Has Keanu Reeves taken medical leave from film projects for health reasons?
Executive summary
Available reporting documents multiple on-set injuries and knee problems Keanu Reeves has publicly discussed — notably a 2025 kneecap fracture while filming Good Fortune that he described as his patella “cracking like a potato chip” and which required him to use crutches on set [1] [2]. There is no reliable source in the provided set that says Reeves formally took a medical leave from a film project for health reasons; some outlets describe him powering through injuries while production continued [2], and fact‑checks show viral stroke/ paralysis claims are false [3].
1. On‑set injuries are documented, but the record of formal medical leave is not
Multiple entertainment pieces and compilations in the available reporting recount Reeves’ physical injuries tied to action work and recent productions — including longstanding knee problems and a 2025 kneecap fracture during Good Fortune [1] [4] [2]. Those accounts describe him altering schedules, using crutches and postponing sequences [4] [2]. None of the supplied sources, however, states that Reeves officially entered a named medical leave from a film production; available sources do not mention a formal medical‑leave announcement.
2. Reporting emphasizes “powering through” and schedule adjustments rather than official leave
Contemporary coverage frames Reeves as continuing to work despite injuries: Men’s Journal says he “managed to film much of the movie with a significant knee injury,” and other outlets note dance sequences and scenes were delayed rather than the actor stepping away entirely [2] [4]. Trade and fan pieces suggest productions adapted to accommodate his condition rather than documenting a medical‑leave filing [2].
3. Public concern and speculation have produced misinformation that reporting corrected
Social posts and viral images once claimed Reeves had suffered a stroke and was paralyzed; Hindustan Times’ verification piece determined that those viral claims were unsupported and based on fabricated materials [3]. That fact‑check demonstrates how rapidly unfounded health rumors circulate around high‑profile actors and why absence of an official leave announcement can be misread as a cover for worse problems [3].
4. Industry context: action actors commonly sustain injuries; reporting reflects that pattern
Available articles place Reeves’ problems in the broader context of action filmmaking — chronic knee wear from stunts and a 1988 motorcycle accident are referenced as background for his joint issues [5] [6]. Several pieces suggest such cumulative wear makes high‑intensity returns (for instance, another John Wick) increasingly unlikely without major accommodations [7] [8]. Those analyses are about professional limits, not documented medical‑leave records.
5. What sources explicitly say about John Wick 5 and future projects
Some coverage ties Reeves’ physical condition to uncertainty about future high‑octane roles. Reports note Reeves has expressed doubts his body could handle another John Wick and that directors recognize challenges ahead; those stories link health talk to creative decisions rather than to a declared medical absence from an active shoot [7] [8].
6. Where reporting is thin or absent — limitations you should note
The supplied sources do not include studio statements, union filings, official production notices, or medical records that would definitively confirm or deny a formal medical leave. Available sources do not mention a union‑filed sick leave or an official production press release labeling Reeves as on medical leave. Any claim beyond what these articles state would be unsupported by the provided reporting.
7. Bottom line — how to read the record
The curated reporting shows Keanu Reeves has suffered notable injuries (including a 2025 kneecap fracture) and has adjusted shooting schedules, but the sources do not document a formal medical leave from a film project; instead they describe him continuing work with accommodations or scenes postponed [1] [2]. Viral stroke/paralysis rumors are debunked in these same files [3]. If a formal medical‑leave claim appears elsewhere, seek a primary studio statement, union filing, or Reeves’ direct comment — those items are not present in the material provided.