BRZRKR (franchise)

Last updated
BRZRKR
BRZRKR-LOGO-BOOM-STUDIOS.png
Official logo (2021-present)
Created by
Original workBRZRKR Vol. 1 (2021)
OwnerKeanu Reeves
Years2021–present
Print publications
Book(s) The Book of Elsewhere (2024)
Comics

BRZRKR is a print media and planned film and television franchise created by Keanu Reeves and developed by Boom! Studios. Beginning with the first titular comic book run in 2021, the series has expanded to include four one-shot spin-off issues and a novel written by Reeves and speculative fiction author China Miéville.

Contents

A feature film produced by and starring Reeves and written by Mattson Tomlin is in development. Afterword, a two-season anime series adaptation will release.

Comic books

BRZRKR

In March 2021, the first volume of the comic book BRZRKR, co-written by Keanu Reeves and Matt Kindt, was published. Issue #1 sold over 615,000 copies, making it the top-selling single issue since Star Wars #1 in 2015. [1] [2]

The second and third volumes followed, published in September 2022 and October 2023, respectively. [3] The series received positive reviews, with Volume 1 gaining an average review score of 8.5/10 from 20 critics, [4] Volume 2 gaining an average review score 8.1/10 from 15 critics, [5] and Volume 3 gaining an average review score of 7.6/10 from 13 critics at review aggregator website ComicbookRoundup. [6]

Spin-offs

Bloodlines Vol. 1

On July 26, 2023, Boom! Studios released BRZRKR: Poetry of Madness , written by Reeves and Steve Skroce, to be the first issue in the first volume of the Bloodlines series. It has art by Skroce and colors by Dave Stewart. Cover variant artists include Travis Charest, David Aja, and David W. Mack. [7] CBR gave the issue a positive review, saying, "BRZRKR: Poetry of Madness #1 never pretends to be anything it isn't. The book doesn't try to position itself as a highbrow epic fantasy or thought-provoking social commentary competing for an Eisner Award. Instead, it is all about how far it can take the intensity of the action and present Berserker as even more of a butt-kicking hero than he already is. Much like how most people feel toward Reeves, it's hard not to fall in love with the honesty of it all." [8]

On November 29, 2023, Boom! Studios released BRZRKR: Fallen Empire , written by Reeves and Mattson Tomlin, to be the second issue in the first volume of the Bloodlines series. It has art by Rebekah Isaacs and colors by Dee Cuniffe, titled The comic had cover variants by Joëlle Jones, Jenny Frison, and Yanick Paquette. [9] CBR praised the issue, calling it "[It is] as beautiful as it is tragic, BRZRKR: Fallen Empire #1 demonstrates the true series potential of this young franchise." Reviewer Hannah Rose specifically praised Cuniffe's colors, calling them "spectacular", and likened the comic to a "Victorian novel". [10] Alex Zalben and Justin Tyler of comicbookclublive.com gave the run positive reviews, with Tyler likening the portrayal of 'B' to a "feature film version of the character", and comparing the story of the issue to The Mummy (1999). Zalben said he was at first "bummed" that original series co-writer Matt Kindt and original artist Ron Garney weren't involved, but said he ended up liking the comic regardless, praising the "surprising amount of important mythology" in the issue. [11]

In October 2023, Boom! Studios announced the first compilation issue of the first volume of the Bloodlines run, which includes Poetry of Madness and Fallen Empire. It was released on March 27, 2024. [12]

Bloodlines Vol. 2

In February 2024, writer Jason Aaron was revealed to be writing a "standalone Western story" to make up the first issue of the second volume of the Bloodlines spin-off run, with art by Francesco Manna, titled A Faceful of Bullets. It was first set for release in June 2024, [13] but was moved to July 24. [14]

In May 2024, Boom! Studios announced a prequel issue The Lost Book of B, which reunites the original run's creative team, including Reeves, co-writer Matt Kindt, artist Ron Garney and colorist Bill Crabtree. It is a story involving Genghis Khan. It is set to be released on August 21, 2024 [15]

Novel

In January 2024, in an interview on Good Morning America , Reeves announced that he was co-authoring a new book with speculative fiction writer China Miéville titled The Book of Elsewhere. [16] [17] The book takes place in an alternate universe to Reeves's comic book series BRZRKR, [18] and was released on July 23, 2024 by Del Rey Books and Boom! Studios. [17]

Adaptations

Film

On March 22, 2021, Netflix announced it was developing a live-action film adaptation and a follow-up anime series based on BRZRKR, with Reeves cast as the lead and set to produce. [19] Also producing are Boom! Studios co-founder Ross Richie, company president Stephen Christy, and Stephen Hamel through Company Films. In October 2021, Mattson Tomlin was writing the live-action film adaptation. [20] Adam Yoelin is set to executive produce the film through Boom! Studios. [19]

Tomlin completed the script in September 2022. [21] Reeves stated that once he had finished reading the script, there was "a 33% chance" he would direct the film himself. Reeves commented on the possibility of him directing, saying

"I know how it's a lot of work, but the film that I directed, Man of Tai Chi, was born, I became the director because I was part of the writing process, and I didn't want to hand it over. I was like, oh, okay. I have to direct this. I'm not quite there yet on ‘BRZRKR’. I have to read the script, but I'm also interested in having a collaborator and what they could bring to it. [21]

By the time Penguin Random House announced its acquisition of Boom! Studios in July 2024, the project was confirmed to remain in development. [22]

Anime series

In July 2022, during Keanu Reeves' panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2022, it was announced that an anime series adaptation will be produced by Production I.G and have two seasons. [23] Reeves will reprise his voice role as 'B'. [19]

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References

  1. ↑ Johnston, Rich (2021-02-04). "Keanu Reeves' BRZRKR #1 Sells Over 615,000 Copies To Comic Stores". Bleeding Cool News And Rumors. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  2. ↑ Jennings, Collier (2021-02-06). "BRZRKR #1 Is the Best Selling Comic Since Marvel's Star Wars #1 in 2015". CBR. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  3. ↑ Reeves, Keanu; Kindt, Matt (2023-10-10). BRZRKR Vol. 3. BOOM! Studios. ISBN   978-1-68415-712-9.
  4. ↑ "BRZRKR #1 Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  5. ↑ "BRZRKR #2 Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  6. ↑ "BRZRKR #3 Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  7. ↑ "BRZRKR: Poetry of Madness - Exclusive Preview of the Prequel Story". IGN . July 21, 2023. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  8. ↑ Pereira, Sergio (July 31, 2023). "REVIEW: BOOM Studios' BRZRKR: Poetry of Madness #1". CBR . Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  9. ↑ "BRZRKR: Keanu Reeves' Immortal Warrior Returns in Fallen Empire". IGN . August 23, 2023. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  10. ↑ Rose, Hannah (December 5, 2023). "REVIEW: Boom! Studios's BRZRKR: Fallen Empire #1". CBR . Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  11. ↑ Zalben, Alex (November 30, 2023). "BRZRKR: Fallen Empire #1 Review: Tales From The Crypt". comicbookclublive. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  12. ↑ "BRZRKR: Bloodlines Vol. 1 Collection Revealed by BOOM! Studios". IGN . October 19, 2023. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  13. ↑ Babb, Tiffany (February 22, 2024). "Keanu Reeves' BRZRKR taps Jason Aaron to write standalone Western story". thepopverse.com. Archived from the original on February 23, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Get a First Look at BRZRKR: A Faceful Of Bullets #1". Graphic Policy. June 28, 2024. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  15. ↑ Schedeen, Jesse. "Keanu Reeves Returns to BRZRKR in The Lost Book of B". IGN . Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  16. ↑ Bernabe, Angeline Jane (2024-01-10). "Keanu Reeves announces new novel, 'The Book of Elsewhere'". ABC News . Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  17. 1 2 Creamer, Ella (2024-01-10). "Keanu Reeves and China Miéville to release collaborative novel The Book of Elsewhere". The Guardian. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  18. ↑ Rivera, Joshua (May 30, 2024). "Let Keanu Reeves punch and shoot his way onto your summer reading list". Polygon . Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  19. 1 2 3 Jackson, Angelique (2021-03-22). "Keanu Reeves to Star in and Produce 'Brzrkr' Live-Action Film and Anime Series for Netflix". Variety. Archived from the original on October 30, 2021. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
  20. ↑ Weintraub, Steve (October 4, 2021). "Keanu Reeves, Matt Kindt, and Ron Garney Discuss Their Comic Series 'BRZRKR' and Reveal Who's Writing the Live-Action Netflix Movie". Collider . Retrieved February 22, 2022. Reeves told me that Mattson Tomlin (writer of Project Power and one of the writers on The Batman) has been hired to write the live-action movie and it's in the early stages of development.
  21. 1 2 Oddo, Marco Vito (October 4, 2022). "Keanu Reeves May Direct Movie Adaptation Of His Own Comic 'BRZRKR' [Exclusive]". Collider . Valnet Inc. Archived from the original on January 6, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  22. ↑ Gajewski, Ryan (July 10, 2024). "Penguin Random House to Acquire Boom! Studios". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  23. ↑ Loo, Egan (July 22, 2022). "Keanu Reeves' BRZRKR Anime Series Animated by Production I.G With 2 Seasons Planned". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
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