Secret Stage’s Armored Core Episode Is a Stark Reminder That We Do not Deserve Keanu Reeves

Whatever the challenge that Keanu Reeves takes on, there’s at all times an accompanying anecdotal story about how selfless, down-to-earth, and humble the 60-year-old Sonic the Hedgehog 3 actor is. Whether or not it’s tales of him buying his entire stunt crew $10,000 engraved Rolexes for dying by the hands of John Wick within the franchise’s fourth movie, his refreshingly level-headed meditation on the pervasive rise of AI within the Hollywood, or just not grandstanding on his blockbuster film star acclaim in small but vital methods all through his day by day life, Reeves persistently demonstrates that he’s merely too good for this world. Reeves’ newest motion-captured efficiency in Prime Video’s online game anthology collection, Secret Level, is one other instance of the actor’s dedication to delivering an distinctive efficiency.

Talking with Collider, Secret Stage creators Dave Wilson and Tim Miller shared their expertise working with Reeves on the Armored Core-centric episode “Asset Administration.” On this episode, Reeves portrays a rugged mech pilot remoted on a frozen planet, assigned a mission that would conclude the infinite warfare between him and the monstrous entities which have tormented him for years. Trying again, Wilson and Miller recounted their shared disbelief at Reeves sending a video over saying, “Junkie mech pilot. I’m in.”

“I’ll inform this little story since you hear this on a regular basis round city about how great he’s and the way ready and type and beneficiant he’s. He lives as much as all that hype. I believed, ‘In some unspecified time in the future, the facade goes to fall, and the reality to by no means meet your heroes goes to return out.’ So, two weeks earlier than filming, we get this e mail, and it’s like, ‘Dave, Tim, I acquired some dangerous information. I’ve fractured my kneecap,’ and, and, blah, blah, blah. I’m skimming to the underside of the e-mail the place he’s going to inform me he can’t do it, and he’s like, ‘However I’ve discovered all my traces. I’m off ebook. I can take the brace off, and I can shoot for 5 minutes at a time,” Wilson recounted. “And I used to be like, ‘Oh my God, he’s nonetheless going to do it.’ And so I’m like, ‘Don’t fear about it. Maintain the brace on. We’ll give your character a limp and a brace.’”

He continued: “And he reveals up, and about two hours in, I can inform it’s hurting, man. It’s very latest, and his knee’s in regards to the measurement of Tim’s head. About two hours in, he’s like, ‘Dave.’ And I’m like, ‘Do you need to come again tomorrow?’ He’s like, ‘Let’s simply shoot all of it now.’ And I’m like, ‘What?’ And he shot for 13 hours straight with that brace, and he doesn’t go away set. He simply nips out, has a cigarette, comes again in, and he’s like, ‘Let’s go once more!’ Wonderful, superb human being. I imply, you have to be so fortunate in your profession that somebody will present up on the higher echelons of the city and simply do it as a result of they love doing it.”

As if all of the aforementioned facets of Reeves’ work ethic weren’t adequate, Wilson additionally talked about that Reeves filmed his scenes whereas sick.

“You may inform he had a chilly, so plenty of the runny nostril and cough and every part—all the identical factor,” Wilson mentioned. “It’s not appearing. He shot via all of it. It was nice.”

As evidenced by his thorough analysis for his position as Shadow the Hedgehog in Paramount Footage’ lately launched Sonic the Hedgehog 3, it’s clear that whatever the perceived significance of his roles, Reeves absolutely dedicates himself to embodying the character and honoring his commitments, even to his personal detriment. There may be little extra so as to add besides to proceed admiring the person and hope all of his ache is alleviated and transferred to a different.

All episodes of Secret Stage at the moment are accessible on Prime Video, and the anthology collection has been renewed for a second season.

Need extra io9 information? Take a look at when to count on the newest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s subsequent for the DC Universe on film and TV, and every part you could find out about the way forward for Doctor Who.