If you've been noticing an unusually high amount of Keanu Reeves in your newsfeed this month, you're not alone. 2019 has seen Reeves infiltrate almost every entertainment and social media platform there is. And, the best part is, he's done it without even really trying.
Peak Keanu saturation came with the actor's recent surprise appearance to present Cyberpunk 2077 -- the gaming convention's most highly anticipated release -- where he was met with rapturous applause and equally rapturous fangirling online. This was heightened by footage of Reeves' in-game character, a cyborgian "digital ghost" clearly created to pay lip service to his starring roles in cyberpunk classics like Johnny Mnemonic and The Matrix Trilogy. (A trilogy which reached its 20th anniversary this year and will be receiving the revival treatment, opening the door for even more Keanu!)
His flabbergasted reaction to the reaction made the moment all the more enjoyable. ("No, you're breathtaking!") It was also one that typifies the apathetic attitude Reeves' has had towards his celebrity status for years -- just as well considering his burgeoning status as one of Hollywood's greatest cult icons of the past thirty years, outside of Nicolas Cage.
It's also the crowning glory on what's been a very busy year for the reclusive actor. Industry recognition for Reeves' three decades of work came in May when he received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, an achievement that directly preceded the slew of Keanu content that has since been unleashed on his grateful and adoring public.
Fresh from completing the third John Wick installment -- a gleefully violent movie trilogy built entirely with him in mind -- moviegoers will next see Reeves in the palette-cleansing role of Duke Caboom in the upcoming Toy Story 4. In-between these two major releases, he's also found the time to make a cameo in Netflix's rom-com TV movie, Always Be My Maybe, playing what is essentially an affectionate parody of the zen hipster persona he's spent decades accidentally cultivating. With The Fast And The Furious and MCU reportedly beckoning, he's got his pick of the hottest franchises to hop into next.
New plot details have also been released about the upcoming Bill & Ted: Face The Music, which will see Reeves jumping on-board the remake/sequel/continuation trend, and cashing in -- deservedly -- on a portion of the wealth of nostalgia people of many different generations have for him. To children of the '80s, he's a stoner comedy icon. To children of the '90s, he's an action movie legend. And, now, to children of the 00's, he's "Fortnite guy."
Outside of the film industry, he's also been invading the fashion world as one of Saint Laurent's brand ambassadors, walking the coastal runway in Malibu this week and making a suit jacket look like perfectly acceptable beachwear. Outside of any industry, his E3 appearance helped underline an existing cultural fascination that has grown around Reeves, from the popular subreddit, "Keanu Being Awesome;" to a viral video of his poignant response to a question on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert about what happens when we die; to newly-emerged photos of him keeping a respectable physical distance from female fans; to him being dubbed an "Internet boyfriend."
When asked what he thought about his "Internet Boyfriend" title by People, Reeves' reply was totally on-brand: "I've been what?" And, after further consideration, "That's wacky." Keanu really doesn't have any idea how much we all love him, nor is he orchestrating some kind of cynical comeback strategy. He's just a man who does a bit of acting and thinks samurai are really neat.
A few years back, Matthew "Alright, Alright, Alright" McConaughey's career evolution -- from that guy who always leans in trashy rom-com posters to 2014's Best Actor Oscar-winner -- was defined as the "McConnaissance." While Reeves has experienced career highs and lows before, his latest bounce-back from relative obscurity to cornering every possible market must similarly be recognized as the dawning of the "Keanuaissance." A blessed age for us all.