For his last two films, Italian director Gabriele Muccino stuck with the bankable option of Will Smith. While Seven Pounds proved to be less desirable in both box office and critical reaction, his next effort seems like a step to the relativity safe side. The director returns this fall with the soccer mom drama Playing for Keeps led by Gerard Butler, but for an upcoming project he may be making a major genre shift and already has a star in mind.

Appearing at Venice today to present a new short film, the director said that he plans a thriller or science fiction project for his next film, and who better to star then the international box office king of both? Muccino indicated that The Matrix star Keanu Reeves is his wanted man for a lead role in the project. And if one ever needed proof of the actor’s star power overseas, it’s been awhile but his Day the Earth Stood Still remake and Constantine made around double internationally compared to US takes.

While Reeves hasn’t showed up in much recently — aside from the great doc Side by Side — he’s certainly been keeping busy. The actor’s samurai epic 47 Ronin will now land in December 2013 and he’s wrapping up production on his own directorial effort, Man of Tai Chi. I’ve never been enamored by Muccino’s films, but I’d certainly be interested if he goes in a wildly different direction and this sounds like a good first step. Stay tuned to hear if Reeves is even interested in going along for the ride. [THR]

Would you like to see Reeves lead a sci-fi film from Muccino?