Rami Malek in talks to star in Buster Keaton series from Matt Reeves

Deadline has reported that Rami Malek (No Time to Die) is set to play silent comedy icon Buster Keaton in a limited series for Warner Bros. Television.

Matt Reeves (The Batman) is set to produce the Buster Keaton series through his 6th & Idaho Productions banner, and Deadline understands that he will also helm the project. Ted Cohen (Succession) is in negotiations to write the series and serve as executive producer. The producers are also in negotiations to secure the rights to Buster Keaton: A Filmmaker’s Life by James Curtis, with the intention of using it as the source material. The project will soon be shopped to studios and streaming services. It’s hard to imagine any actor stepping into the shoes of The Great Stone Face, but Rami Malek definitely has the look and talent to pull it off, although I can’t imagine they’re going to let him pull off the death-defying stunts Buster Keaton was known for.

Buster Keaton was one of the biggest actors and directors of the silent movie era and his physical comedy and stunt work remains incredibly impressive even a hundred years later. After a series of two-reel comedies, Buster Keaton moved to feature-length films such as Sherlock Jr., The Cameraman, and The General, with the latter being regarded as his masterpiece.

The Buster Keaton series isn’t the only project about the actor in development. It was announced last year that James Mangold (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny) was developing a Buster Keaton movie with 20th Century Studios based upon Buster Keaton: Cut to the Chase by Marion Meade. Mangold is expected to direct and produce the movie.

Rami Malek will next be seen in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. The star-studded biopic features Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer, one of the fathers of the atomic bomb, as well as Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Florence Pugh, and more. The film is easily one of the most anticipated projects of the year, and in true Christopher Nolan fashion, he used real explosives to recreate the Trinity nuclear test instead of turning to CGI. Oppenheimer will hit theaters on July 21st.