Keanu Reeves is gearing up for another action-packed role, with the John Wick star set to lead Netflix’s upcoming thriller Maelstrom. The casting change sees Reeves stepping in for Alan Ritchson, who was previously attached to headline the project. Jaume Collet-Serra, the director behind Netflix’s hit action thriller Carry-On, is set to direct.
Described as Die Hard during a hurricane, Maelstrom centers on a federal marshal tasked with protecting the fiancée of a powerful arms dealer. Seeking witness protection, she plans to testify against her criminal partner, putting herself directly in the crosshairs of his organization.
The situation quickly spirals out of control when a hurricane makes landfall, cutting off communication with the outside world and preventing reinforcements from reaching them. Trapped with nowhere to turn, the marshal and his witness must fight off the arms dealer’s men while battling the increasingly dangerous conditions brought on by the storm.
The reason behind Ritchson’s departure has not been disclosed.
Maelstrom has a surprisingly long history in Hollywood. The screenplay was originally sold to Warner Bros. in 1993 by producer Jeff Robinov, who was working as an agent at the time. The project emerged during an era when studios were eager to develop high-concept action thrillers inspired by the success of Die Hard.
Robinov, the former president of Warner Bros. Pictures, remains attached as a producer alongside Tabitha Shick. The screenplay originated with the late Gregory Fitzpatrick, with Mark Bianculli (How to Rob a Bank) brought on to update the script and modernize its characters for a contemporary audience.
Netflix’s renewed interest in the project follows the success of Carry-On, which reunited the streamer with Collet-Serra for a high-stakes thriller that became one of the platform’s most-watched films. The success helped demonstrate the continuing appeal of contained, high-concept action movies.
For Reeves, Maelstrom adds another potential action vehicle to an already busy slate. The actor continues to balance major franchise projects with original films, maintaining his position as one of Hollywood’s most recognizable action stars.
With Reeves now attached and Collet-Serra behind the camera, Maelstrom has the ingredients for a tense, survival-driven action thriller. Production details and a release date have yet to be announced.
SOURCE: Variety