BOOM! Studios.
Reeves co-created and co-wrote the comic with Matt Kindt, while Ron Garney handled the artwork. The first issue arrived in 2021, and the original limited series concluded with issue #12 in 2023.
BOOM! Studios said the series had sold more than one million copies by the time of its finale.
Read the official BRZRKR information from BOOM! Studios
At the center of the story is B, short for Berzerker.
B is half-mortal and half-god and has spent approximately 80,000 years fighting his way through human history. His extraordinary abilities make him extremely difficult to kill, but immortality has become more of a burden than a gift.
According to Netflix’s original announcement, B eventually works for the U.S. government, taking on missions considered too violent or dangerous for ordinary people.
In exchange, he hopes to uncover the truth about his existence and discover whether there is a way to finally end it.
That premise gives BRZRKR room to move between modern military action, ancient warfare, supernatural mythology and character-driven drama.
It also gives Reeves something he has never had with John Wick:
ownership of the underlying fictional property.
Why BRZRKR Is Different From John Wick
For many moviegoers, a new Keanu Reeves action project immediately brings John Wick to mind.
The connection is obvious.
Reeves became one of the defining faces of modern action cinema through the John Wick films, playing the legendary assassin at the center of the franchise.
But BRZRKR is not a John Wick sequel, spinoff or continuation.
It is a separate universe that Reeves helped create.
That distinction matters.
With John Wick, Reeves became the face and central performer of an established film franchise.
With BRZRKR, his involvement begins much earlier in the creative process.
He helped develop the character before the property was adapted for Netflix.
BOOM! Studios describes BRZRKR as a comic created and co-written by Reeves and Matt Kindt, with Ron Garney among the principal artists.
Explore BRZRKR at BOOM! Studios
The result is a property that can potentially grow independently of the mythology surrounding John Wick.
Keanu Reeves Is More Than the Star
One of the most interesting aspects of BRZRKR is Reeves’ role behind the camera.
Netflix’s original announcement confirmed that Reeves would star in and produce the live-action movie. The project originated from an idea he had been developing for years before it became a comic book.
That gives the actor a different relationship with the material.
He isn’t simply being hired to play another action hero.
He helped create the character.
BRZRKR also naturally overlaps with qualities audiences already associate with Reeves’ action career: physical combat, stoic protagonists, supernatural elements, moral conflict and characters carrying an enormous personal burden.
But B is not simply John Wick with a supernatural twist.
His story spans thousands of years.
That means the property can explore different historical periods, combat styles and versions of the character while maintaining the same central mythology.
Reeves had previously discussed the possibility of directing the movie himself, but Justin Lin is now attached to direct the live-action adaptation.
For the current project, Reeves’ confirmed roles include star and producer.
Justin Lin Joins the Project
BRZRKR received an important development update in March 2025 when Justin Lin joined the movie as director.
Lin has extensive experience with large-scale action filmmaking, particularly through his work on the Fast & Furious franchise.
According to TheWrap, Lin is directing the Netflix adaptation, with Mattson Tomlin writing the screenplay. Reeves is set to star and produce.
Read TheWrap’s report on Justin Lin joining BRZRKR
The current creative team includes:
- Lead actor: Keanu Reeves
- Producer: Keanu Reeves
- Director: Justin Lin
- Screenwriter: Mattson Tomlin
- Comic co-creator: Matt Kindt
- Comic co-creator: Keanu Reeves
- Artist: Ron Garney
- Publisher: BOOM! Studios
- Streaming partner: Netflix
Lin’s involvement adds an experienced action filmmaker to a project already built around a character designed for large-scale combat.
Exactly how his style will translate BRZRKR from comic panels to live action remains one of the project’s biggest unanswered questions.
What Is the BRZRKR Story About?
At its center, BRZRKR is a story about violence, identity and immortality.
B has spent approximately 80,000 years moving through human history and fighting in countless conflicts.
His physical power makes him extraordinarily difficult to stop.
But living forever has not given him peace.
It has given him an endless cycle of violence.
The character eventually becomes involved with the U.S. government, using his abilities in missions considered too dangerous or brutal for conventional forces.
In return, B wants answers about his origins and a way to potentially end his seemingly endless existence.
That creates an interesting question at the heart of the story:
What happens when an immortal warrior no longer wants to keep fighting?
The action is obviously central to BRZRKR, but the character’s emotional conflict gives the concept another layer.
Rather than simply asking whether B can defeat his next enemy, the story can explore why he continues fighting after thousands of years.
That combination of supernatural mythology and action gives the movie a much larger canvas than a conventional action thriller.
The BRZRKR Universe Is Already Bigger Than One Movie
Calling BRZRKR a potential franchise is not based solely on the planned Netflix movie.
The property was designed to exist across multiple formats.
Netflix originally announced a live-action feature followed by an anime spinoff. Reeves was also announced as the voice of B for the animated project.
The comic universe has also continued beyond the original 12-issue series.
BOOM! Studios has released additional BRZRKR stories, including The Lost Book of B and other projects exploring different periods of the character’s long existence.
See the latest BRZRKR comics from BOOM! Studios
The universe has also expanded into prose.
The Book of Elsewhere, co-authored by Keanu Reeves and novelist China Miéville, was developed as another way to explore B and the world around him.
That creates several potential entry points:
- Original comics — the foundation of the universe.
- Live-action movie — Reeves’ version of B on screen.
- Anime adaptation — another format for expanding the mythology.
- Novel and prose stories — additional material outside the main comic series.
- Future comics — stories that can explore different periods of B’s 80,000-year existence.
For a property that began as a comic, BRZRKR has already developed a surprisingly broad creative ecosystem.
What We Know About the Netflix Movie
The confirmed information is relatively straightforward.
Netflix announced the live-action BRZRKR adaptation in March 2021. The company said Reeves would star and produce the movie, while an anime spinoff would also be developed.
In March 2025, Justin Lin was reported as the director, with Mattson Tomlin writing the screenplay. Reeves remains attached to star and produce.
What has not been officially confirmed is equally important.
There is no verified Netflix premiere date in the sources reviewed for this article.
That means social-media posts or reports claiming a specific release year should be treated carefully unless Netflix or the filmmakers officially confirm it.
The same applies to claims about a finished trailer, completed filming or a locked theatrical schedule.
For now, BRZRKR should be described as a Netflix live-action feature in development, with Reeves attached to star and produce and Lin attached to direct.
Could BRZRKR Become Reeves’ Next Big Action Universe?
BRZRKR clearly has elements that could support a larger screen universe.
The biggest advantage is the character’s enormous timeline.
An immortal warrior who has existed for approximately 80,000 years has an almost unlimited historical backdrop. Different stories can explore different eras without completely changing the character’s core identity.
The property has also already demonstrated that it can move beyond a single format.
The comics established the mythology.
The novel expanded the world.
The planned movie brings B into live action.
The anime creates another possible route into the universe.
And Reeves’ personal involvement gives the project an unusual connection between its original concept and its screen adaptation.
That does not guarantee the movie will become a successful long-running franchise.
The film still has to work on its own terms.
The story, performances, visual effects, action choreography and character development will ultimately determine whether audiences want more.
But the ingredients for expansion are clearly present.
BRZRKR and John Wick: The Biggest Differences
The two properties share an action-star connection through Reeves, but their foundations are very different.
John Wick centers on a human assassin operating within a secretive modern criminal underworld.
BRZRKR centers on an immortal supernatural warrior whose story stretches across approximately 80,000 years.
There is also a major difference in Reeves’ relationship with the characters.
With John Wick, Reeves became the defining star of an established film property.
With B, Reeves helped create the character before the story moved toward a Netflix adaptation.
BRZRKR also has an anime component, while the John Wick film series developed primarily through live-action movies and related projects.
Most importantly, BRZRKR gives Reeves a fictional world with a much larger historical timeline to explore.
Why BRZRKR Could Be an Important Career Move for Reeves
Reeves has already demonstrated that he can anchor an action franchise.
BRZRKR gives him an opportunity to participate in building one from the beginning.
That is a meaningful difference.
The project originated from an idea Reeves had been developing before it became a comic. He then helped write the comic and became directly involved in its expansion across different formats.
For Reeves, the project therefore represents more than another action role.
He has already played iconic characters in established worlds such as Neo in The Matrix and John Wick.
B is different because the character belongs to a world Reeves helped create.
That makes BRZRKR one of the more personally connected action projects in his career.
What Happens Next?
The next major developments to watch include:
- Updates on the BRZRKR screenplay.
- Production announcements.
- Confirmation of principal photography.
- Additional casting.
- Official first-look material.
- A trailer or teaser.
- A confirmed Netflix release date.
- Updates on the anime adaptation.
Until those announcements arrive, fans should separate confirmed information from online speculation.
What is already clear is that BRZRKR has moved well beyond the stage of being only an idea.
It began as a comic created by Reeves and his collaborators.
Netflix acquired the rights for screen adaptations.
The comic universe expanded into additional stories and a novel.
And the live-action project gained Justin Lin as director in 2025.
The pieces are there.
The movie itself, however, still has to arrive.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Keanu Reeves’ new action franchise?
The project is BRZRKR, a supernatural action property Reeves co-created with writer Matt Kindt and artist Ron Garney. Netflix is developing a live-action movie starring Reeves as B, the immortal warrior at the center of the story.
Is BRZRKR connected to John Wick?
No. BRZRKR is a separate fictional universe. Reeves’ involvement is also different because he helped create the BRZRKR character and is attached as both producer and lead actor.
Is Keanu Reeves starring in the BRZRKR movie?
Yes. Netflix announced Reeves as the star of the live-action adaptation, and he is also attached as a producer.
Who is directing BRZRKR?
Justin Lin is attached to direct the live-action BRZRKR movie. The announcement was reported in March 2025.
Who is writing the BRZRKR movie?
Mattson Tomlin is writing the screenplay for the live-action adaptation.
What is BRZRKR about?
BRZRKR follows B, a half-mortal, half-god warrior who has existed for approximately 80,000 years. He eventually works with the U.S. government on extremely dangerous missions while searching for answers about his existence and a possible way to end it.
Will BRZRKR be on Netflix?
Netflix announced the live-action adaptation and an anime spinoff. However, a confirmed Netflix release date for the live-action movie has not been announced in the sources reviewed for this article.
Is BRZRKR based on a comic?
Yes. The original BRZRKR comic was published by BOOM! Studios and co-created by Keanu Reeves, Matt Kindt and artist Ron Garney. The original limited series concluded with issue #12 in 2023.
Will there be a BRZRKR anime?
Netflix announced an anime spinoff alongside the live-action film adaptation. Reeves was also announced to voice B in the animated project.
The Bottom Line
Keanu Reeves’ next major action project is not simply another attempt to recreate the John Wick formula.
BRZRKR is a property he helped create.
That is what makes the project particularly interesting.
The universe already has a comic-book foundation, additional stories, a novel, a planned anime adaptation and a Netflix live-action movie in development.
Reeves is attached to star and produce, while Justin Lin is attached to direct and produce the film, with Mattson Tomlin writing the screenplay.
There is still a long road between an ambitious franchise concept and a successful movie series.
But if BRZRKR reaches the screen as planned, Reeves will have something he has never quite had with John Wick:
the opportunity to help build the action universe from the ground up.
Sources & Further Reading
- Netflix — BRZRKR Live-Action Film and Anime Announcement
- BOOM! Studios — BRZRKR Original Comic Series
- BOOM! Studios — BRZRKR Series Finale
- BOOM! Studios — The Lost Book of B
- TheWrap — Justin Lin to Direct BRZRKR