Popular box office franchise ‘Bill and Ted’ – featuring Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter - could be set for a shock return to the silver screen thanks to the ingenuity of writer Chris Matheson. The 57-year-old American film director and screenwriter is challenging those who would say “No way!” for a reprise for the comedy duo by hinting that “Yes way!” may be closer to the mark.
The adventure began in 1989
The original outing for Reeves and Winter in ‘Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure’ back in 1989 proved to be a global winner with movie fans. By journeying back and forth through time, they were able to enlist the help of several famous historical figures such as Napoleon and Abraham Lincoln with their school project.
Commercial success led to an eagerly awaited sequel (‘Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey’) which came to fruition two years later. That was thought to be that though for the well- received partnership until Matheson put his thinking cap on and considered how he could bring back the now ageing combination.
Matheson hints at storyline
A third instalment seems to be coming closer to becoming a real possibility, despite several unsubstantiated rumours of the same in the intervening years. Matheson hinted recently that the pair were told that they were “gonna save the world” (by writing a song). He added that “now you’re 50 and you haven’t done it” as a taster for a potential plot.
Consequently, the third film’s storyline could see Bill and Ted’s marriages, their relationships with their children and indeed as the writer described it “their everything” affected depending on their actions.
Reeves has grown into one of the film industry’s headline acts since those early days in the zany ‘Excellent Adventure’, where he played slacker Ted “Theodore” Logan. Millions of film followers will have been captivated by his portrayal of ‘Neo’ in the futuristic virtual reality vehicle ‘The Matrix’ and its sequels, not to mention other lead roles in ‘Point Break’, ‘Constantine’ and as a retired hitman in ‘John Wick’.
Broadway beginnings for Winter
His high school time-travelling sidekick Winter – aka Bill S. Preston, Esquire – had success prior to hooking up with Reeves, notably so in the role as Marko in the 1987 vampire film ‘The Lost Boys’ alongside Kiefer Sutherland. His early acting career included a spell on Broadway in supporting roles in productions of ‘The King and I’ and ‘Peter Pan’ and he also co-wrote, co-directed and starred in the cult favourite ‘Freaked’ in 1993.
