The Matrix and Cyberpunk 2077 star, Keanu Reeves was almost cast to play a villain in Hideo Kojima's upcoming action-adventure Death Stranding. Kojima was originally recommended Reeves but he always wanted Mads Mikkelsen for the role.
As you may know, John Wick and The Matrix star Keanu Reeves is set to sail into the video game waters in CD Projekt Red's highly anticipated RPG Cyberpunk 2077. Reeves will play one of the most important characters in the game - Johnny Silverhand.
However, it could have been a totally different game for Reeves. He was recommended to the creator of Death Stranding Hideo Kojima for the role of the game's main villain. This was confirmed by Kojima himself at San Diego Comic-Con who said that while the recommendations for Reeves were there, he always wanted Mads Mikkelsen, who is set to appear in the game.
"I originally was recommended Keanu Reeves but I wanted Mads," Kojima said when asked about Death Stranding cast. Apparently, the recommendation for Reeves came from none other than Nicolas Winding Refn, a Danish director who is himself part of the Death Stranding Cast, playing Heartman. Unfortunately, Kojima did not add anything else to the matter.
It doesn't come as a surprise that Hideo Kojima wanted Mads Mikkelsen in his latest project. The two are good friends in real life and Kojima often dedicates lengthy Twitter threads to the Danish actor, sharing mutual photos or monochromatic snaps of Mikkelsen as he stares into the distance. A true bromance.
Anyway, Kojima also shared a couple of other Death Stranding details, including his own reasons for creating the game. He said that he wants to make something that's out of the traditional design. "Creativity is what moves civilizations forward. We’re living in an era when creativity is dictated by algorithms that it becomes meaningless almost. It’s important to counter that," Kojima explained his vision.
He also took a slight dig at battle royale games. "When I first started my own production, the easiest thing for me to do is make a game where everyone is on an island and shoots each other," he said.
Kojima Productions
Death Stranding is set to launch on 08 November 2019, while Cyberpunk 2077 is out on 16 April 2020.
Death Stranding, official trailer screenshots, Kojima Productions
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