BRZRKR, the comic book that marks Keanu Reeves’ debut as a writer in the medium, had the honor of being the first comic series to have a Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con. As incredible as that sounds, and as much as that is thanks to the actor’s superstardom, it could not have happened without the creative input and collaboration from co-writer Matt Kindt (Folklords, Bang!) and artist Ron Garney (Wolverine, Captain America). The trio have poured their hearts and souls in the story thus far, and fans have responded with a powerful enthusiasm.
SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAYSCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT

Centered on an immortal warrior known only as Berzerker, or “B,” BRZRKR was set for a 12-issue limited series by BOOM! Studios after raising over $1.4M through Kickstarter. Half-mortal and half-God, B is compelled to resort to violence and has spent centuries battling his own unbridled rage. Now working for the US government, he handles the fights that are too much for the average soldier in exchange for the secret to his existence and how to end it. With 9 issues already out and BRZRKR #10 arriving in September, the story is hurtling to its unbelievable conclusion – but it will soon take on a new life in a two-season anime and a live-action Netflix film.

Related: Keanu Reeves In Hall H Made Me Like Him Even More

While at San Diego Comic-Con, Screen Rant spoke to Reeves, Kindt and Garney about their reception at Hall H and expectations for upcoming adaptations, as well as how they plan to close out the explosive 12-issue comic series. Watch the video above, and read the responses in full below.

Screen Rant: You just came out of Hall H! What was that experience like?

Keanu Reeves: I had been there with a film before. But then to hear the stories of how a comic book had never been there – as people are telling me? It was cool to do that. So, thank you.
Ron Garney: The guy who runs the show came up to us and said how excited he was, because it had never been about that in that hall. So, it was a real defining moment in the history of the San Diego Comic-Con.
Keanu Reeves: It’s called Comic-Con.

You guys just came off the panel, and there was a very exciting announcement. We’re going beyond the comic; we are expanding. What is up?

Keanu Reeves: I’ve been working with the publisher, BOOM! Studios, and they had a vision for the comic book. Off of the readership and the enthusiasm for everyone’s work, we’ve had some other opportunities. We’re going to try and make a film with Netflix – thank you for that. BOOM! has reached out to a Japanese anime company called Production I.G, and Random House is going to help us try to have a novel.
I think it’s really exciting for me, and I think everyone involved [is] going to be able to tell different kinds of BRZRKR stories.

What can you say about the anime? What is it going to cover?

Matt Kindt: I don’t know anything. But I’ll say I did look at something that looked amazing. I’m not gonna say anything about it. But what was cool was to see them take our thing, and then turn it into something similar but very different. Just the look of it, and the visuals.
Ron Garney: It’s like watching evolution. Evolution takes millions of years, but in this case, it’s like seeing it happen before your eyes. It’s just taking on a life of its own and growing and growing and growing; taking different forms. It’s pretty amazing.

And then the movie as well. What stage is that in?

Keanu Reeves: Screenwriter Mattson Tomlin tells me he’s halfway through. He sent me page one, but then I already gave him a note on page one.
But it’s a real collaborative process. Mattson’s gonna write it, and he has ideas. I’m excited to see what they do.

I think that speaks to how much you care about the characters and the stories. Can you talk a little bit about what this means to you? I just asked an Oprah question, I’m sorry.

Keanu Reeves: You did! Can I just cry? How about I just cry?
It’s a really extraordinary opportunity, and I’m super grateful for it. And it’s cool that what we’re creating is giving other artists who are enthusiastic about the story a chance to be storytellers. I’m really super grateful, and I think it’s cool that can happen with a piece of something that came out of my imagination.

For you guys as well, same question. I’m sure you’ve been able to reflect on it a little bit, especially being here.

Ron Garney: He just said something that is very true for me, in particular, if I’m going to talk personally about it. I’ve been in this business for over 35 years, and to have this happen as sort of a punctuation this far into my career, and to know that it’s going to influence a generation of other artists after this? It really just defines my career in a way I just hadn’t expected.
Like I’ve said before, it’s like a bolt from the blue, and it’s the most gratifying feeling I think anyone could have. That’s all you could ask for.
Matt Kindt: I think when we started this thing, I just loved working. I love doing what we do, and when I was working with Keanu, I recognized immediately somebody who is the same and just loves the work; loves creating, loves the writing, loves to come up with stories. That’s all that really matters. I love running into somebody like that, who enjoys the process. We bumped into each other, and I was like, “Hey, you want to do comic?”
Keanu Reeves: It was kind of like that.

Tell me the origin story.

Matt Kindt: I only know my part. They called me up, and they’re like, “Hey, Keanu’s got an idea for story. Do you want to come out and have a meeting?” I was like, “Well, what’s the idea?” No offense or anything, but I was like, “What can I actually contribute to this thing?” They pitched it to me, but they’re like, “Let him do it. Let him pitch it, because there’s more to it.”
And so I came in, and we were in that room. Then he pitched this thing to me, and I was like, “Oh, my God!” The idea and where it came from, and what he is and everything, just spurred my imagination. I think that day, we were like, “It needs to be 12 issues.” And then we just rolled from there.
Ron Garney: Keanu called me up around Christmastime, and he was like, “Hey, Garney. We’re gonna do a double-sized last issue.” I’m like, “Great!” It’s all good for me. It’s gonna be sad, if it ever ends on this end of it. But it’s gonna keep going. It’s an immortal saga.

In terms of the story, is there an ending? Is this something that you guys are going to be doing for as long as you can?

Keanu Reeves: We’re going to try and end the 12 issues of the story in a satisfying way. We can only tell the story, and we’ve always tried to do something that we’re interested in. But we also think about who could be reading it. We’ve got some twists and surprises; some cool developments.
And then where it goes? The publisher BOOM! has given us the opportunity potentially to do some specials or annuals, as they’re called, or one-shots. We could do some 54-page BRZRKR stories. Hopefully this team can do one, and hopefully other teams can [too].

BRZRKR Synopsis

The man known only as B. is half-mortal and half-God, cursed and compelled to violence…even at the sacrifice of his sanity. But after centuries, B. may have finally found a refuge – working for the U.S. government to fight the battles too violent and too dangerous for anyone else. In exchange, B. will be granted the one thing he desires: the truth about his endless blood-soaked existence…and how to end it.

Check out our other SDCC 2022 interviews with the casts of Dungeons & Dragons and Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power as well. You can also catch our previous interviews with Keanu Reeves for John Wick 3 and Replicas.

Next: How Keanu Reeves’ Cyberpunk 2077 Reveal Helped Spiritfarer

BRZRKR #10 will be available in comic shops September 21.