The Eddie Murphy role that was “written, literally” for Keanu Reeves: “That could be really funny”

Steve Martin’s comedy *Bowfinger* was initially written for Keanu Reeves, but producer Brian Grazer suggested Eddie Murphy instead, arguing that Murphy playing two characters could make the joke funnier. The change gave Murphy a role suited to his comic strengths and helped create a film later regarded as one of his best performances in years.

Grazer said the script was written “literally” for a white action star, with the idea that Reeves would play the double-act of Kit and Jiff Ramsey. Martin agreed to recast the part for Murphy, who starred alongside him when the film was released in 1999. The article notes that *Bowfinger* was not a major box-office hit but has since become an underappreciated Murphy film; that same year, Reeves starred in *The Matrix*.