Keanu Reeves’ Halloween Costume Was Once Dolly Parton’s Playboy Bunny Outfit
Perhaps an alternate version of The Matrix could feature Dolly Parton as Trinity and take place in Nashville. Alright, that won’t happen. But the truth doesn’t make the vision of Keanu Reeves as a Playboy bunny any less weird. And sorry, there are no pictures — or at least none available to the public. Reeves was presumably a tween when he dressed as Parton, complete with a bustier, fishnet stockings, a bow tie, and sneakers.
You might have questions. Yes, he even wore the iconic bunny ears. No, Dolly was not his babysitter or a family friend. As it turns out, Hollywood really is a small town. Reeves’ mother worked as a costume designer and Parton was one of her clients.
Back in 1978, the country music star got fitted for the bunny outfit that she wore for her Playboy shoot. Then, Parton left the costume in the dressing room. Reeves explained to his Matrix co-star Jada Pinkett Smith what happened next.
Keanu Reeves revealed his Playboy secret during a recent ‘The Matrix’ reunion
To say that the 100th episode of Pinkett Smith’s Red Table Talk was an event is a bit of an understatement, especially to Matrix fans. In honor of the latest installment, The Matrix Resurrections, Pinkett Smith welcomed Reeves, Carrie-Ann Moss, and Priyanka Chopra to the show.
During a lively and at times deep discussion that involved red pills, blue pills, and comparisons between the movie and contemporary times, Reeves mentioned that one time he was a Playboy bunny for Halloween and wore Parton’s famous costume, as Insider reports.
It seems like the John Wick actor has been confident from a young age. Though Reeves has told the story before, it never gets old. But you might wonder if Parton knows about it. Spoiler: She does and her reaction was very Dolly.
Dolly Parton recreated her ‘Playboy’ cover without her 1978 costume
If pictures of Parton’s 1978 Playboy photo have been floating around on the internet over the past year or so, it’s because the 75-year-old icon reenacted the original cover for her husband’s 79th birthday in 2021.
Back in 1978, Parton had told him that she would pose on the cover of Playboy again when she was 75. She kept good on her promise even if it meant she had to take things into her own hands. Not only was her original costume lost to Reeves, but Playboy Magazine ceased to exist in 2020. It’s now in digital form only.
Parton and Reeves’ special connection
Pinkett Smith’s Red Table Talk was not the first talk show where Keanu revealed his connection to Parton. In 2019, he told the same funny story on The Talk. Later, he met up with Dolly and the two laughed about the incident. She posted the meeting on Instagram, quipping that the actor once wore a pair of bunny ears that belonged to her.
No rumors have surfaced about Parton and Reeves sharing the spotlight in any past or future productions. But Matrix fans can view The Matrix Resurrections in movie theaters and on HBO Max. It released on December 22, 2021.
As for future Parton-Reeves costume mashups, that is uncertain as well. However, Parton is known to have hidden compartments built inside her wigs so she has a place to stash her microphone packs. You can’t help but wonder if Neo could use a hiding spot like that in the future. No doubt John Wick would have found a secret compartment useful.
