10 MCU Roles Keanu Reeves Would Be Perfect For If He Doesn"t Get His Marvel Dream Role

Keanu Reeves has seemed like a perfect fit for the Marvel Cinematic Universe for a long time, with plenty of yet-to-be-cast roles perfect for him beyond his top favorite. For some time now, Reeves has publicly expressed interest in Ghost Rider, the famed Spirit of Vengeance last played by Nicolas Cage. While Reeves" love of motorcycles and action experience would admittedly make for a great Ghost Rider, there are plenty of other Marvel characters who would suit him.
As an actor, Keanu Reeves has a trademark sense of detachment and offbeat delivery that make him relentlessly endearing. Between The Matrix movies and the John Wick franchise, his penchant for gripping action characters is also well-documented, making him a shoo-in for many tantalizing roles. Though Keanu Reeves has continuously turned down Kevin Feige in favor of playing the likes of Shadow the Hedgehog, the star could find a place in the MCU yet.
10 Sebastian Shaw Could be a great introductory villain for the MCU's X-Men

Thanks to Deadpool & Wolverine, the X-Men have officially been absorbed into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While returning cast members are sure to continuously show up in the case of iconic characters like Wolverine, lesser-known villains are certainly up for a re-cast. Reeves could play into the new X-Men storyline as Sebastian Shaw, a classic mutant villain from back in the day who leads the infamous Hellfire Club with his mutant power to absorb and project various forms of energy.
Sebastian Shaw appeared once in the movies before, played by Kevin Bacon in X-Men: First Class. Considering Bacon has now appeared in the MCU as himself in The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, Keanu Reeves could take over the character as a good starter enemy for an introductory X-Men film. As a habitual sharp dresser, Reeves certainly wouldn"t look out-of-place as the leader of the elite and esteemed Hellfire Club.
9 Mister Sinister Could pay off a long-standing tease that never got the chance to manifest

If there"s one X-Men villain that the Fox movies never got the chance to properly explore, it"s none other than the insidious geneticist Mister Sinister, a.k.a. Dr. Nathaniel Essex. A scientist from the 19th century, Sinister became obsessed with tinkering the human genome, using mutants as guinea pigs in his depraved experiments. Despite not technically being a mutant himself, Sinister"s skills with biological manipulation make him a dangerous foe.
Mister Sinister was only ever teased for the Fox X-Men universe, the most obvious example being the post-credits scene of X-Men: Apocalypse. Even though he doesn"t usually play villains, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 proved just how great Keanu Reeves is at playing edgy antagonists. As more of a mastermind villain, the aging Reeves also wouldn"t be as pressed to throw down with the heroes in exhausting action scenes.
8 Nathaniel Richards An important part of The Fantastic Four mythos

Fox"s X-Men timeline isn"t the only valuable piece of intellectual property the MCU inherited with Disney"s Fox deal. The upcoming movie Fantastic Four: Fist Steps will also bring the first superhero family to the beloved movie franchise at long last, giving the team another shot after multiple failed attempts at capturing their full comics glory. The Fantastic Four come with a wide suite of supporting characters, including one Nathaniel Richards.
A time-traveling adventurer and the father of Reed Richards, Nathaniel Richards has another notable descendant in the form of Kang the Conqueror. The idea that Mr. Fantastic devotes his life to scientific expeditions in the hope of finding his father could be an interesting premise for the fated trip that creates The Fantastic Four. Seeing Keanu Reeves" loving face as the impetus behind Reed"s endeavors across the cosmos would be a welcome surprise.
7 Norrin Radd Silver Surfer Reeves would be phenomenal as the original Surfer

Fantastic Four: First Steps has already confirmed that Julia Garner will be playing Shalla-Bal, the alien herald of Galactus known as the Silver Surfer. In the comics, Bal is just one of two Silver Sufers flung into opposite directions of the cosmos by Galactus as punishment, seeing as how they were once lovers. The more well-known male Silver Surfer is none other than Norrin Radd, who appeared in live-action previously in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.
The detached and almost alien-like qualities of Keanu Reeves" performances would make him an amazing fit for Norrin Radd. As Shadow the Hedgehog, he demonstrated some similar unfamiliarity with the Earth as an alien life form that proves how far he could excel in the very specific role. Thanks to his role in 1991"s Point Break, Keanu Reeves also knows how to surf, and would look very natural soaring through the cosmos as The Silver Surfer.
6 The Beyonder Another cosmic entity with an important role to play

One of the most exciting announcements the Marvel Cinematic Universe has made in regard to its upcoming films is the adaptation of the famous Secret Wars crossover comic with the arrival of Avengers: Secret Wars. The comic storyline introduces a character called The Beyonder, a nigh-omnipotent and all-powerful being who kidnaps the heroes and villains of the Marvel Universe and strands them on an isolated planet for his own sick amusement. The Beyond has yet to be confirmed for the cast of Avengers: Secret Wars.
If anyone was to fulfill the role of this character in the MCU, it should be Keanu Reeves. Once again, his penchant for turning in otherworldly line reads would make him excellent as a god-like space being, throwing the heroes and villains of the MCU against one another just to see what happens. The character is another one that wouldn"t require too much in the way of action, either, something Reeves could likely use a break from after capping off the John Wick saga.
5 Fantomex An amazing, if lesser-known X-Men character

Supposing Keanu Reeves wouldn"t be against launching back into another action-heavy role, the possibilities for him in the MCU open up far wider. One character that deserves to have a movie presence despite not showing up in the almost 20 years of Fox X-Men movies is the escaped Weapon X subject known as Fantomex. Raised to be a living Sentinel hunter, Fantomex becomes a superhero of his own with an eclectic range of abilities, including his symbiotic living mutation, a being known as E.V.A.
Fantomex is an odd, humorous character that Keanu Reeves would excel in. His gun skills would come into handy as the pistol-slinging mutant, as well as his underrated sense of comedic timing. Questions could be raised on Reeves" ability to do a French accent after his disastrous English one in Bram Stoker"s Dracula, but the fact that Fantomex"s French upbringing was only a poorly-informed simulation would make a terrible attempt at a French speaking voice actually work as part of the joke.
4 The Molecule Man A frustrated Fantastic Four villain

Pivoting back to villains Keanu Reeves could work well as, The Molecule Man is a Fantastic Four baddie that might be a great choice for the second MCU movie focused on the heroic family. Once a normal man working at a nuclear power plant, a freak accident involving a mysterious form of radiation turns Owen Reece into The Molecule Man. Gifted with the immensely powerful ability to control matter on a subatomic level, The Molecule Man becomes a small-time villain, arguably wasting his potential.
Once again, Reeves" performance of a villain turned reluctant hero in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 serves as a great proof-of-concept for his Molecule Man. Reeves would be well-suited to the kind of moral back-and-forth the character partakes in, not being an overtly cruel personality but certainly someone who is frustrated with the world. Molecule Man is also quite important to the Secret Wars comic storyline, as his powers are related to The Beyonder, giving him a prescient stake in the upcoming story of the MCU.
3 Iron Fist Might be a great mentor figure to a fresh Marvel hero

Custom Image by Kai Young Going back to a smaller, more street-level scale, another popular Marvel hero yet to make a true MCU appearance is none other than Iron Fist. Once the scion of a wealthy corporation, Danny Rand is trapped in the mystical city of K"un-Lun, where he defeats a dragon to gain the powers of the Immortal Iron Fist, a mantle that is passed down from generation to generation. Thanks to his proven kung fu skills in The Matrix films, Keanu Reeves might take on this role with shocking tenacity.
Granted, Danny Rand technically already exists in the MCU thanks to Finn Jones" portrayal in the Netflix series. However, considering that this particular branch of the Defenders universe was quite poorly received and the MCU has no problem picking and choosing which parts of older universes they decide to keep, few would take issue with Keanu Reeves being recast as Danny Rand. Reeves" Iron Fist could work as an older mentor to Lin Lie, the newest Iron Fist of the comics, before passing the title on to him.
2 Anthony Masters Taskmaster Could redeem the character's name in the MCU

Of all the most poorly-adapted Marvel characters in the MCU, the series" portrayal of Taskmaster has to be up there as one of the worst. Genderswapping the beloved villain mercenary is one thing, but the MCU"s biggest mistake was the total erasure of Taskmaster"s personality and backstory. In Black Widow, Taskmaster is introduced as Antonia Dreykov, General Dreykov"s daughter and a product of the Black Widow program. Dreykov has no personality to speak of and gets her powers of mimicry from a chip implanted in her brain.
Meanwhile, the original comic Taskmaster, Anthony Masters, is a wisecracking mercenary who simply has a natural ability to unerringly copy any physical movements he sees. Should Dreykov die in Thunderbolts*, Keanu Reeves swooping in as Anthony Masters would be an amazing way for the MCU to redeem themselves. Between his comedic acumen and his proven action scene skills, Keanu Reeves would be excellent as the braggadocious and smack-talking villain.
1 The One Above All Essentially Marvel's ultimate God

The Marvel universe is no stranger to all-powerful beings, from the ancient Celestials to the omniscient Watchers. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has depicted some hefty cosmic forces across its movies, but The One Above All still has yet to make an appearance, or even be mentioned. In the comics, The One Above All is essentially the closest thing there is to a traditional Abrahamic "God" in the Marvel universe, described as the ultimate creative force whose omnipotent powers of creation dwarf even the mightiest of beings.
If anyone should play The One Above All in the MCU, it should be Keanu Reeves. Something about Reeves" calm demeanor and composed presence would make a perfect fit for a character that describes his ultimate weapon as love despite being able to end entire universes with a thought. There"s something comforting about the idea of Keanu Reeves being the equivalent of God in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
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