# In 1995, Keanu Reeves was desperate to be cast in a French period drama. He cried when he didn’t get the role

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/in-1995-keanu-reeves-was-desperate-to-be-cast-in-a-french-period-drama-he-cried-when-he-didnt-get-the-role/
- Published: 2026-11-08T15:15:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-08T16:39:43+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/keanu-reeves-was-desperate-cast-french-period-drama-cried-didnt-get-role/
- Topics: Europe, World

## Key points

- Reeves sought a French period drama role in 1995.
- Olivier Martinez was chosen instead.
- Reeves later starred in A Walk in the Clouds.

## Summary

In 1995, Keanu Reeves tried to land a leading role in French period drama The Horseman on the Roof, hoping to move beyond the heroic action parts for which he was known. He was rejected in favour of Olivier Martinez and later recalled that he cried when he received the news.

The article says Reeves wanted greater variety and had previously turned down some high-profile roles, including parts in Heat and Platoon. That year, he instead appeared in A Walk in the Clouds, an English-language remake of an Italian film; despite mixed reviews, critic Roger Ebert praised it.

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