Many of us avoid thinking about death, but not Keanu Reeves.
"I'm 59 years old, so I think about death all the time," the Hollywood megastar revealed to the BBC.
"It's a good thing," he adds.
"I hope it's not paralyzing, but I also hope it sharpens the sensitivity to appreciating every breath we take and the relationships we have the potential to have."
He has to promote his next blockbuster.
This time it's a new book - Reeves' first novel.
The Book of Elsewhere, written in collaboration with British science fiction author China Miéville, follows the life of an immortal warrior who wishes he could die.
We meet Reeves and Miéville in a dimly lit hotel bar in central London.
The Canadian actor, who lives in Hollywood, finds time to see us in between shows with his band Dogstar.
The band played in Manchester the night before. Reeves looks a little tired as we begin the 30-minute interview.
But his passion for the novel also comes through strongly.
The Book of Elsewhere is based on the highly successful BRZRKR comic book series created by Reeves.
Due out in 2021, BRZRKR — pronounced "berserker" for the uninitiated — is also set to be adapted into a Netflix feature film starring Reeves, as well as an anime series.
For Reeves, comics have a particular appeal.
“I love the images,” he says. “I love words and stories, and I love the way you can have that engagement that overlaps. And so you can look at the art and then follow the story."
However, the actor downplayed his role in the collaboration process, insisting, “I didn't write the novel. Chyna wrote it."
Miéville claims that "it's too much of an exaggeration," adding, "It wouldn't have existed as it did without a lot of careful and thoughtful work with Keanu."
The central character in the plot is known only as "B".
With her long dark hair, B bears a physical resemblance to Reeves.
And when the comic first came out, some fans also pointed out some thematic similarities between the two, including their difficult personal lives.
Reeves has lost several people he loved in his life, including his girlfriend, their stillborn daughter, and his best friend.
But perhaps that's where the similarities end.
B is 80,000 years old, half-mortal and half-god. He also has a "curse of violence" that seems completely different from Reeves.
The actor, who is known for his gentle, soft-spoken nature, is often described as the nicest person in Hollywood.
B, on the other hand, is someone who can "pierce people's chests and rip their hands off, rip their heads off," according to Reeves.
So where does this violence come from in the novel?
"I think it's influenced by some of the action movies I've done," says Reeves, who also starred in the Speed and John Wick franchises. | BGNES
