Keanu Reeves spills the details of “Bill & Ted 3” on the Graham Norton Show, and it’s a nostalgia-soaked, middle-aged masterpiece waiting to happen!
Bill: I’m Bill S. Preston, Esquire!
Ted: And I’m Ted “Theodore” Logan!
Bill, Ted: And we’re… WYLD STALLYNS!
For those of you who were old enough to experience the glory that was the radical 1980s cinematic landscape, then you are undoubtable well-acquainted with the 1989 Keanu Reeves staple, “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure.” The popularity of the time traveling duo William “Bill” S. Preston Esq. (Alex Winter) and “Ted” Theodore Logan (Reeves) was so immense that it spawned a 1991 sequel “Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey.” The titling alone alludes to the sheer ‘80s decadence of the franchise, which actually birthed the signature air guitar move… that’s right Keanu Reeves coined the air guitar. Keep reading after the jump to find out the fate of the impending third installment of the “Bill & Ted” franchise and its cosmic implications.
While Reeves, Winters and a time traveling George Carlin reprised their “Excellent” roles for an “Excellent Adventure” animated spin-off series in 1990, the 13 episode Hanna-Barbera produced CBS show only lasted one season before heading to FOX for a short lived second season with none of the original cast in tow. Despite becoming a marketable brand, with a live-action spin off TV series in 1992, comic books, video games and even a 1998 musical, fan interest waned without the original “Bill & Ted” Winters and Reeves taking on the iconic roles.
That all changed in 2010, when it was announced that “Bill & Ted 3” was being developed, a script was near completion and, you guessed it, Winters and Reeves would be back to reprise their roles. Well since then, mums be the word, that is until Reeves made a stop at “The Graham Norton Show” while promoting his new hit action sequel “John Wick: Chapter 2.” When asked about the status of the trilogy topper, Reeves not only confirmed that it was indeed happening, but treated audiences to a pretty detailed description of how the movie would play out. Here’s what Reeves had to say:
It would be Bill & Ted in their 50s, I mean that just makes me laugh right there… what happened to these guys? Basically, they were supposed to write a song to save the world and they haven’t done that yet. So the pressure of having to save the world… you know their marriages are falling apart, their kids are kinda mad at them. But then someone comes from the future and tells them if they don’t write the song it’s not the world [at stake] it’s the universe, so they have to save the universe because time is breaking apart. So then elements of the past come in…
The uproar from the audience, host and even other guests, Whoopi Goldberg and Jamie Dornan, just proves the iconicism of the brand and Reeves’ signature air-guitar wielding ‘Surfer Dude’ persona. Goldberg seemed particularly enthralled by the plot, turning to Reeves and saying:
I have to be that person from the future.
Reeves of course obliges her by affirming there would definitely be a spot for her in the film which, all jest aside, makes a lot of sense. Not only was Goldberg a box-office busting screen-queen of the late ’80s and early ’90s, she is a prominent offbeat comedienne. Her persona definitely falls in line with the George Carlin defined role that the late comedian won’t be reprising… unless of course they decide to take a cue from the “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” playbook.
Watch the entire “Bill & Ted 3” segment of “The Graham Norton Show” below, and you might just catch an early glimpse of “Ted” Theodore Logan back in action [cue shredding guitar riff].