In just the past 30 minutes , a surprising decision from actor Keanu Reeves has shocked the fan community and Hollywood film industry : he will officially refuse all future action roles , and indefinitely suspend his film activities in the US .
The announcement was posted on the official website of Keanu ‘s management company , accompanied by an emotional handwritten letter from the actor himself , talking about ” physical and mental fatigue ” after decades of playing immortal heroes on the big screen .
“ I have reached my limit … ”
In the letter, Keanu wrote:
“ I know I ’m going to disappoint some people . But after more than three decades of guns , martial arts , pain , and loss – both in movies and in real life – I realized I needed to stop , before I lost what was left of myself . ”
Fans ca n’t help but think of his iconic roles like Neo in The Matrix , or John Wick – the immortal man in the dark world of assassins . These roles helped Keanu Reeves become an action icon , but at the same time also brought him many health and psychological consequences .
The burden of the past and the desire to live authentically
Recently , the media reported on Keanu ‘s unstable health after filming John Wick 4 , with action scenes that required physical strength beyond the age of 60. He also lost his girlfriend Jennifer Syme in an accident , and family members to illness – shocks that made Keanu become a quiet , closed and lonely man in the spotlight .
“ I want to spend time writing , walking , sitting with a hot cup of tea without thinking about how many punches I have to learn tomorrow , ” Keanu shared simply .
Reaction from colleagues and audience
Immediately after the news spread , a series of Hollywood artists sent their respect to Keanu . Laurence Fishburne – a long – time co -star in The Matrix – wrote :
“Anh là chiến binh cuối cùng của điện ảnh. Nếu đây là lúc anh cần nghỉ ngơi, chúng tôi sẽ luôn ở đây chờ anh trở lại.”
Trên Reddit và Twitter, cụm từ “Keanu deserves peace” (Keanu xứng đáng được bình yên) nhanh chóng trở thành xu hướng toàn cầu. Fan từ khắp nơi bày tỏ sự cảm thông, chia sẻ rằng Keanu đã cống hiến quá nhiều, và giờ là lúc anh sống cho riêng mình.
Hollywood sẽ ra sao khi thiếu Keanu?
Sự rút lui của Keanu Reeves khỏi dòng phim hành động đánh dấu một khoảng trống lớn cho Hollywood – nơi ngày càng thiếu những tài tử mang phong thái trầm lặng, khiêm nhường nhưng giàu nội lực như anh. Các dự án như John Wick 5 hoặc bản spin-off từng được úp mở có thể sẽ phải hủy bỏ hoặc thay đổi hoàn toàn.
Tuy nhiên, Keanu để ngỏ khả năng quay trở lại với các dự án nhân văn hơn:
“ If there was a script that made me cry with compassion , maybe I would consider … ”
