Reeves has yet to take on a Marvel role, though he is on Kevin Feige's dream casting list, but he would be more than qualified to take on several characters. In recent years, fans have most notably cast him as Punisher. Reeves would’ve made a perfect Frank Castle as his stunt experience for John Wick would’ve translated to Punisher’s combat training. However, it is one of Reeves’ personal pastimes that solidifies how perfect he’d be for the Marvel casting.
Keanu Reeves Real-Life Gun Skill Prove How Perfect An MCU Punisher He Could've Been
Reeves had always been a frontrunner in the Punisher fan casting conversations because of his acting in John Wick, but a video of the actor in his personal time is what underlines his true potential. In a video posted to X, Reeves can be seen at a shooting range practicing with some guns. Just like an action star, he aims down the sight and proceeds forward behind cover. He is even able to switch from right-handed shooting to left-handed, showing off his versatility and experience.
It’s clear from the video that Reeves has a real understanding of weapons, which would’ve worked perfectly for the character of Punisher. Punisher is one of Marvel’s most violent characters, as well as one of the darkest, and the former soldier is incredibly skilled with his guns. Reeves being cast as Frank already seemed viable based on his martial arts skills alone, but the fact that he has real weapon knowledge would’ve made his portrayal all the more believable. Considering that Reeves practices with his weapons in his spare time, his ion would’ve definitely shone through in the Punisher role.
Why Keanu Reeves' Ghost Rider Casting Hopes Are More Likely Than The Punisher Fancastings
Although Reeves’ perfect Marvel role seems to be Punisher, it’s likely a casting that won’t happen. Jon Bernthal portrayed Frank in season two of Daredevil and the spin-off series Punisher, and he is set to return as the character in the MCU’s Daredevil show, Daredevil: Born Again. Bernthal is fantastic as Punisher so there’s no need to recast him, but it is a shame that Reeves will miss out on this role given what he’d bring to the table.
Every Actor Who Has Played Punisher In Live-Action Marvel Movies & TV Shows
The Punisher is perhaps Marvel's most iconic anti-hero, and as such, he's been adapted into live-action multiple times with different actors.
That doesn’t mean that Reeves’ future in the MCU should be given up on, as there’s still another character that would be perfect for him. Casting Reeves as Ghost Rider seems like a genuinely possible option in the MCU’s foreseeable future. The actor has already expressed that Ghost Rider was his childhood dream Marvel role, and there is currently no one occupying the role in the main MCU timeline that is known of. Ghost Rider is a fundamentally different character than Punisher, but it’d still be possible for Reeves to apply his real-life ion for action to a MCU role.
