Keanu Reeves to play revenge-seeking Japanese Samurai

Well, that’s right, according to Variety. Keanu Reeves will star in a feature based on the classic story of The 47 Ronin, an epic period film for Universal Pictures.

47 Ronin Story is the real-life Japanese story of Lord Asano of Ako and one of the bloodiest vendettas in that nation’s feudal history. In a bitter clash between the warriors and the merchant class of seventeenth century Japan on December 14, 1702, the 47 Ronin emerged as the most unlikely set of heroes, or ex-samurai, of Ako. Reeves is attached to play one of the swordsmen. Wanted co-writer Chris Morgan, who also wrote the upcoming Fast and Furious sequel for Uni, is writing the screenplay.

The film will tell a stylized version of the story, mixing fantasy elements like those seen in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, with gritty battle scenes similar to films such as Gladiator.