Keanu Reeves replaces Alan Ritchson in Netflix’s hurricane thriller ‘Maelstrom’

Jaume Collet-Serra will direct the film, which centres on a witness protection mission during a hurricane

Keanu Reeves is set to star in Netflix’s action thriller Maelstrom after Alan Ritchson exited the project. The casting change brings the John Wick star into a film that was first developed more than three decades ago.

The movie will be directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, known for Carry-On. Its story follows a federal marshal tasked with protecting the fiancée of an arms dealer who is seeking witness protection before testifying against him.

The situation becomes increasingly dangerous when a hurricane strikes, cutting off communication with the outside world and preventing reinforcements from reaching the pair. They must fight off men working for the arms dealer while facing the threat posed by the storm.

The reason for Ritchson’s departure has not been publicly established, according to the report. Page Six first reported Reeves’ casting.

Screenwriter Mark Bianculli is revising the script, which began with a draft by the late Gregory Fitzpatrick. The project has a long history in Hollywood, having been sold as a spec script to Warner Bros. in 1993 by producer Jeff Robinov, who was then working as an agent.

At the time, Variety described the concept as similar to Die Hard set during a hurricane. The original sale reportedly ranged from $225,000 to $625,000. Robinov, a former Warner Bros. Pictures president, is bringing the project to Netflix under a new deal, making Maelstrom its first film under that arrangement.

Reeves has become a major action star through franchises including The Matrix and John Wick. His upcoming projects also include reprising his voice role as Shadow in Sonic the Hedgehog 4, scheduled for 2027.

The casting announcement does not yet establish a release date for Maelstrom. Netflix has not announced further details about production or the rest of the cast in the report.