Why Keanu Reeves passed on the chance to be in the ‘Fast’ franchise

Keanu Reeves passed on two different movies in the ‘Fast & Furious’ franchise.

In the most recent movie, the actor’s “plans had shifted”, and for an earlier episode, “the timing wasn’t right.”

The ‘Fast X’ edition

The Canadian actor turned down the opportunity to appear in the franchise as The Agency’s newcomer leader, Aimes. The role ultimately went to Alan Ritchson, who attributed landing the role to luck and good timing.

Aimes mistakenly double-crosses Vin Diesel’s character Dom Toretto in the most recent release, ‘Fast X’, as the villain works with fellow enemy Dante Reyes, played by Jason Momoa.

“It was just a little stroke of luck and good timing,” Ritchson told EW.

“I was working on [Ordinary Angels] with Hilary Swank up in Winnipeg in the freezing cold, and I got a call that things had shifted in the plans with Keanu Reeves, which is I think who was originally intended to play my part,” the actor continued. “Tough act to follow.”

Despite landing the role, things looked bleak in terms of the project being completed.

“Basically the deal was if there’s no problems, we don’t shut down for COVID or weather, this should work,” Ritchson recalled. “And about two weeks later, we got news that we were going to get hit with the biggest blizzard in Winnipeg’s history.”

“All production shut down,” the actor explained. “It was disheartening. I thought it was over before it began, but luckily we worked it out and they were able to push the dates a little more.”

The ‘Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw’ edition

Reeves was also offered a role in ‘Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw’, again as the role of a villain — Eteon Director. Ryan Reynolds scooped up the role in his place.

The film’s director David Leitch explained on a podcast with The Fourth Wall at the time that “the timing wasn’t right.”

“I did talk to Keanu about being in the film,’ ‘It just wasn’t the right time when he was doing things,” the director said. “We’ve been talking about it for a long time, and I wasn’t sure in what capacity. It was early on, and it kept lingering. Even through editorial, I was thinking of ideas if he was interested and he wanted to be seated in this world how we could do it.”

“So, it really just came down to things he wanted to do and everybody’s schedule,” he added. It didn’t work out on this one, but I look forward to working with Keanu on something hopefully.’