Keanu Reeves Powered Through Filming ‘Secret Level’ with a Broken Kneecap: ‘Let’s Go Again!’
‘Secret Level’ is an animated series created by Tim Miller for Amazon Prime Video, produced by Blur Studio and Amazon MGM Studios. The show features 15 episodes based on different video games, with a voice cast that includes Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kevin Hart, Keanu Reeves, and more.
It was announced in August 2024 and premiered with the first eight episodes on December 10, 2024, followed by the rest on December 17, 2024. The series received mixed reviews, and the Pac-Man episode helped promote a new game, ‘Shadow Labyrinth.’ In December 2024, Amazon renewed ‘Secret Level’ for a second season.
In the ‘Armored Core: Asset Management’ episode Keanu Reeves plays the pilot, and even though Reeves’ performance in the show was vital for the episode, Wilson and Miller explained that it almost didn’t happen.
The creators explained how Keanu Reeves joined the project. Tim Miller texted Dave Wilson asking if they had a role for Keanu, and after some back-and-forth, they decided to offer him a part as a “junkie mech pilot.”
Initially, Wilson didn’t believe it would happen, but soon received a video of Keanu enthusiastically agreeing to the role with the words, “Junkie mech pilot. I’m in.” This unexpected and quick decision by Keanu was a big surprise for them.
WILSON: Disbelief is the first thing. I was sitting at home, and Tim dictates into his telephone, and I get this text message.
MILLER: I have very fat fingers.
WILSON: So I get this message, “Do we have anything for piano?” And I’m like, “What does that mean?” And then I’m like, “Oh, Keanu’s there today.” We’d cast most of the episodes. There wasn’t actually a lot left. He was meeting Tim for another project, and all the artwork is up on the walls, and he was like, “What’s this?” There were only a handful left, and the one that we’d just actually got the story in for was Armored Core.
So I texted back, “What about a junkie mech pilot?” And then didn’t hear anything for like an hour. And I was like, “Well, I guess not.” And then Tim texts back and is like, “He’s in!” And I’m like, “Bullshit, he’s not in.” And then the next thing is a video of Keanu Reeves just going… What did he say?
MILLER: I said, “Just say, ‘Junkie mech pilot,’” And he goes, “Junkie mech pilot. I’m in.”
Despite fracturing his kneecap two weeks before filming, Keanu sent an email saying he had already learned his lines and was ready to shoot in short segments with his knee brace on.
Wilson was amazed that Keanu still wanted to go ahead with the role, and they decided to adjust the character to fit the injury by adding a limp and brace. This confirmed Keanu’s reputation for being kind, prepared, and dedicated.
WILSON: Yeah, and then I’ll tell this little story because you hear this all the time around town about how wonderful he is and how prepared and kind and generous he is. He lives up to all that hype. I thought, “At some point, the facade is going to fall, and the truth to never meet your heroes is going to come out.”
So, two weeks before filming, we get this email, and it’s like, “Dave, Tim, I got some bad news. I’ve fractured my kneecap,” and, and, blah, blah, blah. I’m skimming to the bottom of the email where he’s going to tell me he can’t do it, and he’s like, “But I’ve learned all my lines. I’m off book. I can take the brace off, and I can shoot for five minutes at a time…” And I was like, “Oh my God, he’s still going to do it.” And so I’m like, “Don’t worry about it. Keep the brace on. We’ll give your character a limp and a brace.”
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Despite his recent knee injury and being visibly in pain, Keanu insisted on finishing the shoot and worked for 13 hours straight with his knee brace on. He didn’t take breaks, only stepping out for a quick cigarette before jumping back in and saying, “Let’s go again!” They also mentioned how Keanu was sick during filming, but still powered through, making his commitment and passion for his work even more impressive.
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