Keanu Reeves is Klaatu

Keanu Reeves: I had the same question you had, and I then heard [the director's] answer. And I went, "Okay, nd it would be fun to play an alien, and it’s a worthwhile story." That’s when I came on board.

CraveOnline: But he’s not fully alien, right?

Keanu Reeves: That’s correct. That was part of the interesting side of the role was that it starts alien and becomes quite human.

CraveOnline:  This version takes a more environmental bent than the original. What do you do personally to help the planet and the environment?

Keanu Reeves: All I can. Recycle, a couple solar panels and some rainforest conservation. Oh yeah, and make this movie.

CraveOnline: How did you approach the character of Klaatu?

Keanu Reeves: It really came to me through the obligations of the character in the story. It was in the script. That’s really where I worked from. The character has certain cues. When he’s born and the first time he starts to speak and he tries to drink a glass of water and says, "This body is going to take some getting used to." So it was just kind of the concept of the separation of his consciousness and his body. And what else? I just approached it like any other role. What does it want? 

CraveOnline: How does your interpretation differ from the original?

Keanu Reeves: Yeah, Michael Rennie was more human than human in the first piece. He was not quite an every man but he was very human. In this version Klaatu is not. He is in a human body but he is not human. He doesn’t have the same kind of human empathetic qualities. In this one I’m a little more sinister. Michael Rennie kind of brings the stick at the end. I kind of bring the stick in the beginning.

CraveOnline: Did you try to avoid the original film before taking this on? How familiar were you?

Keanu Reeves:  In terms of looking for his performance, the films had different ways of telling the story. My take on being a slightly more sinister Klaatu was more about the structure of the film. It wasn’t about avoiding it. Rennie is fantastic. Of course I thought about the original.

CraveOnline: What makes The Day the Earth Stood Still as valid today as it was in 1951?

Keanu Reeves:  It’s still the human character, the same kind of violence. The specifics of what challenges us today have changed. But the human characters remain the same. There is a little shift. This one is a little more between the mother and the alien in this version than the original. There is more about the mother and kid. It’s a whole thing. It’s a whole big thing.

CraveOnline: Klaatu is trying to change the world. Is there something about you you'd like to change?

Keanu Reeves: No, I'm perfect.

CraveOnline: The chalkboard scene with John Cleese seemed like a musical duet. Did you approach it that way?

Keanu Reeves: That was intentional. We were thinking about it as a kind of dance and conversation.

CraveOnline: Did you learn Chinese at all for the scene with James Hong?

Keanu Reeves: No, I just had to learn the dialogue for the scene.

CraveOnline: Why was there no "Klaatu Barada Nicto?"

Keanu Reeves: Yeah, it's kind of scanned down. They wanted to. It's in the film. In the mix of the sound, it's in the film.

CraveOnline: Is there a historical character you'd like to be friends with?

Keanu Reeves: Oh, who do I want to be friends with? I'm going to take the thespian route and say William Shakespeare.

CraveOnline: What are you doing next? Do you know?

Keanu Reeves: I don't, I don't. I'm working on working.

CraveOnline: Are you taking a break?

Keanu Reeves: No, I'm just trying to find a good film and good role.

CraveOnline: Are you surprised they're always talking sequels to Bill and Ted or Speed?

Keanu Reeves: Yeah, it's kind of a new thing, isn't it? I guess enough time has passed.

CraveOnline: Is there one sequel you'd really like to make?

Keanu Reeves: I wouldn't mind doing another Constantine.

CraveOnline: Could that happen?

Keanu Reeves: I don't know.

CraveOnline: Is there something about the sci fi genre that keeps pulling you back?

Keanu Reeves: Well, I love the genre and I approach it like any other film. I guess that’s the short answer. Science fiction provides great storytelling opportunities and in the past I’ve just been fortunate to be part of good stories in science fiction genre films.