The Acolyte is the newest Star Wars TV show for fans to look forward to, and for good reason. The series is confirmed to pull elements from the Expanded Universe material, which was largely rendered no longer canon -- or Legends -- after Disney acquired Lucasfilm. By looking in that direction for influence, the series could finally make a popular fancast come true with Keanu Reeves as Darth Revan.
Keanu Reeves has experienced a resurgence in popularity over the past several years, with Star Wars fans imagining him as the perfect actor to play one Sith role in particular. Given everything currently known about the series, this could easily jump from a fan idea to reality. With all The Acolyte has going for it, now is the time to cast Keanu Reeves as Darth Revan.
Who Darth Revan Is in Star Wars
Darth Revan was introduced in the 2003 video game Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. Although the character's backstory wasn't initially revealed, it was shown in the game's narrative that Revan was a former Jedi who turned to the Dark Side. Revan was also established as canonically male, although players were able to choose the character's gender in the first game. After becoming the Sith Lord Darth Revan, the former heroic Forcer user sought to destroy the Empire with his army. Unfortunately, however, Revan was betrayed by his apprentice Darth Malak.
Afterward, the Jedi recovered Revan and erased his memories, hoping to restore him to the Light Side of the Force and rejoin their ranks. Subsequent games, novels and comic books revealed more about Revan's story -- namely how he and Malak became part of the Sith. Darth Revan has been a favorite among Star Wars aficionados for years. Some have noted his appearance is reminiscent of actor Keanu Reeves, and the star of John Wick might make for more than just a winning face if Revan is brought into live-action.
Why Keanu Reeves Is Perfect for Darth Revan
With The Acolyte pulling from Legends material, it would be a great place to bring Darth Revan into live-action. Reeves' appearance is one reason to cast him as Revan, but his acting chops and star power would also be a huge boon. After all, Star Wars fans who are only familiar with the movies and perhaps the recent Disney+ shows wouldn't know who Revan is. However, casting a big name like Reeves would instantly draw their attention. As mentioned, Reeves' popularity has rebounded in recent years, seeing him expand beyond movies into video games such as Cyberpunk 2077. Similarly, his sometimes aloof characters -- particularly Neo from The Matrix series -- would be easy to draw from in bringing a brainwashed amnesiac to life, especially if The Acolyte showcases Revan's redemption.
It's also worth noting that Carrie-Anne Moss was cast in the series as a Jedi. Moss and Reeves famously played alongside each other in the Matrix movies, and putting them in the same TV show would be a way to either replicate what worked in the past or completely subvert audience expectations. The Star Wars franchise isn't a stranger to accomplishing fan dreams either, as Rosario Dawson's casting as Ahsoka Tano was widely requested and just as appreciated. Given Reeves' apparent desire to join a major franchise owned by Disney, The Acolyte could be the way to give fans what they want and bring John Wick/Neo to a galaxy far, far away.