Keanu Reeves collaborates with China Miéville for first novel 'The Book of Elsewhere'

Keanu Reeves is set to unveil his debut novel, co-authored with acclaimed British 'weird fiction' luminary China Miéville.

Scheduled for release on July 23, The Book of Elsewhere narrates the story of an ageless warrior endeavoring to comprehend the essence of his own immortality over the course of millennia.

This narrative unfolds within the universe of the John Wick actor's comic book series BRZRKR, a collaboration that originated in 2021 alongside writer Matt Kindt and artist Ron Garney.

Keanu told The Guardian, “China did exactly what I was hoping for – he came in with a clear architecture for the story and how he wanted to play with the world of BRZRKR, a world that I love so much.”

He talked about how China's distinctive 'weird fiction' approach complements the actor's comic books, which revolve around Berzerker.

This character is depicted as an immortal fusion of God and man, displaying a pronounced inclination towards violence that significantly influences his mental stability.

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The protagonist eventually becomes part of the U.S. government's workforce to uncover the realities of his existence. The BRZRKR novel is slated for adaptation into a live-action series on Netflix.

Regarding China's involvement in the project, the 59-year-old actor commented on the novel's development, 'I was thrilled with his vision and feel honoured to be a part of this collaborative process.'

China expressed the idea of crafting a narrative inspired by comic books, “Sometimes the greatest games are those you play with other people’s toys.”

He continued by expressing that being approached by Keanu to write the novel was “an honour, a shock and a delight.”

'But I could never have predicted how generous he’d be with toys he’s spent so long creating,' China added.