Keanu Reeves to Replace Alan Ritchson in Netflix's Hurricane-Set Action Thriller 'Maelstrom'

There are very few actors in Hollywood who are better at making bad guys regret their decisions than Keanu Reeves, and after spending more than a decade turning John Wick into one of the biggest action franchises around, he's preparing to do it all over again. But while the actor has become famous for fighting his way through entire armies of criminals, his latest project is going to make things considerably more difficult by throwing a massive hurricane into the mix. And he's stepping into the shoes of another action star who knows a thing or two about making people regret picking a fight with him.

Reeves is officially replacing Alan Ritchson in Netflix's upcoming action thriller Maelstrom, according to Variety. The movie will be directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, who previously helmed Netflix's hugely successful Carry-On. A synopsis for the movie states:

Maelstrom follows a Federal Marshall tasked with guarding the fiancée of an arms dealer who’s seeking witness protection as she preps to testify against him. The story takes place over one night as a hurricane rolls in, knocking out communication — and the duo fights to survive the arms dealer’s henchmen and the elements.

'Maelstrom' Has Been In the Works for 30 Years

While the movie might sound like a brand-new idea, Maelstrom has actually been in development for more than three decades. The original screenplay was sold to Warner Bros. back in 1993, when the project was described as "Die Hard in a hurricane", combining the confined action of the Bruce Willis classic with the kind of enormous natural disaster usually found in movies like Twister.

The script was originally written by the late Gregory Fitzpatrick, with Mark Bianculli (How to Rob a Bank) now working on a new draft. The project is being produced by Jeff Robinov, the former Warner Bros. Pictures president who helped oversee major franchises including The Dark Knight trilogy and The Hangover. The movie will also be the first project under Robinov's new deal with Netflix.

For Reeves, Maelstrom adds another major action project to an already busy schedule. The actor is also in talks to star in James Wan's upcoming crime thriller The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil, while he's set to return as the voice of Shadow in Sonic the Hedgehog 4 in 2027.

Netflix has yet to announce a release date for Maelstrom.

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