One of the best scenes in “Always Be My Maybe,” the Netflix rom-com starring Ali Wong and Randall Park, features a cameo by Keanu Reeves.
Reeves plays himself as a love interest of Wong’s character, Sasha. In a scene the internet has GIFed countless times already, he makes a dramatic entrance at a restaurant where Sasha is on a double date with Marcus, played by Park. And he delivers some great one-liners.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Wong opened up about why she wanted Reeves for the part and how she landed the A-list star of the “John Wick” franchise.
“We were like, ‘Who’s a dude that would be Marcus’ worst nightmare for Sasha to start dating once he realizes he’s been in love with her his entire life? Like, an iconic Asian man. Keanu Reeves,’ ” Wong told the magazine.
Reeves is part Chinese and Hawaiian.
Wong said she thought landing Reeves was a long shot. But it turns out he had seen her Netflix standup special “Baby Cobra” and asked to meet her and director Nahnatchka Khan, creator of the ABC sitcom “Fresh Off the Boat,” to talk about the project. And according to Wong, he came with a deep knowledge of the script.
Reeves also improvised some of his scenes, she said.
“At the Chateau Marmont, he pitched a couple of things that made it in. Like wearing glasses that had no lens,” Wong told Rolling Stone. “And the part in the game night scene where he lists all of these Chinese dignitaries, that was all his idea. And when he says, ‘I don’t have a problem, Sasha. What’s your problem?’ and starts air-fighting. It’s hard to describe just how shockingly funny he is.”