Keanu Reeves to star in Netflix revival of ‘Die Hard’-inspired action movie first pitched in 1993

What’s old is new again at Netflix, as Keanu Reeves is now attached to star in a “Die Hard”-inspired action movie that was first pitched as a script in 1993!

Reeves is attached to star in “Maelstrom,” a revived project that recently had fellow action hero Alan Ritchson of “Reacher” in talks for the lead role. But Ritchson has dropped out, and “John Wick” star Reeves, 62, is in, Page Six Hollywood has learned.

The movie will be directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, who was also behind one of the streamer’s top-rated original films of all time, “Carry-On.”

Keanu Reeves is attached to star in Netflix’s “Maelstrom.” Apple TV
“Reacher” action hero Alan Ritchson was originally in talks to star. ©Amazon/Courtesy Everett Collection

“Maelstrom” follows a Federal Marshall tasked with guarding the fiancée of an arms dealer who’s seeking witness protection as she preps to testify against him. The story takes place over one night as a hurricane rolls in, knocking out communication — and the duo fights to survive the arms dealer’s henchmen and the elements.

Collet-Serra and Netflix have had success with dusted-off titles: “Carry-On” was dormant for 11 years before Netflix revived it and attached the director and stars Taron Egerton and Jason Bateman. It wound up as the third most viewed film ever at the streamer.

Netflix exec Ori Marmur, who revived “Carry-On” had reportedly alerted top producers around Hollywood to bring their best unmade, high-concept projects to the streamer — resulting in the new version of “Maelstrom.”

Reeves will play a Federal Marshall tasked with guarding the fiancee of an arms dealer. BACKGRID
The movie will be directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, who was also behind one of the streamer’s top-rated original films “Carry-On,” with Taron Egerton. ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection

Former Warner Bros. film boss Jeff Robinov is producing the film, which was amazingly sold as a spec script to Warners 33 years ago, before it was resurrected this year at Netflix.

Robinov was involved in the original sale of the script by screenwriter Greg Fitzpatrick, when Robinov was an agent at ICM.

According to a 1993 Variety piece, Fitzpatrick’s script was part of a larger push at the time for studios to find action films in the vein of the genre-defining “Die Hard” (1988) for stars like Steven Seagal, Sylvester Stallone and Clint Eastwood.

Former Warner Bros. studio head Jeff Robinov is producing the film. Visual China Group via Getty Images

The script was more recently freshened up by Mark Bianculli, who also penned an upcoming remake of the 1993 Stallone movie, “Cliffhanger,” starring Pierce Brosnan and Lily James that’s also being directed by Collet-Serra.

The film has been reported as being the first big title in a Netflix deal Robinov inked.

Reps for Reeves and Netflix did not comment, and reps for Ritchson did not get back to us.

News of the project comes as Peter Rice, Netflix’s incoming chief content officer, starts on Monday. Getty Images

At Warner Bros., Robinov shepherded billion-dollar franchises like “The Dark Knight” and “The Hangover” movies. (His name has also come up as a possible replacement for outgoing Warners’ execs Michael De Luca and Pam Adby, which would put him back in his old job.)

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