With Keanu Reeves attached to BRZKR, fans were eagerly waiting to see if the BOOM! Studios property would be greenlit for the big screen. The publisher already had 2 Guns and The Empty Man get the cinematic treatment, and given that Reeves has been experiencing a resurgence in Hollywood through the likes of John Wick, the move felt inevitable.
However, things took a turn when the project was announced to be a movie for Netflix. Sure, the streaming service might do right by the property, especially with an accompanying anime in the works, but in reality, BRZKR should have been plotted out as a television series.
Click the button below to start this article in quick view.
Now, it’s pretty smart of Netflix to leverage Reeves’ popularity and his overall brand, especially since streaming services have received more traffic during the COVID-19 era. But BRZKR doesn’t want to run into the same problems as other projects that set up expansive worlds with a lot of stories to explore. This property has a wide scope, after all, as it follows Reeves’ warrior, B, as an immortal who was born 80,000 years ago. He lived through many wars, lost many loved ones, and now, he’s working with the U.S. government. That’s a lot of ground to cover in all of those eras, and trying to pack all of it into a two-hour film just won’t work.
Netflix already had this issue with The Old Guard, which had potential but didn’t capitalize on the star power of Charlize Theron — mimicking the same mistakes made with Chris Hemsworth’s Extraction. Sure, the anime could cover a lot of ground, but it’s been reported as a spinoff, meaning it might focus on other immortals. And if that’s the case, fans will view it as more of an add-on than must-see connective tissue.
RELATED: BRZRKR #1 Is the Best Selling Comic Since Marvel’s Star Wars #1 in 2015
The situation could be different, however, if the show opts for a weekly release. Allowing audiences time to digest has helped Disney+ take The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, The Mandalorian and WandaVision to new heights. Fans spent weeks and weeks discussing those shows online and forming theories, which helped the narrative take shape in their minds.
A television series would also expand Reeves’ mileage and provide a more nuanced, comprehensive story. Viewers would get more insight into B’s families, how he fell into the mercenary business, his PTSD and the super-soldier program, which would allow other characters to be fleshed out, organically paving the way not just for sequels, but seasons of material in ways an anime couldn’t.
If Netflix went this route, a series would create a live-action canvas that would give Reeves the ability to breathe in his multiple lifetimes. And in so doing, as B’s story is mapped out, a more cohesive universe would be presented that understands everyone’s motivations through slow-burning backstories and meaningful bonds.
About The Author
