I constantly think about death

Many of us avoid thinking about death, but not Keanu Reeves.

“I’m 59 and I think about death all the time,” the Hollywood megastar told BBC News.

That’s a good thing, he adds.

“Hopefully it doesn’t paralyze us, but hopefully it sensitizes us to appreciate the breath we have and the relationships we potentially have.”

The reason we’re here to reflect on life and mortality with the star of The Matrix is ​​not because he has to promote another blockbuster.

This time it’s a new book – Reeves’ first novel.

“The Book of Elsewhere,” written in collaboration with British science fiction author China Miéville, is about an immortal warrior who wants to be able to die.

We meet Reeves and Miéville in a dimly lit hotel bar in central London.

The Hollywood-based Canadian actor takes the time to visit us between performances with his band Dogstar.

The band played in Manchester the night before. Reeves looks a little tired as we begin the 30-minute interview.

But his passion for his novel is also clearly noticeable.

“The Book of Elsewhere” is based on Reeves’ highly successful comic series BRZRKR.

Published in 2021, BRZRKR – pronounced “Berserker” for the uninitiated – is also set to be adapted into a Netflix live-action film starring Reeves as well as an anime series.

For Reeves, comic books have a special appeal.

“I love the images,” he said. “I love words and storytelling and I love the way you can have this layered engagement. So you can look at the art and then follow the story.”

However, the actor downplays his role in the collaborative process and insists: “I didn’t write a novel. China wrote a novel.”

Miéville argues that “this goes too far,” adding: “Without the very thoughtful and careful work with Keanu, it would not exist in this form.”

The central character of the plot is known only as “B”.

With his long dark hair, B bears physical resemblance to Reeves.

And when the comic first came out, some fans also pointed out certain thematic similarities between the two, including difficult personal lives.

Reeves has lost several people he loved in his life, including his girlfriend, her stillborn daughter, and his best friend.

But this may be where the similarities end.

B is 80,000 years old, half mortal and half god. He also has a “curse of violence,” which doesn’t seem like Reeves at all.

Known for his gentle and soft-spoken personality, the actor has often been described as the nicest man in Hollywood.

B, on the other hand, is someone who can “punch people in the chest and rip their arms and heads off,” says Reeves.

So where does this violence come from?

“I think it was influenced by some of the action movies I’ve done,” said Reeves, who has also starred in the Speed ​​and John Wick franchises.

The reviews of the comic were consistently positive when it was released and Reeves and Miéville hope to repeat this success.

In Flickering Myth, Calum Petrie gave it seven out of ten starsand wrote that it was “entertaining” but also “a bit bloodier than I’m used to from a lot of comics.”

It received 9.5 stars by Justin Harrison in AIPT Comics, who praised it as “excellent” and “fascinating” but warned readers about the violence depicted.

There’s no doubt that this book is brutal. The opening pages describe a shootout, followed by “the hard, bloody work of cleanup.”

We asked Reeves about the much-discussed connection between violence on screen and in books and in the real world.

For a moment he seems defensive.

“I hope that when they read BRZRKR they don’t go out and start ripping people’s arms off and cutting their heads off,” he said.

“Because there is a love story in it too. But if you read it, I hope that maybe you can find love if you don’t have it.”

Miéville also denied that there was a connection between depicted and actual violence.

“The way this question is asked really annoys me,” he said.

“It’s clearly a kind of cultural scapegoating,” he added. “I think the idea of ​​looking at video games and movies and so on is just a way to exonerate the people who are really profiting from the violence.”

Since Reeves has created a completely fantasy world, one wonders if he is trying to escape reality.

“Perhaps the fantasy of creating another world does ultimately bring some kind of comfort,” he admits.

“Ultimately, there is something about the creative gesture that comes from pain,” he added.

“Creating things is great. Just create, share and hopefully people like the stories we tell.”

And if so – if the book is a success – what will Reeves do with the proceeds from the book?

The actor is known for his generosity and much has been written about his alleged dislike of owning things.

But Reeves seems to be resisting this as our interview draws to a close.

“I love owning things, I love having stuff,” he said.

“I certainly won’t present myself as someone who reveals everything.”

“The Book of Elsewhere” will be published by Penguin on July 23rd.