A beautiful new piece of fan art envisions Keanu Reeves in the role of Star Wars’ Darth Revan, a key Sith Lord from the Knights of the Old Republic video game series. Reeves has been a popular fan cast for Revan for some time, often appearing at the center of rumors and various fan projects. Though he was removed from canon for years after Disney acquired Star Wars, a reference to Revan in The Rise of Skywalker means he could make a triumphant return.
In the old Legends timeline, Darth Revan was one of the Sith’s most accomplished, feared, and complicated figures. He began life as a Jedi Knight and fought bravely in the Jedi’s wars with Mandalore. Eventually, though, he fell to the dark side and waged a terrible campaign against the Republic. After being captured by the Jedi, Revan’s mind was wiped, giving him a chance at redemption by once again fighting on the side of good. He is one of the most important and beloved characters in the Old Republic mythos.
Due to Revan’s popularity, many fans have long hoped for him to return to the new Star Wars canon in a significant way. A new piece of fan art by artist Yadvender Singh Rana (Ultraraw26 on Instagram) shows what a live-action Revan could look like if played by Keanu Reeves. The piece is stunningly stylized, depicting the duality of Revan’s oscillating relationship with both the dark and light sides of the force. It’s another strong case for Disney to bite the bullet and bring Revan to their rapidly-expanding Star Wars universe.
Of all the Star Wars stories lost to non-canon after Disney purchased Lucasfilm, the Old Republic timeline is perhaps the one most frequently asked to be brought back. Set thousands of years before The Phantom Menace, the Old Republic covers events like the Mandalorian Wars and various Sith Empires' rise and fall, including Revan’s. The new High Republic stories being developed by Disney will bring some of the same energy back to Star Wars. Still, as they are set much later in the overall timeline, new canonical versions of the Old Republic era are possible.
Unfortunately for Darth Revan fans, it seems unlikely that the Dark Lord will be making a grand return any time soon. Disney’s extensive plan for the next few years of Star Wars content focuses mainly on the New Republic, High Republic, and Galactic Civil War eras. That still leaves the door open for a Revan return down the road, but it probably won’t be anywhere in the immediate future of Star Wars.
Source: Yadvender Singh Rana