https://www.mensjournal.com/entertainment/aziz-ansari-keanu-reeves-good-fortune

Aziz Ansari stars opposite Keanu Reeves in the R-rated comedy Good Fortune, which also happens to be the comedian's directorial debut, a major new career step for the Hollywood funnyman.

According to Entertainment Weekly, Ansari had never met Reeves prior to casting him. Before that, Ansari's only experience with the legendary actor came as a fan, watching Reeves in 1994's Speed—at a drive-in theater—and then 1999's The Matrix. Those two films, Ansari told the outlet, were two of his "formative theatrical experiences."

When Reeves' name came up in casting, Ansari wasn't so sure.

“That guy just seems like he's on a different planet, you know what I mean?" he told Entertainment Weekly. "It doesn't seem like we would be able to interact."

After meeting in London, Ansari proposed an idea to the John Wick star that would rid the awestruck sensation and those crazy jitters about directing someone like Reeves.

“I was like, ‘Hey man, we got to hang out a few times, so I'm not freaked out being around you. You know what I mean?’ So he was like, ‘I get what you mean,'" Ansari recalled to Entertainment Weekly. "So, we hung out, and he came over to my house. I made him Indian food, and we hung out for a while, and he told me all these stories. And then we went to dinner a couple of times, and I tried to really spend time with him to get to know him a little bit so I could become comfortable around him.”

Good Fortune also stars Seth Rogen, who plays the role of wealthy employer, Jeff. Arj (Ansari) is a struggling gig worker and Gabriel (Reeves) is an angel who tries to show Arj that money can't buy happiness. To prove the point, Angel swaps Arj's life with Jeff, which leads to Angel losing his wings as punishment because Arj is, in fact, much happier living it up as rich Jeff.

Back | Go to board

Board:

/news/

Thread:

Aziz Ansari Opens Up About Career-Changing Hollywood Move