Keanu Reeves Discussed Working With Sofia Coppola After Their Split On A Special 100-Year Tribute Film

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I need a drink. Keanu Reeves reunited with his ex-girlfriend on a new project, and it's blowing my mind.

closeup of keanu
Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

The John Wick: Chapter 4 star and director Sofia Coppola teamed up for the 100th anniversary of Japanese whisky maker the House of Suntory, and this may come as a bit of a surprise since they have a romantic history.

closeup of the two present-day
Nina Westervelt / Variety via Getty Images

The tribute film features Keanu and other people enjoying the whisky while "Crimson and Clover" by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts play in the background. It feels like we're transported back to when the pair first met.

people drinking whisky, the distillery, and people walking the streets at night
Suntory Holdings Limited

For context, Sofia and Keanu dated back in the early '90s after meeting on the set of her father's, Francis Ford Coppola, 1992 film Bram Stoker's Dacula, according to a People exclusive.

closeup of the two at an event in the 90s
Ron Galella, Ltd. / Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

For Sofia, Suntory holds a special significance because the whisky brand was heavily featured in her 2003 film, Lost in Translation.

movie poster with bill murray sitting on a bed
Focus Films / ©Focus Films/Courtesy Everett Collection

In the movie, Bill Murray starred as Bob Harris, a fading American movie star who travels to Tokyo to promote Suntory whisky in the middle of his midlife crisis.

bill taking photos with the whisky
Focus Films / ©Focus Films/Courtesy Everett Collection

The film includes the famous phrase, "For relaxing times, make it Suntory Time," and also features Scarlett Johansson in one of her first major roles as an adult actor.

the characters drinking at the bar as bill says the line
the characters drinking at the bar as bill says the line

Focus Features / Via media.tenor.com

As for Keanu's connection to the brand, he starred in a dated Suntory ad in 1990. It featured a young Keanu helplessly staring into the darkness, enamored by a mysterious woman who is actually just a bottle of Suntory Reserve. It's ridiculously accurate of '90s visual storytelling.

keanu in the commercial
Suntory Holdings Limited

When asked about what it was like working with Sofia, Keanu told People it was an easy yes. "It was," he said. "It was cool [to get] a chance to work with Sofia Coppola and to work with [her brother] Roman Coppola on a kind of short commercial and then a docu-series. It was a really special opportunity."

keanu holding a puppy
Courtesy Everett Collection / Everett Collection / Everett Collection

The Matrix actor has long-held a passion for Japanese culture, telling Total Film in February, "Japanese anime and Japanese filmmaking have definitely been something I’ve loved and have been influenced by." So, of course, he had nothing but great things to say about filming the tribute in Japan under the artistic direction of Sofia.

closeup of keany
Universal / ©Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection

"It was wonderful, really wonderful. It was extraordinary to have the opportunity to spend time with people from Suntory, in terms of going to the founding distillery Yamazaki, then going and just meeting master blenders and all the craftspeople."

closeup of keanu in a movie
Universal / ©Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection

"I got to meet some of the artisans, Kabuki actors, calligraphists, being an outsider and getting to spend time with people and talk about their passion and their craft," he said.

closeup of keanu talking at a mic for a suntory event
Jamie Mccarthy / Getty Images for House of Suntory

Watch the Suntory Time tribute film here.