John Wick: Chapter 4 has continued to prove Keanu Reeves’ skill in the action genre. It also proved that he could tackle Marvel’s strangest killer.
John Wick: Chapter 4 showed the iconic assassin in top form as he embarked on his quest for freedom against The High Table and his assassin’s past. The film also had some of the most exciting and complex action sequences that pushed Keanu Reeves to the limit. Nevertheless, he succeeded in making them believable and proving his chops in the action genre even after decades of acting. But the movie also proved the best role he could fill should he ever join the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
In the past, Keanu Reeves has been fancast for many roles in the MCU from the Beyonder to even Ghost Rider. However, as the years progressed, it’s clear that whatever role he could obtain may have to lean into the knowledge he’s already had. In this case his knowledge of firearms could be incredibly beneficial as well as his ability to portray a tortured soul trapped in a life he doesn’t fully accept. As a result, while Ghost Rider could be a fun choice, it’s nothing compared to how well he’d be as the Mutant assassin, Fantomex.
Keanu Reeves Could Capture Fantomex’s Brutal Nature
The John Wick franchise portrayed a character that was no stranger to brutality and would put himself in harrowing situations for no other reason than it was the only life he knew. Even after he got out and was pulled back into the life, it was the comfort he had in his training that allowed him to take a kicking and keep on ticking. As a result, his reputation preceded him as a brutal killer that got the job done. The same could also be said for the killer and thief, Fantomex, with a few added changes like his admittedly strange origin.
In the comic, Fantomex was a product of the Weapon Plus program and was meant to be a groundbreaking creation that melded Sentinel technology with humans to create Charlie-Cluster 7. This creation was grown in an artificial world and meant to be the next phase in Mutant hunting. With three brains, nano-active blood and a techno-organic alloy that was tied to his nervous system, he was a true creation designed for hunting and killing. However, Fantomex, obsessed with the real world, had his own beliefs and developed a French accent. He also adopted their culture, even though he’s not French. He would take this and his eccentric personality to the X-Men and help them against enemies rather than kill the team.
The MCU Could Integrate Fantomex While Expanding the Overall Lore
The MCU is a long way away from introducing Sentinels but the Department of Damage Control’s domestic use of Star Drones against Kamala Khan shows that the program could still be on the way. If so, it would only be a matter of time before more Weapon X and Weapon Plus programs begin as well, laying the groundwork for what would become Fantomex. While Reeves has the skill, his stoic personality is far from what Fantomex is as a character. This initial iteration could be a more haggard version of the character that has the skill but is far more focused.
Being that the character has three brains, he was eventually cloned into three parts and that could be the best way to eventually introduce a far more lively version that could keep the legacy going. Nevertheless, there’s no denying that Keanu Reeves has proven he has the skill to enter the MCU as an elite killer. But rather than be an enemy, he could return to the familiar idea of a killer that wants something better for himself. However, instead of freedom, Fantomex would simply rather fight against real enemies and annoy them in the process.
